Scientific American

"Cosmos" comes from a Greek word for an orderly and systematic universe. In this book, we present the most riveting discoveries and mind-bending ideas about our cosmic home, from what we know of the origins of the universe and the cartography of space to the most bizarre phenomena and the search for life. Discussions include the possibility that the big bang was the consequence of a black hole in a fourth spatial dimension, that cosmic ripples created infinite universes, that entangled black holes could act as wormhole-like passageways through space, and much more.

How did life begin on Earth? Does it exist elsewhere? What would those life forms be like? These fundamental questions about the nature of life and our own cosmic significance are endlessly fascinating. In this book, we present several theories on the origin of life, some of its extreme and surprising forms, and the ongoing search for signs-or sentience-on distant worlds.

Brave New Brain presents incredible projections into the future from the technological reality of now, including *Current wireless thought controlled prosthetic devices that allow our thoughts controlling everything from the garage door to our computer *Recently revealed brain scans that show where and how we experience emotions like love and desire that will help thought control and strategic brain manipulation that will facilitate the choice and process of finding a mate. *New neuroscientific research on how we remember, learn, make decisions, respond to conflict, win or lose competitions, and other intellectual activities that may be enhanced and redirected with laser intervention. *Future research, theory and application in neuroscience that may lead to new ways of raising children, picking stocks, staying on diet, curing disease, reversing genetic predisposition, and improving the quality of our lives. .

The fundamental outlines of the physical world, from its tiniest particles to massive galaxy clusters, have been apparent for decades. Does this mean physicists are about to tie it all up into a neat package? Not at all. Just when you think you're figuring it out, the universe begins to look its strangest, and this audiobook illustrates how answers often lead to more questions and open up new paths to insight.

Every issue of Scientific American and Scientific American Mind has breaking news about how the brain works-and how it can stay healthy longer. Neurologists and psychologists are finding the brain at midlife-from 40 to 65 and even beyond-is much more elastic and more supple than anyone ever realized. Far from disintegrating, healthy maturing brains fade quite slowly- and even in old age, continue to make new connections and bring new cognitive systems on line. Short-term memory may not be what it was, but we manage information and parse meanings in new-and often more effective-ways than we did in youth. What's more, temperament changes to suit those new skills, as research shows we actually grow happier as we age, more comfortable with ambiguity and less susceptible to frustration or irritation. This book shows how to optimize your aging brain, how we can achieve a new level of perspective and involvement while retaining mental skills and productivity in our later years-and what neuroscience is finding about keeping our brains healthy. Current and future interventions are documented to enhance our mental powers.

The past few years have seen tremendous strides in our understanding of cancer, including new hypotheses about its genetic origins and new treatment alternatives using the body's own immune response. In The Science of Cancer, we examine what we know and what we're finding out about this scourge of humankind. We delve into the molecular basis and complex causes of cancer, the arguments for and against screenings, minimizing risk, and several new and targeted therapies, including homing in on stem cells, making use of viruses, and making use of vaccines to jump-start the immune system.