The Seventy Great Mysteries of the Natural World

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Every day we read about or experience massive changes in the environment and the natural world. But what do we really know about the functioning of Earth and of life? What do we still have to learn?

Here, over sixty of the world's most eminent scientists--from the United States and the UK to India and Australia, from France and Germany to Italy and the Netherlands--share prvileged insights into their cutting-edge research and findings. The volume's seven sections explore the origins of the planet and of life, the inner and outer workings of the earth, the concept and evidence for evolution, biogeography and environments, plants and animals, animal behavior, and global warming and the future.

The authors address an extraordinary range of questions: Were the dinosaurs warm-blooded or not? Why do mammals rule the earth? Which was the largest volcanic eruption ever? How did the eye evolve? Why did our ancestors have eight toes? Has there always been ice at the poles? Are humans the only animals with consciousness? Is the largest living thing a whale, a giant redwood, or a fungus? What will happen to climates in the future?

Michael J. Benton is Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology and was the Head of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol. He has published more than forty books, including When Life Nearly Died.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

This book is essentially a "mini-encyclopedia" with only 70 entries organized in the following sections: "Origins," "The Earth," "Evolution," "Biogeography and Environments," "Plants and Animals," "Animal Behaviour," and "Global Warming and the Future." Each entry is three to five pages in length and includes excellent illustrations and diagrams. Of course, the 70 great mysteries are not that at all--they simply reflect the number of topical entries that constitute the volume. The selection of those topics appears to be idiosyncratic. For example, the section on "Plants and Animals" contains ten entries, but none of them concerns plants. In spite of this unbalanced coverage, the book reads surprisingly well. It felt as if each entry were a brief personal lecture from a knowledgeable expert on the topic. This is not unlike attending a scientific meeting with a wide set of topics. The book is primarily for undergraduate audiences; however, as someone who teaches paleontology, this reviewer found many of the entries quite enlightening. Summing Up: Recommended. Libraries serving lower- and upper-division undergraduates, two-year technical program students, and general readers. P. K. Strother Boston College

Booklist Review

Sixty top science writers intent on imparting knowledge and evoking awe convene between the covers of this superbly illustrated, multidiscipline overview. Seven topical sections with 10 chapters each produce the promised 70 mysteries. Beginning with the origins of the planet and earthly life, concise and lively essays illuminate earth and life science fundamentals, then branch out into fresh and mind-expanding discussions of deserts, tsunamis, how evolution works, why insects are so diverse, and how plants and animals adapt to extreme conditions. As the book progresses, the questions raised and answered become more urgent and involved, as scientists consider human genetic variation, biodiversity, animal emotions and morality ( wild justice ), global warming, wildlife conservation, the ever-growing human population, what will replace oil, and the pursuit of sustainability. This exceptionally welcoming and clarifying browsing book offers insights into how and why scientists study an array of complex topics and how scientific inquiry impacts our lives. A one-stop boost to science literacy, this well-designed survey will arouse curiosity and inspire further reading and inquiry.--Seaman, Donna Copyright 2008 Booklist