1 comments about Mysterious Universe: Supernovae, Dark Energy, and Black Holes (Scientists in the Field).

1. "'If it weren't for supernovae, we wouldn't exist,' says Alex [Filippenko]. 'The carbon in our cells, the oxygen that we breathe, the calcium in our bones -- all were cooked up in the stars and expelled in to space by these explosions.'
   "The heat and pressure in stars fuse simple atoms, tiny particles of matter that make up everything we see, into other, more complex atoms. Without supernovae, these larger atoms, such as carbon and iron, would stay locked inside the stars forever. But when supernovae explode, they scatter these atoms throughout space.
   "Eventually the atoms created in supernovae swirl together like water in a whirlpool to form stars and planets, such as Earth. Carbon and other atoms come together to make up our bodies and the bodies of the plants and animals we see around us. Without supernovae, there would be no flowers or forests, no hummingbirds or humans.
   "Supernovae are also helping scientists understand a mystery that lurks in space. The discovery of a new substance called dark energy has stunned the scientific world. Until the 1990s, no one knew this strange energy existed. In fact, if you had asked a scientist about dark energy twenty years ago, you would have been told to stop watching so many science fiction movies. In contrast, today astronomers think it's very real."
   
   This stuff is all so amazing! When I consider how little of the information in this book I knew --- when you consider how little of this information anyone knew until recent years -- you come to understand why it is so essential that dated science books be constantly removed from libraries and classrooms in order to make room for such exceptionally engaging, up-to-date, and stunningly beautiful, informational books as THE MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE.
   
   "According to Carl Sagan, a well-known astronomer, the total number of stars is greater than all the grains of sand on all the beaches of Earth combined."
   
   THE MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE is out of this world! Similar to what I've found from reading other volumes of the noted SCIENTISTS IN THE FIELD series, I just learned a wealth of mind-blowing facts -- this time about the universe and matter -- by following an inspirational scientist doing his thing. As noted in the book's fore-matter, Dr. Alex Filippenko is a Berkeley prof who has been voted the "Best Professor on Campus" five times. We trail Alex and one of his student assistants to their nights of observations at the twin Keck telescopes which are perched 13,796 feet above sea level at the peak of Hawaii's Mauna Kea volcano. Then we ride shotgun as Alex heads up to the Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton, to the east of Silicon Valley.
   
   "A teaspoon of material from a neutron star would weigh more than a pile of a billion cars."
   
   It's all in the presentation: I can just imagine how boring this subject matter could have been presented if it had been done Twentieth-century institutional-text style. Instead, you have a work of art that is dominated by the craftsmanship of award-winning photographer Nic Bishop (and whatever higher power may be responsible for setting in motion the process that results in spectacularly stunning supernovae, along with dark energy and black holes). The actual text here takes up roughly thirty percent of the book. The remainder is a rich mix of vivid, captioned photos. The book concludes with resources, bibliography, glossary, and indexing.
   
   Scientists now hypothesize that 96 percent of the universe is composed of dark matter and dark energy. If you only know about the other four percent, you definitely need to take a serious look at THE MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE.

2 comments about Connecting with the Cosmos.

1. For me, this book was delicious. I could hardly put it down. It is written intelligently and yet on a level that we can all understand. I was delighted to have concepts explained in the detail that I had never heard before or at least I don't remember having learned in school, probably because my teachers didn't really have a professional grasp on the subject that Dr. Goldsmith does. I have given the book as a gift to others who are in my position, i.e. they are enthusiastic learners who have been away from this subject for a very long time. I enjoyed the topics which include: the sun, the moon, calendars, the stars, the planets, the constellations, light, the calendar, the milky way, the zodiac, meteors, shooting stars, and more.
   The book has beautiful photos and excellent charts, and doable exercises at the end of each chapter.
   Thank you Dr. Goldsmith!



2. I'm a big fan of naked eye astronomy, meaning I like observing the night sky without the aid of a telescope or star charts.
   
