Real World Science

Why are some people lactose intolerant? What happens to the brain during and after a concussion? What causes acne breakouts? The answers to these questions and many more are found in the biology of the human body. Featuring relatable scenarios and hands-on activities, this book details how biology affects practically everything in a person's everyday life. Sidebars consider myths about acne, sex testing in sports, antibiotic resistance, mental health, and how microorganisms transform food. Supporting Next Generation Science Standards in Middle School Life Science, this book provides students with a deeper understanding of the process of science and the importance of biology in their lives.

How does the temperature of ocean water make a difference in the strength of tropical storms? This question and many others can be answered with the principles of earth science. Supporting the Next Generation Science Standards, this book discusses everyday events to describe earth science principles in action. Each chapter contains a sidebar with information on places such as the Ring of Fire and the role Cepheid variable stars play in calculating the distance of objects in space. Simple experiments provide students an opportunity to see the science firsthand.

How do soaps and detergents clean? Why do metals conduct electricity? How does burning fossil fuel contribute to global warming? The answers to these questions are found by examining the properties and behaviors of atoms and molecules. Insightful explanations and hands-on science activities simplify complicated chemistry principles into pieces of information that are more easily grasped. Sidebars include discussions on animals that can live thirty years without water, the Maillard reaction responsible for the taste and texture of french fries, the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and how tires provide a cushion of air to smooth our rides. This book allows students to appreciate that when it comes to understanding the world around us, tiny molecules can provide big explanations.

How many day-to-day important devices are engineering design products? How does a smartphone send wireless communication? How do batteries release energy? These and other questions are explained using straightforward language that weaves in science terminology and is accompanied by intriguing photographs. Easy experiments demystify engineering concepts with step-by-step instructions to make bioplastics, bridges, motors, and robot arms. Sidebars explore high-interest current developments such as drones, 3D printing, and self-driving cars. Based on the Next Generation Science Standards, this book helps students understand the engineering design process and boosts their physical science knowledge of matter, forces, energy, and waves.

Physics is the study of matter and energy. Interactions of matter and energy create everything, from the thunderous roar of a waterfall to the crackling sizzle of an egg frying in a pan. Physicists understand those complex events by studying simpler ones. Supporting the Next Generation Science Standards, this book, which features lively text enhanced by full-color images and straightforward activities, illustrates how the study of simple events can improve comprehension of the complex physical world. Readers will hone their observational skills and begin to understand the common threads that link distinct observations.

Ecology isn't just for academics; nonscientists are exposed to it every day. The squirrels in the backyard, the trees and grasses in the neighborhood, and the green energies and fossil fuels powering houses and cars are all part of ecology. Aligning with the Next Generation Science Standards by addressing the interactions, dynamics, and energy in ecosystems, this book educates readers on a variety of ecological issues, including the problems with detergents, the big deal about green plants, and why some animals don't need energy from sunlight for photosynthesis. Through relatable examples enhanced by hands-on activities, interesting sidebars, and vivid photographs, students will learn the scientific principles, implications, and breakthroughs of ecology.