The Chunnel
Part of the Great Idea series
The railway tunnel, or Chunnel that whisks millions of passengers and vehicles between England and France is an engineering miracle. Built deep under the English Channel with massive tunnel boring machines the Chunnel is the longest undersea tunnel in the world-and one of history's most fascinating construction projects. Correlates with STEM instruction. Includes glossary, websites, and bibliography for further reading.
The Large Hadron Collider
by Bonnie Juettner Fernandes
Part of the Great Idea series
What really happened during the Big Bang? Why did matter form? Why do particles have mass? To answer these questions, scientists and engineers have worked together to build the largest and most powerful particle accelerator in the world: the Large Hadron Collider. Correlates with STEM and Physics instruction. Includes glossary, websites, and bibliography for further reading.
The Jaws of Life
Part of the Great Idea series
Describes the invention and development of the "Jaws of Life." Every great invention begins with a great idea! Read all the books in this series and learn about the history and impact of some of the most fascinating innovations and inventions of our time. Explore the idea's early stages of development, problems encountered along the way, and how each great idea has influenced our lives. From popular culture and the environment to life-saving machines, learn about the ideas, people, and technologies that made it all happen. This series correlates with The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) curriculum initiative.
Burj Khalifa: The Tallest Tower in the World
Part of the Great Idea series
Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world with 163 floors rising half a mile into the sky. World records in construction and design were shattered when this engineering marvel rose out of the desert to reach the clouds above Dubai. Correlates with STEM instruction. Includes glossary, websites, and bibliography for further reading.
The Great Wall of China
Part of the Great Idea series
Thousands of years ago, the Chinese wanted to build a defensive wall. Millions of workers throughout China created the largest human-made structure in history. Today it is one of the top engineering marvels in the world. Correlates with STEM instruction. Includes glossary, websites, and bibliography for further reading.
Home Windmills
Part of the Great Idea series
Describes the need for alternative energy sources including the development of the home windmill. Includes glossary, websites, and bibliography for further reading. Every great invention begins with a great idea! Read all the books in this series and learn about the history and impact of some of the most fascinating innovations and inventions of our time. Explore the idea's early stages of development, problems encountered along the way, and how each great idea has influenced our lives. From popular culture and the environment to life-saving machines, learn about the ideas, people, and technologies that made it all happen. This series correlates with The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) curriculum initiative.
The Seed Vault
Part of the Great Idea series
The seed vault in Norway houses plant seeds from around the world to be stored in the event that the plant needs to be reintroduced into the food supply. Every great invention begins with a great idea! Read all the books in this series and learn about the history and impact of some of the most fascinating innovations and inventions of our time. Explore the idea's early stages of development, problems encountered along the way, and how each great idea has influenced our lives. From popular culture and the environment to life-saving machines, learn about the ideas, people, and technologies that made it all happen. This series correlates with The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) curriculum initiative.
The Hoover Dam
Part of the Great Idea series
The Hoover Dam is more than just enormous concrete wall. It is an engineering marvel achieved by careful planning and hard, dangerous work. By using gravity and the force of flowing water, 17 turbines inside the Hoover Dam produce electricity for millions of people. Correlates with STEM instruction. Includes glossary, websites, and bibliography for further reading.
The Pyramids of Giza
Part of the Great Idea series
Thousands of years ago, the Egyptians had no cranes or other advanced lifting devices. Yet they managed to build the tallest structures the world would see until modern times. These great engineering feats--three gigantic pyramids--still tower above the desert sands at Giza, near Egypt's capital, Cairo. Correlates with STEM instruction. Includes glossary, websites, and bibliography for further reading.
The Qinghai-tibet Railway
Part of the Great Idea series
Ascending 16,000 feet above sea level, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the highest train line in the world. Marvel at the engineering solutions that completed a railway that traverses some of the tallest mountain ranges in the world and crosses a foundation of unstable permafrost to connect modern China to the Hidden Kingdom of Tibet. Correlates with STEM instruction. Includes glossary, websites, and bibliography for further reading.
Pilotless Planes
Part of the Great Idea series
Pilotless Planes or "drones" have become an important aspect of modern military operations. Developed for espionage and warfare, pilotless planes are also used for public safety issues and can reduce injury or death rates for pilots. Glossary, additional resources and index. Every great invention begins with a great idea! Read all the books in this series and learn about the history and impact of some of the most fascinating innovations and inventions of our time. Explore the idea's early stages of development, problems encountered along the way, and how each great idea has influenced our lives. From popular culture and the environment to life-saving machines, learn about the ideas, people, and technologies that made it all happen. This series correlates with The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) curriculum initiative.
Recycled Tires
Part of the Great Idea series
Describes the need to reduce used tire landfills and the development of recycling tires. Includes glossary, websites, and bibliography for further reading. Every great invention begins with a great idea! Read all the books in this series and learn about the history and impact of some of the most fascinating innovations and inventions of our time. Explore the idea's early stages of development, problems encountered along the way, and how each great idea has influenced our lives. From popular culture and the environment to life-saving machines, learn about the ideas, people, and technologies that made it all happen. This series correlates with The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) curriculum initiative.
Lego Toys
Part of the Great Idea series
Describes the invention and development of LEGO toys. Every great invention begins with a great idea! Read all the books in this series and learn about the history and impact of some of the most fascinating innovations and inventions of our time. Explore the idea's early stages of development, problems encountered along the way, and how each great idea has influenced our lives. From popular culture and the environment to life-saving machines, learn about the ideas, people, and technologies that made it all happen. This series correlates with The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) curriculum initiative.
The Panama Canal
Part of the Great Idea series
The Panama Canal was an engineering project that changed the face of the earth. More than 61 million pounds (28 million kg) of TNT was used to blast away mountain rock. 96 million cubic yards of dirt was hauled away in rail cars. The project connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, giving ships a shortcut that saves 7,872 miles (12,669km). Correlates with STEM instruction. Includes glossary, websites, and bibliography for further reading.
Sunscreen for Plants
Part of the Great Idea series
Purshade, a new SPF 45 spray, can be applied to crops in order to prevent burning and dehydration. Every great invention begins with a great idea! Read all the books in this series and learn about the history and impact of some of the most fascinating innovations and inventions of our time. Explore the idea's early stages of development, problems encountered along the way, and how each great idea has influenced our lives. From popular culture and the environment to life-saving machines, learn about the ideas, people, and technologies that made it all happen. This series correlates with The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) curriculum initiative.
Becoming Invisible: From Camouflage to Cloaks
Part of the Great Idea series
Since the beginning of time humans and animals have looked for ways to be less visible to opponents. From the art of camouflage to the science of stealth technology, ways have been developed to hide objects and people. Today, scientists are building an "invisibility cloak" that makes objects and people underneath it seem to disappear. Every great invention begins with a great idea! Read all the books in this series and learn about the history and impact of some of the most fascinating innovations and inventions of our time. Explore the idea's early stages of development, problems encountered along the way, and how each great idea has influenced our lives. From popular culture and the environment to life-saving machines, learn about the ideas, people, and technologies that made it all happen. This series correlates with The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) curriculum initiative.
Water From Air: Water Harvesting Machines
Part of the Great Idea series
Describes the need for clean safe drinking water throughout the world and the development of water harvesters. Includes glossary, websites, and bibliography for further reading. Every great invention begins with a great idea! Read all the books in this series and learn about the history and impact of some of the most fascinating innovations and inventions of our time. Explore the idea's early stages of development, problems encountered along the way, and how each great idea has influenced our lives. From popular culture and the environment to life-saving machines, learn about the ideas, people, and technologies that made it all happen. This series correlates with The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) curriculum initiative.