Math Nature

Max Tegmark leads us on an astonishing journey through past, present and future, and through the physics, astronomy, and mathematics that are the foundation of his work, most particularly his hypothesis that our physical reality is a mathematical structure and his theory of the ultimate multiverse. In a dazzling combination of both popular and groundbreaking science, he not only helps us grasp his often mind-boggling theories, but he also shares with us some of the often surprising triumphs and disappointments that have shaped his life as a scientist.

One of the great insights of science is that the universe has an underlying order. The supreme goal of physicists is to understand this order through laws that describe the behavior of the most basic particles and the forces between them. For centuries, we have searched for these laws by studying the results of experiments. Since the 1970s, however, experiments at the world's most powerful atom-smashers have offered few new clues. So some of the world's leading physicists have looked to a different source of insight: modern mathematics.

One of the great mysteries of science is that its fundamental laws are written in the language of mathematics. Graham Farmelo's thrilling new book shows how modern maths has helped physicists to rethink gravity, space, and time. The Universe Speaks in Numbers takes us on an adventure from the Enlightenment to the present with a vibrant cast of characters, illuminating the most exciting and controversial developments in contemporary thought.

Why do mobile phones work when you're on a train? What happens when you pull a pop song apart into pure sine waves and play it back on a piano? And what did mathematicians have to do with the great pig stampede of 2012? The answer to each of these questions can be found in the triangle. Join Matt Parker, stand-up comedian and author of the first ever maths book to be a No. 1 bestseller, as he uncovers the secrets of trigonometry and shares extraordinary stories about the mathematicians, philosophers and engineers who dared to take triangles seriously.

Learn about the science and history of dinosaurs with iMindsJNR audio-learning series for younger minds. Huge and sometimes ferocious, dinosaurs ruled the earth for more than 175 million years. To us, dinosaurs might be scary-looking. But humans never had to fear dinosaurs because they died out 65 million years ago, a long time before the first people were around!Dinosaurs lived in a period called the Mesozoic era, which began about 240 million years ago.

As physicists work toward completing a theory of the universe and biologists unravel the molecular complexity of life, a glaring incompleteness in this scientific vision becomes apparent. The "theory of everything" that appears to be emerging includes everything but us: the feelings, meanings, consciousness, and purposes that make us (and many of our animal cousins) what we are.

Learn about the science and history of volcanoes with iMindsJNR audio-learning series for younger minds. A volcano is an opening in the earth's surface through which molten rock, gases and debris can escape. The mound commonly associated with volcanoes is what remains after eruptions have collected and hardened around this opening.Volcanoes exist in the mythology of numerous countries, such as Iceland and Japan. Many past cultures, such as the Greeks and the Romans, also had volcano mythology.

More than any other writer, Gilbert White (1720-1793) has shaped the relationship between man and nature. A hundred years before Darwin, White realised the crucial role of worms in the formation of soil and understood the significance of territory and song in birds. His precise, scrupulously honest, and unaffectedly witty observations led him to interpret animals’ behaviour in a unique manner. Here, a collection of his letters to Daines Barrington and Thomas Pennant.

Robert arrives in Colombia with a surprise for his wife, Rosemary: Tara, a Jack Russell puppy. Join this adventurous couple - and their amazing, seafaring canine crew of one - as they cruise around the world on their yacht, Deusa. Their exciting and sometimes hair-raising adventures on land and sea include tales of tsunamis, modern-day pirates, corrupt customs officials, several instances of 'dog overboard!', many new friends - and near disaster off the Australian coast....

Did you know that bats compose their own songs? That mice giggle when tickled? Or that lizards do push-ups to seduce a mate, that elephants ‘hear’ through their feet, or that rats laugh? Drawing upon the latest scientific research, we see how animals build, create, and entertain themselves and others; how animal ‘friends’ keep in touch; and how some animals problem-solve more effectively than humans. The result is a thrilling scientific exploration that unlocks the secret lives of the animal world.

A guide to enhancing our relationships with our pets through meditation and mindfulness, from best-selling author David Michie. The bonds we share with our pets go beyond words and are often deeper than many of our human relationships. What is the nature of these close connections? And what if our influence on pets, both in life and especially through sickness and death, is far more powerful than we ever conceived?

In an effort to make sense of the deaths in quick succession of several loved ones, Kathleen Dean Moore turned to the comfort of the wild, making a series of solitary excursions into ancient forests, wild rivers, remote deserts, and windswept islands to learn what the environment could teach her in her time of pain. This audiobook is the record of her experiences.

Few people will easily admit to taking pleasure in the misfortunes of others. But who doesn't enjoy it when an arrogant but untalented contestant is humiliated on American Idol, or when the embarrassing vice of a self-righteous politician is exposed, or even when an envied friend suffers a small setback? The truth is that joy in someone else's pain - known by the German word schadenfreude - permeates our society.

Experience the great wealth of wildlife on our planet through a journey in sound. In partnership with the Wildlife Sound Recording Society, the British Library is proud to present this download of recordings from across the globe. The 22 recordings, all made by WSRS members, come from locations as diverse as Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Cyprus, Sweden, Australia, Borneo, Malawi, Madagascar, Canada and Venezuela.

Atmospheric recordings of British Wildlife through the seasons by Richard Margoschis Wild Britain is a celebration of natural habitats in Britain through the seasons, from early spring to mid-winter. The tracks have been carefully selected from the British Library Sound Archive collections to represent a wide range of wild soundscapes in different moods. From a bleak, wintry valley in Scotland to a gentle summer's morning in England woodland, they capture the varied ambience of our diverse countryside.

How to Choose The Right Dog for You! This is a practical guide to guarantee you and your new "man's best friend" enjoy a great life together. What are the basic guidelines and checklists I should follow to make choosing the right dog? I compiled all my research and life experience with dogs, and had one created! Figuring out what dog you want is largely based on you: here's just some of what's inside. Are you ready to have a dog?

.Embark upon an underwater adventure with this new download of wildlife recordings from the British Library Sound Archive. Experience the haunting song of the Humpback Whale as it travels through winter breeding grounds in search of a mate, and marvel at the humming courtship calls of the male Haddock. Encounter Dusky Dolphins in the Pacific, Harp Seals in the Arctic and a host of other species including the lovable Bottlenose Dolphin and the mighty Blue Whale.

This download of atmospheric recordings takes you on a journey around Britain's spectacular coastline. Relax to the gentle sound of lapping waves on a shingle beach or stand on a cliff alive with the sounds of nesting seabirds. The download include a tranquil Norfolk harbour as Black-headed Gulls glide past and an awakening Hampshire reed bed where the rich song of the Reed Warbler dominates the dawn chorus.

In this wonderful audiobook narrated by Alex Norton comes inspiration and practical advice for would-be smallholders. Full of curiosities and sensible advice to get you started.

Hear a day in the life of the Amazonian rainforest, a continuous sequence of beautiful and exotic sounds. From dawn to dusk the magic of the forest unfolds, with rare birds, monkeys, insects, frogs and toads. There is an afternoon equatorial rainstorm and the evening chorus of birds once the storm has passed. The recordings have no spoken announcements, so the download can be used for relaxation and background sounds at home.