New Releases by Tom Jackson

Do you know what happens when Virus goes viral? How does Immune System fight infection when it strikes? And why do masks matter? Kids need real science information about the Covid-19 pandemic that has kept them away from school, kept their parents away from work, and may even have harmed people they know and love. And they want information about how to deal with their feelings, too. The Basher mix of science and humor makes these difficult times less frightening by providing approachable and easily understandable information in a format kids know and love. From Smallpox to Social Distancing, this book is crammed with bad actors from the world of pandemics. Find out about history’s nastiest diseases, then discover how Vaccine, Treatment, and Clinical Trial help to beat back today’s viruses. And turn to Hygiene, Face Mask, Lockdown, and Resourcefulness for advice on keeping safe physically—and mentally. Basher’s distinctive, colorful illustrations and Tom Jackson’s lively, engaging text will demystify pandemics, while informing kids about the coronavirus that has changed their lives.

A comprehensive exploration of our oceans, covering geography, ecosystems, and animals through a mix of illustrations, photographs, maps, and diagrams. Map out the oceans layers, from the sunlight zone to the abyss, exploring the conditions within each zone and the different creatures that live there, as well as exploring features of the ocean floor such as underwater volcanoes, thermal vents, and the mid-Atlantic ridge. It also: Explores ocean currents and tides. Looks at the migrations of different ocean-dwelling creatures. Maps the sea bed, including information on how oceanographers gather their data Explores sea temperatures and ocean chlorophyll and plankton, looking at the impact these elements have on ecosystems. Looks at environmental issues such as pollution, acidification, ice-cap melt and rising temperatures.

What is fake news? How can the news be wrong? How do we know if what were reading is true or not? This book helps answer these questions and provides kids with the necessary knowledge to make up their own minds on fake news and the media as a whole.

An indispensable tool for the amateur astronomer. Night Sky Explorer will help you learn everything a beginning stargazer needs to know. Use the included rotating planisphere to figure out which stars are currently visible, and the 128-page book to learn more about each celestial body. Key facts are presented in an easy-to-understand format, and sidebars offer fun trivia and illuminating anecdotes. Star maps feature the dominant constellations at any given time of the year, so you’ll be prepared for planetary enlightenment when the moon rises!

What is climate change? Is it the same as global warming? Can we stop it? This book helps answer these questions and provides kids with the necessary knowledge to make up their own minds on climate change.

Which is the densest element? Which has the largest atoms? And why are some elements radioactive? From the little-known uses of gold in medicine to the development of the hydrogen bomb, this is a fresh new look at the Periodic Table. Combining cutting edge science with fascinating facts and stunning infographics, this book looks at the extraordinary stories of discovery, amazing properties and surprising uses of each elements, whether solid, liquid or gas - naturally occurring, synthesised or theoretical! From hydrogen to oganesson, this is a fact-filled visual guide to each element,each accompanied by technical date (category, atomic number, weight, boiling point) as well as fun facts and stories about their discovery and surprising uses.

A beautifully illustrated reference guide to animals across the globe, in an updated new large-format edition.

What are hackers? Are they good? Bad? What can we do to protect ourselves, businesses, and society against hackers? How can we control them? And should we try? Get the facts and make up your own mind on these and more questions with Hackers, part of the new What''s the Issue? series. Should states be allowed access to all communications? What level of privacy should an individual expect? Who owns the Internet? In this fascinating starting point to understanding the wider subject of the Internet and Internet safety, explore these questions through topics like: Spying Encryption Security Hacking techniques Cyber warfare Cryptocurrencies The Dark Web The What''s the Issue? series tackles engaging, thought-provoking subjects chosen from the headlines and public debates. What''s the Issue? asks "what''s all the fuss about?," presents the key facts, reviews what''s at stake in each case, and weighs the pros and cons. The goal of the series is to help young people understand difficult concepts, provide them with the tools to inform their own opinions, and help them to see and influence changes within our society.

What is transhumanism? What is AI? Are these good developments or bad ones? How might immortality be possible? And should we even want to live forever? Get the facts and make up your own mind on these and more questions related to enhanced human potential with Future Humans, part of the new What''s the Issue? series. What does it really mean to be human? In the future, might we be forced to rethink the answer? In this fascinating book, explore these questions through topics like: Prosthetics and implants Plastic surgery Performance drugs External memory Genetic modifications Nanotechnology Smart drugs (cognitive enhancers) Cyborgs Bioprinting The What''s the Issue? series tackles engaging, thought-provoking subjects chosen from the headlines and public debates. What''s the Issue? asks “what’s all the fuss about?,” presents the key facts, reviews what’s at stake in each case, and weighs the pros and cons. The goal of the series is to help young people understand difficult concepts, provide them with the tools to inform their own opinions, and help them to see and influence changes within our society.

