Petra Miller – författare

Floods happen everywhere. Learn about the causes, which ones caused the most damage, and what is being done to protect people and their property.

Hurricane is the name given to tropical cyclones that form in the Atlantic Ocean. Learn how they form, how they are categorized, which ones were the most destructive, and how you can protect yourself should one make landfall near your home.

Earthquakes are a natural part of the process in the ongoing formation of our planet. Learn about the different kinds, how they occur, which ones did the most damage, and what is being done to protect us from the big one.

Dengue fever ranks behind only malaria among diseases spread by insects as a threat to humans. The fight to eliminate the mosquitos that carry the disease has been slowed by environmental concerns and by political indifference. So, it is an emerging disease that is threatening larger sections of the world’s growing population, including parts of the United States. There is a timeline of the history of the disease and of efforts to eradicate it, and sidebars on the life cycle of a mosquito and ways climate change is aiding the spread of the disease.

There are three forms of hepatitis, and they infect up to 6 percent of the people in the United States. Drugs that fight this viral infection, which attacks the liver, have been approved but many people go untreated because they mistakenly believe their symptoms are caused by something as common as the flu. There is a timeline on the history of detection and treatment of the disease.

The Ebola virus is highly contagious, spreading through direct contact with blood and bodily fluids. This book outlines previous outbreaks of this very deadly disease and describes the massive efforts to contain the worst outbreak ever, which hit West Africa in 2014 and killed thousands. There is a timeline of the important dates on the detection and treatment of this disease. And there are stories of people who contracted this deadly disease and survived.

Down syndrome is caused by a flaw in the genetic code that affects the mental and physical development of people with it. Readers will examine this condition and its causes, and learn about research that led to our current understanding. They will survey new treatments and new research. This book also introduces people who have excelled despite being challenged with this condition, and the people who have moved science forward in understanding down syndrome. Fact boxes, sidebars, and detailed images support the informative main narrative. A special section explains how sufferers face bullying, and what to do in order to stop it.

Cystic Fibrosis is a fatal genetic condition that affects people physically and mentally every day. This guidebook sensitively explains this condition and the genetic causes behind it, and it follows researchers on their path to scientific discovery. Diagrams, sidebars, and other elements support the main narrative while readers identify people who have excelled despite the condition. The latest in treatments and research is also richly explored.

Alopecia areata is not a life-threatening condition, but rapid hair loss can be psychologically devastating to those it afflicts. This book describes the condition and the genetic causes behind it and follows scientists on their path to discovery. Readers will identify people who have excelled despite the condition. They will explore the latest treatments and research. Sidebars highlight medical breakthroughs and the people who made them.