Rachel Keranen – författare

Evolution looks at Charles Darwin''s extensive and pervasive influence. The book explores the mechanics of evolution before diving deeper into how evolution affects humans, plants, and cells. Evolution also broaches the implications of Darwin''s theory, tying in disease mutations and the opposition to the theory.

Within galaxies, stars grow from clouds of gas and dust, shine brilliantly, and die stunning deaths. The Composition of the Universe: The Evolution of Stars and Galaxies traces the lives of stars and also the lives of famous scientists like Edwin Hubble, Albert Einstein, and Henrietta Leavitt. Closely aligned to Next Generation Science Standards, the book demonstrates how technology and scientific ideas evolve over time, just like the universe itself.

Much of our contemporary understanding of space systems dates back to Isaac Newton. It’s surprising to think that the underpinnings of astronomy are centuries old. While for a time it seemed as though major discoveries in the field had stagnated, in the early twentieth century, scientists like Albert Einstein and Max Planck redefined our understanding of light waves. And in 1948 scientists developed a theory about how our entire universe came to be, a theory that would be proven in 1965. The Big Bang Theory and Light Spectra is modeled closely on Next Generation Science Standards. The book explains the science behind these groundbreaking discoveries, profiles the scientists responsible, and details the technology astronomers and astrophysicists use to continue refining our knowledge.

Though it seems like all advancements in computing have occurred in the last few decades, in reality the technology behind computers dates back to early civilizations, such as our modern conception of numbers. Inventions in Computing: From the Abacus to Apple Computers discusses the history of the abacus, the Jacquard loom, computer animation programs, and the Apple computer in the order they were developed. The book shows how each subsequent invention was predicated on the invention before, how these innovations shaped the creative process, and how computers have come to play an integral role in our daily lives.

The thirty-second state to join the Union is a leader in many ways, including volunteerism, voter turnout, health care, and education. This colorful book traces Minnesota''s history from the Paleo-Indians to the arrival of the French and later waves of Scandinavian immigrants. This book also highlights contemporary Minnesotans, including musicians, authors, and influential politicians, and digs into the exciting industries like agriculture, mining, retail, banking, and biomedical technology that drive the economy of the state.

New York State has long been the first stop for immigrants from Europe and other parts of the world. Many choose to stay, giving New York one of the largest and most diverse populations in the nation. Readers will explore New York''s diverse geography; the history of immigration, manufacturing, and finance; and the combination of people, art, and ingenuity that makes the Empire State one of the most iconic places in the world.

The Northwest Passage has captured the imagination of nations and explorers for hundreds of years. And today, as global warming reshapes geography, trade along the passage is becoming a reality for the first time. This book provides a sweeping history of the route from the earliest attempts to navigate through its punishing landscape to breaking news about its economic viability in modern day.

The genesis of our universe has captured the imagination of astronomers throughout history. The development of the big bang theory is a story of heated debates, a race to discovery, and persistent scientists who refused to give up. This book includes biographies of Arno Penzias, Robert Wilson, Ralph Alpher, and more. The book presents proven scientific facts about our universe alongside questions that today’s astrophysicists work tirelessly to answer.

Though Python takes its name from the comical British television series Monty Python''s Flying Circus, the coding language is seriously powerful. Guido van Rossum, the programmer who wrote Python, was motivated to create a coding language that is intuitive and easy to understand. This book traces how van Rossum achieved his goal and how both novice programmers and experts use Python to create apps like Instagram and Pinterest and to achieve other objectives.

Although Yukihiro Matsumoto released Ruby in 1995, it would take more than a decade for the programming language to achieve widespread adoption. Today, Ruby is one of the fastest growing coding languages, and it is behind major sites like Hulu and Twitter. This book describes the history of the language, the relationship between Ruby and Ruby on Rails, and why Ruby is an ideal first language for new programmers, complete with tips on how readers can get started.