April 2009
Book Review: A World on Fire: A Heretic, an Aristocrat, and the Race to Discover Oxygen by Joe Jackson
(out of 5 stars)
The history in A World on Fire centers on two men whose scientific curiousity led them to discover vital new clues about the air we breath and eventually, oxygen. Joseph Priestley, a British minister, and Antoine Lavoisier, a French aristocrat, worked independent of each other, and often fed off (or directly challenged) each other's work to drive forward in the search for the components of breathable and combustable air. Lavoisier's work sparked the Chemical Revolution even as Priestley fought stidently for a theory ('phlogiston') that quickly began to lose favor with chemists.
This book is not deep with science, though there are a few very basic formulas and descriptions of methodology. The narrative instead focuses largely on the setting and context of the discoveries made by the two men. Revolution in France and America, as well as the madness of King George in Britain and the fall of the monarchy in France led to a unique atmosphere in which this scientific story progressed.
As a history of scientists, this book is an easy read and one that is both enlightening and enjoyable. My primary complaint, and the reason for a 3/5 star review, is the author's insistence in placing his own speculation into the story. Many instances of 'One might imagine...' or 'It isn't hard to believe...' or 'Perhaps he saw...'. This is a major turn off for me in book on history. This doesn't greatly detract from the value of the book and its story, but it does make the reader wonder which facts are documented and which the author has chosen to include despite flimsy or non-existent evidence.
Book Review: Every Drop For Sale by Jeffrey Rothfeder
(out of 5 stars)
Every Drop for Sale is a short book, only 191 pages, that tackles the long-ignored problem of water rights and access through the world. From the Hoover Dam to projects in Egypt, Bolivia, and Malaysia, author Rothfeder takes the reader on a journey through numerous water-centric anecdotes to support his thesis that water rights and access are a vital challenge for our world right now and must be a central concern for year to come. He touches on privatization and globalization of water, and offers a balanced view of the role each has (and may) play in the struggle for clean, available water. Each instance is light reading and doesn't involve much in the way of the science behind the water cycle, instead remaining at a social, political, and logistical discussion.
For what this book attemps, namely to educate he reader on the wide variety of water-related troubles facing locales around the world, this book is excellent and easily digested. However, I offer two main reasons for giving this book a 3/5. First, it is very light on personal advice. This is by design, no doubt, but a bit of encouragement on how the reader might get involved and make a difference seems like a natural extention of the book's theme and is an opportunity missed by the author. Second, the book was written in 2001 and the stories the author relates are now greatly out of date. The points of emphasis at each story locale still stand, but many of the discussions of specific locales involve now-dated material. This is no fault of the author and happens with any current events book. A reader picking up this book for current info should be aware of this second point, however, and read the book for its thesis and not for its details. Well worth a quick read and is both eye-opening and enjoyable, even if a bit light on in-depth coverage of the issues. Three stars.
Book Review: Ghost Soldiers by Hampton Sides
(out of 5 stars)
Ghost Soldiers is an outstanding and fast-paced account of the Raid at Cabanatuan, Philippines during WWII. This raid, conducted by 6th Army Rangers, Alamo Scouts, and local Philippine guerilla forces attempted to rescue hundreds of American and other Allied soldiers held in the prison camp. Many of the prisoners were survivors of the Bataan Death March and had been held there for 30 months at the time of the raid. Fearing a massacre at the hands of Japanese guards as the American advance moved toward Manilla, especially following similar massacres in previous weeks, the US Army determined to rescue the prisoners before they could be slaughtered. Using stealth, guts, and incredibly timely local help and resources, the Rangers and company took part in an amazing rescue combat action.
The book does great justice to the events and the men involved , and is fantastically written for any level of military history reader. Sides' narrative is well developed, with just enough personal touches of the men to bring their stories to life, and his descriptions of conditions and activities at the camp are harrowing and very well constructed. I could not put this book down. Sides interweaves the stories of the rescuing Rangers with the desperate, hellish, nightmarish existence of the prisoners in the months leading up to the raid. Excellent book, amazing mission, my only complaint is that the author did not include a full sourcing of his research. Highly recommended, four and one-half stars.
Book Review: Bad Astronomy by Phil Plait
(out of 5 stars)
Dr. Plait's Bad Astronomy is a first-rate introduction to astronomy-related myths and the real facts you should know. This book is intended as a primer for curious but otherwise beginning science readers. If you have read other popular science books, you probably don't need most of the info contained in this book. Plait sets straight many different myths, including why the sky is blue (not from ocean reflections) and why toilets flush the way they do (hint: it is not due to the rotation of the earth). Basic concepts are covered and popular but ignorant misconceptions are cleared up.
