Paul Parsons – författare

How to survive an earthquake. How to make an invisibility cloak. How to turn lead into gold. How to read someone''s mind. Physics = tedious and unfathomable, right? No longer. If you thought physics was all about measuring the temperature of an ice bucket or trying to understand complicated equations, think again. How to Destroy the Universe will make you see the world around us through fresh eyes.

The Periodic Table is one of the most recognizable images in science - and in our culture. Its 118 elements make up everything on our planet and in the entire universe. But how many of us actually know how to interpret its distinctive design? And what does its unique arrangement tell us about the behaviour of each element in the world around us? The Periodic Table looks at the fascinating story and surprising history of each of these elements, from the little-known uses of gold in medicine to that of arsenic as a wallpaper dye in the ninteenth-century and the development of the hydrogen bomb. Packed with interesting facts and figures and helpful illustrations, this accessible guide will help the armchair chemist navigate through the different groups of elements - and discover the world afresh.

Science in 100 Key Breakthroughs presents a series of clear and concise essays that explain the fundamentals of some of the most exciting and important science concepts you really need to know. Paul Parsons profiles the important, ground-breaking, and front-of-mind scientific discoveries that have had a profound influence on our way of life and will grow in importance with our advancing understanding. In 100 sections, this book provides an overview of the history of Western science, from astronomy and physics to geology, biology and psychology and everything in between. Starting with the origins of counting more than 35,000 years ago, Science in 100 Key Breakthroughs tells a rich and fascinating story of discovery, invention, gradual progress and inspired leaps of the imagination. Many key concepts and discoveries are defined and discussed including: The circumference of the Earth, Chaos theory, Algebra, Relativity, Newton''s Principia, Brownian motion, Pi, Wave/particle duality, Germ theory, The computer, X-rays, The double helix, Viruses, The human genome. Readable, informative and thought-provoking, this is the ideal introduction to cutting-edge science and the essential overview for anyone who wants to learn more about these often daunting but increasingly essential subjects.

50 Science Ideas You Really Need to Know is your guide to the biggest questions and deepest concepts from across the whole of science. What was the Big Bang? How did life on Earth arise? What does quantum mechanics tell us about the universe? Is true artificial intelligence possible? And does life exist on other planets? Moving from the basics of atoms and molecules, Newton''s laws of physics and the building blocks of life to the cutting edge of nanotechnology, Einstein''s theories of relativity and cloning, this book makes the many worlds of science accessible and illuminating. Featuring fifty concise, insightful and illustrated essays covering physics and astronomy, Earth and life sciences, chemistry and materials, psychology and computing, and exploring the ways they connect with each other and impact on our lives, 50 Science Ideas You Really Need to Know is the ideal introduction to the questions which fascinate us all.

Science 1001 provides clear and concise explanations of the most fundamental and fascinating scientific concepts. Distilled into 1001 bite-sized mini-essays arranged thematically, this unique reference book moves steadily from the basics through to the most advanced of ideas, making it the ideal guide for novices and science enthusiasts. Whether used as a handy reference, an informal self-study course or simply as a gratifying dip-in, this book offers - in one volume - a world of cutting-edge scientific knowledge for the general reader. Science 1001 is an incredibly comprehensive guide, spanning all of the key scientific disciplines including Physics, Chemistry, Biology, The Earth, Space, Health and Medicine, Social Science, Information Science , the Applied Sciences and Futurology. From Newton''s elemental laws of motion and the physics of black holes, through the fundamental particles of matter, to the extraordinary Human Genome Project and the controversial possibilities of cloning and gene therapy, Dr Paul Parsons demystifies the key concepts of science in the simplest language and answers its big questions: Will scientists find a cure for AIDS? How did the universe begin? And will we conquer space? Concluding with an exciting glimpse of what''s to come for science - from the possibility of time travel to the spectre of transhumanism - this really is the only science book you''ll ever need.