The Essential Engineer: Why Science Alone Will Not Solve Our Global Problems / by Henry Petroski

". . . a scientist studies what is; an engineer creates what never was . . . by extension, science is the study of what is; engineering is the creation of what never was."

Engineering might be the most important thing in the world. Science, knowing how and why things work; Politics, knowing how and why people work; and, Liberal Arts, interpreting how and why people and things work, simply doesn't cut it. How can Science (and Math) be appropriated to meet need? What can knowledge, abstracted information, do for me? Chemistry alone can't heal, equations won't shelter and biology by itself can't nourish. Mere knowledge is useless without applying the concepts incorporated within the prescribed ideas. It takes engineering, in it's functional role, much of it the "inherent practicality of simply actuating the empirical properties of nature . . . to account for the structural, economic, environmental, and other factors that science often does not consider but which are vitally urgent to our lives." Science can only take an idea so far before engineering must get involved. Or, as Petroski so aptly puts it, "scientists warn, engineers fix." That's why this book and its author, writer of several similar titles, is so important: to explain, in very linear terminology and coherent fashion, exactly what engineering (and the role of the engineer) does to not only enhance life, but to stabilize the balance between people and nature.  (620 PETROSKI)

Fizzics: The Science of Bubbles, Droplets & Foams / by F. Ronald Young

Ever wonder why the head on some drinks takes forever to dissipate? Or why some fire extinguishers shoot mostly foam? It's all to do with bubbles and droplets and the "fizzics" behind what makes them so fascinating. This book describes in very plain-language fashion the compelling behavior of these seemingly simple phenomenon. Revealed are the secrets of bubbles. Young explores collections of these simple naturally occurring, everyday forms, of how a metallic foam might save the planet, and the never-ending quest for the perfect beer. Also explained is why coffee rings form and exactly how a detergent gets dishes clean. How have humans put bubbles to use?  In a lot more ways than you might think. Whether through industrial refining technology, nuclear science or in medical processes (cleaning wounds with hydrogen peroxide, sodium carbonate and other chemical properties), this is more than a book that explains science. It is a love letter written to sing the praises of the bubble, and can be read by the bright middle schooler on upward (530.4275 YOUNG).

E=MC²: Simple Physics: Why Balloons Rise, Apples Fall, and Golf Balls Go Awry / by Jeff Stewart

"What exactly is Physics? Well, in a way, it's everything." (p.1)

 

Physicists--including those who "enjoy smashing tiny bits of stuff into even tinier bits of stuff"--have no doubt that absolutely everything can be explained through physics principles simply because absolutely everything is subject to the laws of nature. Of course takes quite a bit of brainwork to understand said concepts such as the frequency of electromagnetic waves,

Newton's motion laws, relativity or, say, the magnetic flux within a transformer. And then to understand how all of creation including our own bodies and even our own thoughts can be described in terms of these seemingly complex theories can seem a bit daunting. Fortunately Physics Professor Jeff Stewart, along with the good folks at Blackboard Books and Reader's Digest, have come up with a fascinatingly simple way to understanding such things as Planck's Constant, Archimedes Principle or Kepler's theories on planetary motion. The book is divided up into carefully thought out sections outlining the various physics principles which are most relative to our everyday lives. It's fun and even humorous in places making it a good way to educate yourself on all those things which were forgotten after the test. (530 STEWART)

From Atoms To Infinity: 88 Great Ideas In Science / by Mary and John Gribbin

"Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of ideas." --John Dewey (1859-1952)

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So just what is infinity, really? At what speed exactly do nerve impulses in your brain move? What's on the other side of a black hole? What is the strongest (per pound) animal on the planet? These questions and more are answered in this inquisitive and thought provoking book on all things science, which in addition to answering some of the most commonly asked questions (like is the weather in New York City really affected by a butterfly flapping its wings thousands of miles away in Indonesia?), helps the casual reader understand the basic elements which make up our daily lives and the world we live in. And in simple enough terms so that yes, anyone, can understand it.

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Authors Mary and John Gribbin, two of the most world-renowned science authors, have developed a great little tool for answering some of the most commonly asked questions about science. In brief, concise sections, usually one page excerpts, From Atoms to Infinity deftly explains the biggest (and smallest) ideas which comprise life, from the most miniscule quark of an atom to the physics behind the 27 km particle accelerator in Switzerland known as the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) which can produce energy capacities equivalent to full scale aircraft carriers. The book is an informative read, presenting the realm of science, in all its expansive proportions and dimensions, with easily consumable explanations of its fascinating dynamics.