   I've often asked myself the question...if you were blindfolded and transported to somewhere in the world away from civilization, what could you determine by looking at the night sky. I discovered the answer is more than you think, including clock time, calendar time, compass directions, and your approximate latitude and longitude (hence location on earth)
   
   This is one book I'd highly recommend if you're interested is this type of information, along with Stikky Nights and The Stars by Rey. Among other things, it explains how to determine time by using the Big Dipper, compass direction in both the North and South hemisphere, and indirectly explains how to determine the calendar month and your latitude using the stars and constellations. It also gives one of the clearest explanation of the seasonal soltices I've ever read.
   
   This was not the direct intent of the book, which is more about appreciating the universe through direct observation, but the information is there, none the less.
   
   This book was poorly marketed. (I picked it up in Barnes and Noble in the bargain section for $5.) It was released in hardcover, looks like a coffee table book, and can be easily mistaken as a book either for New Age gurus or elementary school readers. (Look at the cover.)
   
   If this book were released again in softcover and marketed to amateur astronomers, my guess is it would be received quite favorably.
   
   Recommended if you can find it.

3 comments about Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics (Dover Books on Engineering).

1. Often ignored, the ability to control just where a spacecraft is pointed is absolutely critical to space flight. Without such controls, the Hubble telescope doesn't point in the right direction. The spy satellites don't point at the ground and the re-entry rockets don't point you in the right direction to come home.
   
   The first Explorer and Sputnik experiences proved that what we thought we knew about the classical analysis of Newton and others were wrong, or at least incomplete. The realities of space flight intruded into the carefully developed mathematics of classical mechanics.
   
   This book reflects the lessons learned and gives a rigorous mathematical introduction to the dynamics of spacecraft control. This is an augmented reprint of the original edition published in 1986.



2. This is an excellent book and the Bible for spacecraft attitude dynamics. The book uses the so-called vectrices to represent reference frames. After getting used to the notation, it is very convenient tool for book keeping multiple reference frames. Although the idea is not original and appears in Wittenburg's Dynamics of System of Rigid Bodies, the author shows many nice and helpful relations in vectices algebra and uses it elegantly to derive equations of motion. In addition to the comprehensive coverage of attitude dynamics of all kind of satellite configurations, the book gives stand alone reviews of other topics:
   - Representations of attitude transformation including quaternions.
   - Linear (and some non-linear) stability analysis including Floquet theory.
   - Analysis of disturbances with a nice derivation of the general gravitational torque between spacecraft and other finite bodies. Rigorous treatment of torque due to free molecular flow.
   - Equations of motion for multi-body, orbital-attitude coupling (both ways), the principle of quassi-velocities, energy methods for stability analysis and much more.
   In general, this book is analytically beautiful, rigorous, typos free and a fun reading.
   
   For farther reading, I recommend Beletskii's book on Motion of an Artificial Satellite for perturbation analysis of slightly non-linear attitude dynamics and Bong Wie's book on Space Vehicle Dynamics and Control that is particularly strong on quaternion control.
   .



3. This book is a really nice tool for those who are learning about spacecraft attitude dynamics

No comments about Thin-Film Solar Cells: Next Generation Photovoltaics and Its Applications (Springer Series in Photonics).

4 comments about Development of Piston Aero Engines.

1. An excellent, in depth, study of piston aero engines. If you think you know piston engines, read this study. It'll show you how much you don't know, in detail. Well put together, from the earliest to current engines, including the no longer used hyper engines.



2. A highly interesting book on the topic of huge aeroplane engines. Just the right amount of techical language, but very readable as well. He is just a bit cheap on info of the most famous piston engine of all, the Merlin and Rolls-Royce as a company in this field. All in all, however, an entertaining book.



3. Another winner from the prolific Bill Gunston. This compact volume is packed with info for the piston aero engine enthusiast. The black and white production is superb, with excellent pictures and/or diagrams on almost every page. Only wish would be a hardback version!