While this book was not really for me (I did skim through a few chapters), it is an excellent resource for someone interested in learning more about astronomy or science myths. Plait's writing is very easily digested and he is good at clearly defining his concepts. The section on debunking astronomy-related creationist points is well formed and should be a solid framework for smacking down those arguments. Three stars for me personally since I prefer more advanced treatment of astronomy, but solidly recommended for beginning science readers or those whose astronomy experience is very low.
Book Review: Liaisons of Life: ... How the Unassuming Microbe has Driven Evolution
(out of 5 stars)
I've been on a kick lately learning about Dawkin's Extended Phenotype and the idea that genetics can drive a complex system in ways that aren't solely isolated to a single body vehicle. I thought this book might take up that idea and run with it, but the author doesn't quite make that connection to dawkins. However, he comes very close with Liaisons. This book is a quick read and includes examples of microbes that have joined larger plants or animals to become symbionts. Most of the examples are of mutually beneficial relationships between the microbes and their hosts, including lichen, angler fish, legumes, and many others.
This is an area of science that is fascinating, quickly changing, and can be mind boggling at times, but I felt Wakeford did an excellent job conveying his points and explaining the complex relationships without overburdening with deep science. There is good detail in the book, and it is not for the very casual science reader, but still approachable by curious readers. Recommended for anyone seeking an extention of the Phenotype idea or general science readers. Four stars.
Book Review: Islands of Truth: A Mathematical Mystery Cruise
(out of 5 stars)
Math is such a hard subject to put into enjoyable narrative that I tend to be relieved when I realize I'm already 100 pages into a math book and don't feel like putting it back on the shelf. Peterson's narrative is engaging and should provide a comfortable realm in which to explore his examples of applied and advanced math studies. While the book itself does contain some discussion of advanced math, the author is careful to offer the reader solid analogies and models to help understand some of the concepts. The book is heavily peppered with graphics, charts, models, and other visual representations of the subjects, which helps enormously in visualizing what the author describes.
This book was written in 1990, so many of the discussions regarding computers and their function in math (generally the last 1/3 or so) are greatly out of date. However, all is not lost since Peterson's underlying points are often untouched by such concerns. Just keep that in mind as you read about things that aren't yet possible on computers, or feats which have surely been bested, such as disussion of Deep Thought (chess playing computer Deep Thought eventually gave way to Deep Blue which scored a highly controversial victory over master and champion Kasparov in 1997 before being dismantled). All in all, well worth a read for most any level of math reader or general science reader. Four stars.
Talking Bacteria: Bonnie Bassler
This is an excellent presentation given by microbiologist Bonnie Bassler at TED talks. She explains how biologists have discovered chemical language used by bacteria to dictate behavior and analyze their neighbors. Fascinating subject.
M87's Black Hole Jet Seen By Hubble
The HST has provided some interesting observations of galaxy M87 where energetic jets appear to be shooting out in an event tagged HST-1:
The outburst is coming from a blob of matter, called HST-1, embedded in the jet, a powerful narrow beam of hot gas produced by a supermassive black hole residing in the core of the giant elliptical galaxy M87. HST-1 is so bright that it is outshining even M87's brilliant core, whose monster black hole is one of the most massive yet discovered.
The glowing gas clump has taken astronomers on a rollercoaster ride of suspense. Astronomers watched HST-1 brighten steadily for several years, then fade, and then brighten again.
Dan Dennett Refutes Rick Warren
I've been a fan of Dan Dennett as a leading thinker in areas of evolution as well as philosophy of mind and personality. In this clip, from the 2006 TED conference, Dennett gives a presentation soon after mega-church pastor Rick Warren has spoken. Dr. Dennett is always a treat, but this one, dealing with evolution, creationism, and the role of religion, is of his best.
Antarctic Microbes Found
Discovery News let us know about a story in the new Science about a spectacular find below the Antarctic glaciers:
It's a particularly tough environment, with no light, no oxygen, and extremely cold temperatures. But the microbes appear to live -- and thrive -- off a combination of iron and sulfur, according to a new study. The result of that strange metabolism is a brilliant red streak of cascading ice called Blood Falls.
...
The chemical analyses showed that the microbes breathe in a form of iron that leaches into the water from the bedrock below. Then, with the help of sulfur compounds as catalysts, the microorganisms breathe out a different form of iron, which gives Blood Falls its rusty color.
