Why Can't Elephants Jump and 113 other science questions answered [New Scientist]

by Mick O'Hare

Hardcover, 2010

Status

Available

Call number

502

Publication

Profile Books (2010), Hardcover

Description

Science. Nonfiction. HTML: From the editors that brought you Why Don't Penguin's Feet Freeze? and Do Sparrows Like Bach?,an exploration of the weird and wonderful margins of science�??the latest in brilliant New Scientist series   What's the storage capacity of the human brain in gigabytes? Why is frozen milk yellow? Why do flamingos stand on one leg? And why can't elephant's jump? Is it because elephants are too large or heavy (after all, they say hippos and rhinos can play hopscotch)? Or is it because their knees face the wrong way? Or do they just wait until no one's looking? Read this brilliant new compilation to find out. This is popular science at its most absorbing and enjoyable.   The previous titles in the New Scientist series have been international bestsellers and sold over two million copies between them and here is another wonderful collection of wise, witty, and often surprising answers to a staggering range of science questions.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member jimroberts
Why Can't Elephants Jump? and 113 more science questions answered is one of Mick O'Hare's compilations of questions and answers from the New Scientist 'Last Word' column. It falls naturally into sections of about two pages, each a question and its answers, so it is a convenient book to have
Show More
available to read in odd free moments. Indeed, the best way to read it is a bit at a time, as too much at once would be rather overwhelming.

I found most of the questions interesting and the answers are mostly well founded. In many cases, people active in relevant research fields or otherwise well qualified contribute: for example, one response to the jumping elephant question is from R. McNeill Alexander, a leading expert in biomechanics.
Show Less

Language

Original publication date

2010

Physical description

240 p.; 7.95 inches

ISBN

1846684897 / 9781846684890
Page: 0.1558 seconds