Astronomy is a fact filled, picture-rich, accessible guide to the science''s essential and exciting milestones, including new breakthroughs such as the New Horizons spacecraft''s 2015 encounter with Pluto and 2019 rendezvous with a Kuiper belt object. Originally published as The Universe, this revised, updated and renamed reference book and timeline traces how, over many centuries, great minds have determined our planet''s place in the great expanse of the Universe. From megalithic cultures of Stonehenge and Carnac to today''s search for alien planets and dark matter.

This handy visual dictionary covers the key topics in the core STEM subjects of biology, chemistry, and physics. The A-Z of Science brings the unique and popular Basher illustrative approach of capturing key scientific concepts as quirky but memorable characters, combined with the informative, humorous, and accessible text of science author Tom Jackson. This handy guide will be a sure-fire hit with school students learning these core subjects for the first time, as well as a useful reference guide and reminder for older high-school and college students looking for a revision guide. The entries are organized alphabetically, and cover all the topics you would expect to find in a core science book, from acids and atoms to X-rays and zygotes. Break-out feature spreads cover more complex, high-interest topics such as classification, cell, and nitrogen cycle. The A-Z of Science includes over 300 scientific definitions, many of them accompanied by Basher''s perennially popular hip-kicky illustrations. It''s a must-have book for every student of science!

What is life like on the International Space Station? Can we survive on Mars? Why is Pluto no longer a planet? Just how big is the universe anyway? The ultimate guide to our galaxy, Space Atlas answers all these questions and more while exploring the far reaches of space, from our own planet to neutron stars, thousands of light years away. Showcasing significant locations in space, which are explored in depth with stunning illustrations, photos of space, interesting fact files, diagrams, and information on scientific achievements, this unique atlas tells you everything you could ever want to know about the universe, while taking you on a stunning visual journey through the stars. Featuring in-depth explorations of the Sun, the Earth, the solar system, black holes, quasars, and the Milky Way, Space Atlas presents a mix of stunning, graphic illustrations and factual photographs that brings the subject of space to life in the most beautiful and informative way.

"Original edition copyright 2018 by Hungry Tomato Ltd."--Copyright page.

"Find out where the world''s weirdest reptiles live and hunt, along with some of their most bizarre behaviors. Illustrated spreads designed to engage young readers and keep them captivated as they learn accessible, fun facts"--

"Travel to Africa to meet the longest snake on the continent, the black mamba, which is also one of the fastest in the world. A deadly and dangerous cast of characters with comic-style illustrated spreads will keep young readers turning the page"--

Discover the clever ways different creatures find dinner--or avoid becoming dinner! You wouldn''t want to play hide-and-seek with these reptiles. Learn all about them with illustrated spreads and high impact photos designed to give you fast, digestible facts.

The idea that there might be other worlds has existed for centuries, and it lies inside ghost and fairy stories as well as more complex, science-based ideas, like those in quantum physics. Could there be a whole series of universes called a multiverse? This text defines reality, perception, probability, consciousness, and many other complex concepts in easy-to-understand language that''s complimented by vivid full-color artwork. Even the most observant reader won''t notice they''re learning science and history as they dive into dreams, the subconscious, hyperspace, Flatland, the Big Bang theory, Schrödinger''s cat, virtual reality, and other fascinating topics related to the study of reality.

The premise that alien life exists has had a grip on writers, artists, thinkers, and scientists since possibly the earliest days of civilization. This awesome text explores many of the critical parts of astrobiology from theories about exoplanets and the formation of solar systems to places like the Lowell Observatory and Roswell and people like H. G. Wells and Carl Sagan. Astrobiology, or the search for aliens, has never been so accessible as in this text. With full-color artwork and gripping, accessible main text, sidebars, and fact boxes, readers enjoy indulging in alien theories all the while learning science and history.

What happens when someone or something goes into a black hole? This book introduces some of the major ideas in cosmology, bringing quarks, preons, hypothetical subparticles, pulsars, galaxies, the Big Bang theory, dark energy, and gravitational waves into detailed focus through accessible language and vivid full-color art work. The text includes fascinating sidebars and fact boxes that add extra excitement to this look into deep space phenomena. Whether it''s about Stephen Hawking or the James Webb telescope, even the most reluctant readers are sure to enjoy this book.

Even the most reluctant readers will be fascinated to read about how twin astronauts Scott and Mark Kelly are a different age because Scott spent a year living on the International Space Station. This book looks at how time travel has been thought of from ancient times to modern day. It even discusses what humans might do if they could travel in time. From string theory to Einstein''s theory of relativity, Heisenberg''s uncertainty principle to the grandfather paradox, and wormholes to quantum physics, everything time travel related is discussed here in easy-to-understand language and complimented by vivid artwork on every spread.