4. A very interesting and entertaining book, but best for people who have a grounding in internal combustion motors. The book documents quite a technological journey of piston aero engines including typical human-disappointments and achievements but includes just enough interesting facts and trivia to keep the reader going....
   
   Quite a few pictures break-up the dialogue nicely.
   
   Johan Verhagen

5 comments about The Gospel in the Stars.

1. I disagree with the reviewers who quote the Berean Call where other "preachers" state that we are very God as in...(54. We are 'little gods' and even part of God with all the power of God; and we are 'little messiahs,' everything that Jesus ever was." (Hinn, The Berean Call, 1992 Media Spotlight Special Report, Feb 94).
   
   The Word of God still speaks with authority about the signs in the heavens, and that has not changed.
   
   I believe this is a thought-provoking book that should be compared with scripture for the complete picture.



2. I'm a Christian and I believe God made me, the Earth and the Universe and all things are held together in His Hands. But I'm not very scientific and know very little about astronomy. So this book went right over my head and I never got passed the first chapter. But I did pass it on to my bil who knows more about it and finds it interesting. So, my rating is based on the fact that, as a novice, I couldn't get a handle on it. It didn't catch my interest. It is not based on whether Seiss is right or wrong or technically correct about his ideas.



3. It is so wonderful to have the old out of print books brought back to life. They provide so much knowledge and wisdom that is not available in our present culture.



4. The book shows that the constellations were a prophetic prediction from the earliest times of the life and characteristics of Jesus. However, early Bablylonians corrupted the predictions into what we know as astrology. Psalm 19 says, "1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech;night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,their words to the ends of the world."
   
   I want to refer readers to a site I discovered, [...], which gives information which lends credibility to this book. I recently studied the book of Daniel, and it is clear that the learned ancients understood the importance of celestial prophecy. We cannot even fathom the mind of God, however, the more we learn, the more we discover that the Scriptures are true.



5. The information provided in this book is excellent and insightful. Its presentation though makes it a little difficult to follow. I note that the original publication date was 1882 and maybe this is why it's not as easy as a more modern day version would be. I keep putting it down but have to keep picking it up again.

5 comments about The Living Energy Universe.

1. The Author claims to be a scientist (and anyone with a science degree from a university can claim), but I am afraid his personal quest has gotten in the way. The author makes sweeping conclusions from data that can be observed in the natural world, and then because of a faulty logic and false deduction, introduces us to the absolute reality of mediums, angels, guides, etc, without a real proof. It has some interesting ideas if you know where to look.



2. I really wanted to like this book. How wonderful it would be, to know that everything in the universe is not only interconnected, but alive, evolving and eternal. To know that we and our loved ones and our happy memories live forever - what could be better than that?

   That may well be how the universe works, but this book fails to prove it. Instead, the authors present a muddled, heartfelt, personal `proof' consisting of questionable assumptions, faulty logic, confusion of categories and much wishful thinking. I stopped reading about three-fourths of the way through the book, after one too many of the authors' leaps from questionable assumptions to incredibly sweeping - and incredible - conclusions.

   To be fair, I did take away from the book a new appreciation for the way that systems work, and the many levels on which memory may (possibly) be encoded. But that's a far cry from being convinced that everything is alive, evolving and eternal.

   The best thing about this book is the Selected Readings list at the end. My recommendation is to skip this book, and go directly to some of the book's much better sources: The Heart's Code by Paul Pearsall; Healing Words by Larry Dossey; Miracles of Mind by Targ and Katra, to name a few.




3. If Science is not your strong point do not worry, this book offers important explanations on the possibility of our continuing life form that anyone can understand. This is a must read for anyone looking to answer our biggest question of all time, is there an afterlife?



