National Geographic Science Of Everything: How Things Work in Our World

WASHINGTON — National Geographic answers all your questions about how things work — in both the natural and man-made realms — in NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SCIENCE OF EVERYTHING: How Things Work in Our World (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-1168-3; on-sale date: Oct. 29, 2013; $40), with a foreword by the book’s spokesperson, David Pogue, tech columnist for The New York Times.

From rainbows to refrigerators to rollercoasters, from neon signs to cell phones to digital music, everywhere you turn, the things around you can be explained in terms of “it’s all just science.” This book reveals the science behind virtually everything in a fun, engaging way:

• How is meat grown in a lab?
• How does grain turn into beer?
• Why does rubber bounce?
• How does the voice of a distant radio announcer make it through your alarm clock in the morning?
• What makes a curve ball curve?
• What do antibiotics really do?

Divided into four parts — Mechanics, Natural Forces, Materials and Chemistry, and Biology and Medicine — NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SCIENCE OF EVERYTHING links familiar objects and modern technologies with the basic laws of mechanics, physics, chemistry and biology. Dedicated to the notion that everything around us has an interesting science tale to tell, this abundantly illustrated, modern-day book of knowledge makes learning fun — and makes remembering forgotten science even better!

Find out how Newton’s law of inertia and motion is behind the operation of Segways, jet engines and washing machines. Learn how bar code scanners, holograms and CD players depend on the same technology, and read how the same basic genetic science explains cloning, cancer and genetically modified foods.

“Science doesn’t have to be intimidating, or scary, or dry; presented well, the stories of science are incredibly interesting — especially when they peel back the operations of everyday things,” says Pogue. “And that, of course, is the joy of this book. The number of ‘aha’ moments per page is stunning.”

About David Pogue

David Pogue is today’s most entertaining and enthusiastic guide to the world of science and technology. He writes the tech column for The New York Times every week and for Scientific American every month. He hosts “NOVA scienceNOW” and other science shows on PBS and serves as technology correspondent for “CBS Sunday Morning.” Pogue wrote or co-wrote seven “for Dummies” books, including “Macs for Dummies” and “Opera for Dummies,” and created the “Missing Manual” series, a line of funny computer books that now includes 120 titles.

About National Geographic Books & Home Entertainment

National Geographic Books & Home Entertainment creates and distributes books, videos and other print and digital media that inform, engage and entertain diverse audiences about our world. Annually, the group publishes more than 125 new books for adults, families and kids and releases 250+ new DVDs and digital downloads of the Society’s films and TV shows; these National Geographic titles are available in more than 35 local-language editions. While special photographic and film collections, travel books, nature shows, birding guides and atlases are a core focus of the Society’s products, books and videos on subjects as diverse as animals, the human mind, history, world cultures and the cosmos are also produced. For more information, visit facebook.com/NatGeoBooks and nationalgeographic.com/books.