It may have been a distant future when The Jetsons aired, but now the reality of autonomous machines with artificial intelligence is real. The ability of machines to "think" and "learn" fascinates everyone, but now even the most reluctant readers have a chance to engage in learning about the history and future of robotics. This book covers everything from the 18th century French automatons to Elon Musk, Ada Lovelace to Alan Turing, self-driving cars and smart homes to assembly and military robots. Each spread is complimented with vivid artwork that further illuminates the accessible, exciting text.

Even the most reluctant readers are likely curious about cloning and the scientific future of human evolution. This book finally makes it possible for them to access the latest information about genetic engineering, stem cells, heredity, and the idea that humans may be able to manipulate the process of reproduction to create the offspring they desire. It even covers hot button issues like eugenics and the genetic modification of plants and animals used for food. With vivid, full-color artwork and fascinating sidebars and fact boxes throughout the uncomplicated, fascinating text, this book will find a perfect home in any collection.

From the earliest civilizations to present day, humans have sought to understand death. Today, technology complicates our conceptions of what it means to die, and what it means to be alive. This book presents the latest scientific research behind artificial life, the quest for immortality, the difference between human life and animal and plant life, and other topics. It separates scientific fact from conjecture, stimulating critical thinking and continued investigation of questions that shape our lives.

Inside of every plant, animal, and human lies thousands of genes. These genes, and the DNA they are composed of, are the basis for heredity. Before we are born, the information encoded in our genes determines our physical features, predisposition to disease, and more. Genetics traces our understanding of heredity from the discovery of inheritance to modern day, as scientists seek to manipulate genes in order to control the blueprints of life. Topics in this book include genetically modified food, epigenetics, stem cells, and xenobiology. Readers are given balanced information about these controversial topics and encouraged to think critically to form their own opinions.

This concise, illuminating guide takes us on a comprehensive tour of our bodies, explaining how they work and why they work that way, from the basic unit of the cell, through the tissues and organs that make up the body''s systems, to how these systems work together to form a complete human being, from evolution, genetics, and conception through to disease, death, and how technology will transform the body of the future. The Human Body in Minutes covers the features and functions of all the major body systems including the skeletal, muscular, digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, immune, reproductive, nervous, and hormonal systems, as well as human evolution, inheritance and genetics, human behavior, and illness and medicine. With 200 cutting-edge anatomical images, cross-sections, and closeups that detail and explain the brain, eye, heart, skin, skeleton, lung, kidney, ear, blood liver, stomach, muscles, veins, arteries, DNA, chromosomes, and all of the key features of our bodies, this is the perfect, easy reference to the anatomy, physiology, and science of the human body.

The riveting world of buildings and machines! How does a 3D printer work? What stops a skyscraper from falling over? Where does a smart phone store information? Welcome to the world of engineering in Engineering: Machines and Buildings. Discover how the familiar machines and buildings in today''s world are constructed, and how they function. How do scientists choose the right materials for the right job? Which scientific principles lie behind each machine or structure? Perfect for home and school, Basher''s highly original books explain difficult scientific concepts in ingenious ways, making them tangible, understandable and even lovable. Chatty first-person text and stylish, contemporary character illustrations give a voice, personality and story to each topic - it''s a truly brilliant way to communicate science. Discover and learn more with the Basher Science series, including: Chemistry, Biology and The Periodic Table.

Profiles every element on the periodic table and describes their properties, when they were discovered, and how they are used in household materials

Amphibians are masters of their environment, both on land and underwater. Readers will love this technological twist on the anatomy and skills of amphibians from all over the world. This book provides an explanation of the mechanics behind the mega-mouthed Argentine horned frog, the croaking American bullfrog, and the deadly poison dart frog. It also covers some of the amazing animal skills in the amphibian world, from camouflage to dancing on water. Readers will enjoy brilliant color photographs and exciting fact boxes that bring these animals to life. Whether on land or in water, these mechanically advantaged amphibians never fail to impress!

How do chameleons change color to match their surroundings? How do geckos climb up walls? This book answers these questions and more as readers delve into the world of reptiles. Each chapter investigates the mechanics behind a certain animal, from the freaky frilled lizard to the deadly Komodo dragon. Color photographs take readers around the world to visit fascinating reptiles from constricting pythons to giant tortoises. Fun facts abound as the book explains the skills, defenses, and abilities that make reptiles stand apart.

Mammals are some of the fastest and slowest, largest and smallest, and most unique animals on Earth. Their bodies are built to survive in and master their environment. Readers will love reading about the super swimming dolphin, the super-sensing bat, and the super-slow sloth. They’ll learn about the mechanics behind a skunk’s stink supply and a cheetah’s record-breaking speed. This book is full of color photographs and fact boxes that bring these exotic mammals to life. This technological spin on animal skills and survival is sure to stand out from the rest!