4. These two authors appear to be educated, both having PhDs. I liked the writing style and the composition of the book, namely the placing of reference books and authors in the text of the story as well as at the end. However, there lacked something in the book that did not lend realism to their hypothesis. It was a book that can be read to give one another view of the world and the hereafter, but it does not address the reality of what might exist. The information in the book is far below that of PhD writings. I bought the book expecting more than I got and I can see why used books are so much less than those that are new. I would not recommend this book, unless you can pick it up for 50 cents at a book sale.



5. Are science and spirituality always to be at odds with each other, offering up very different paradigms of belief? Not if you consider the premise of The Living Energy Universe: A Fundamental Discovery That Transforms Science and Medicine. From how electrons carry information which affects perception to the implications of memory, the idea of a 'universal memory' bank of data, and its influence on the universe, here's a coverage which ties up all loose ends. Informative, superbly presented, and thoroughly reader friendly, "The Living Energy Universe" is an ideal addition to academic and community library Science Studies collections and supplemental reading lists.

2 comments about Earth: Our Planet in Space.

1. The above review says:
   
   "The stunning full-color photographs will mesmerize young readers about the mysteries of space.
   
   --This text refers to the Hardcover edition."
   
   I purchased the book Earth: Our Planet in Space (used) and it is a hardcover edition but apparently not THE hardcover edition described in the above review. The book I received is filled with black and white photographs taken from space. A complete dissapointment.



2. I found this book at the library and am considering buying a copy for my home library. The writing was on the perfect level for a K/1st-grader and the images (beautiful color images) held my and my son's interest. It is such a quality book that it seems more like a "gift" or keepsake book than something I'd find jammed on the shelf at the library. I also appreciate that it stayed away from questions of the origins and age of the earth - so regardless of a parent or educator's take on creation/evolution, this book could be used with ease and enjoyment.

3 comments about Flight Theory and Aerodynamics: A Practical Guide for Operational Safety, 2nd Edition.

1. In short, this new volume is an excellent introduction to the aerodynamics of aircraft. This book could well serve as an introductory text for those entering the study aeronautical engineering student, engineers, pilots, publics. The author explains the subject of aerodynamics in concise languages. So very easy to read. It will not only help you fly more safely and get more performance out of your aircraft, but also increase the aerodynamic knowledge greatly and easily. This book well illustrated and nicely developed the physical phenomena with good photo, drawings, and understandable curves. If you're interested in understanding the principles of aerodynamics and aircraft design, this outstanding source book is the place to turn! Whether you're a pilot, technician, flight student, or kitbuilder, a knowledge of basic aerodynamics is essentials. The new material covers all the important topics needed for the complete understanding of aircraft flight dynamics. These topics included the basic concepts for the mechanics and aerodynamics, aircraft performance, low and high speed flight, takeoff and landing performance, maneuvers, stability and control. In addition, this book includes a convenient question-and answer helpful for anyone studing aeronautical engineering. "Flight theory and aerodynamics-2nd edition", you'll have all the information you need to fully comprehend this complex, yet fascinating, scinece!



2. This text offers an algegraic approach to basic aerodynamics, air craft performance, plus limited coverage of helicopters. The chapters are now managebable for use in a college level introductory aerodynamics course primarily geared toward flight students, in any of the new emerging college curriculum. The book's organization has improved significantly over the first edition. The text is easy to read with good practical examples but there is a level of sophistication above most of the other aerodynamics texts geared for pilots. Practicing aviation professionals will also gain from use of this text. In short, I would say that the book is ideal for college level aviation programs and practicing aviation professionals.



3. I purchased this book for a college course at Embry Riddle. I was so disappointed at the quality of the book. It is very poorly written and gives very few examples. Aerodynamics for the Navel aviator is a much better book. AVOID THIS PIECE OF JUNK!

1 comments about Astronomy: From the Earth to the Universe, Media Edition (with InfoTrac®).

1. I ordered this book for a Cosmology class. It was pretty good. Check out the NASA site for additional pictures.