How science works : the facts visually explained / edited by Derek Harvey and four others.

Includes index.

Matter. What is matter? -- Solids -- Liquids -- Gases -- Strange states -- Transforming matter -- Inside an atoms -- The subatomic world -- Waves and particles -- The quantum world -- Particle accelerators -- The elements -- Radioactivity -- Mixtures and compounds -- Molecules and ions -- Getting a reaction -- Reactions and energy -- Metals -- Hydrogen -- Carbon -- Air -- Burning and exploding -- Water -- Acids and bases -- Crystals -- Solutions and solvents -- Catalysts -- Making chemicals -- Plastics -- Glass and ceramics -- Wonder materials --
Energy and forces. What is energy? -- Static electricity -- Electric currents -- Magnetic forces -- Generating electricity -- Alternative energy -- How electronics works -- Microchips -- How computers work -- Virtual reality -- Nanotechnology -- Robots and automation -- Artificial intelligence -- Waves -- From radio waves to gamma rays -- Color -- Mirror and lenses -- How lasers work -- Using optics -- Sound -- Heat -- Heat transfer -- Forces -- Velocity and acceleration -- Machines -- Friction -- Springs and pendulums -- Pressure -- Flight -- How buoyancy works -- Vacuums -- Gravity -- Special relativity -- General relativity -- Gravitational waves -- String theory.

Life. What is "alive"? -- Types of living things -- Viruses -- Cells -- How genes work -- Reproduction -- Passing on genes -- How did life begin? -- How do things evolve? -- How plants fuel the world -- How plants grow -- Respiration -- The carbon cycle -- Aging -- Genomes -- Genetic engineering -- Gene therapy -- Stem cells -- Cloning.

Space. Stars -- The Sun -- The Solar System -- Space flotsam -- Black holes -- Galaxies -- The Big Bang -- How big is the Universe? -- Dark matter and dark energy -- How it ends -- Seeing the Universe -- Are we alone? -- Spaceflight -- Living in space -- Traveling to other worlds.

Earth. Inside Earth -- Plate tectonics -- Earthquakes -- Volcanoes -- The rock cycle -- Oceans -- Earth's atmosphere -- How weather works -- Extreme weather -- Climate and the seasons -- The water cycle -- The greenhouse effect -- Climate change -- What makes science special? -- Matter -- Energy and forces -- Life -- Space -- Earth.

"Explore answers to questions on 70 topics in the areas of matter, physics, energy, chemistry, life science, earth science, technology, and the universe. How Science Works uses clear, easy-to-understand graphics to answer common questions and explain difficult concepts--not only the core science topics that eluded us at school, but also the cutting-edge science reported in the news. Have you ever wondered how airplanes stay in the air, how holograms are made, or how ants lift things many times their size? You'll find answers to these enigmas as well as learn about more complex developments, including the discovery of the Higgs boson, gravitational waves, and the mysteries of dark matter. Topic spreads include Q & A features, short-story sections, and simple graphics to answer all your questions about scientific principles, from familiar conundrums to mysteries that evade even the brightest minds."-- Amazon.com.Science can be dauntingly complex, and it can be hard to separate the fundamental truths of science from the much-hyped pseudoscience that often appears in the media. This book shows you how science works. Each two- to four-page spread takes a concept apart and provides easy-to understand explanations. Now you'll be able to grasp the principles, from the structure of matter to climate change. -- Back cover.