You may have overlooked the science section at your local library but you can find lots of intriguing resources in the 500s - that's the number for books on science.
Some of my favourites are:
They Got It Wrong: Science by Graeme Donald: This book exposes the theories that were once widely regarded as facts but have since been proven to be science fiction. It tells the fascinating story behind 50 erroneous scientific theories and gives an incredible perspective on how the way we view the workings of the world has evolved throughout history.
Mad Science, edited by Randy Alfred: Each day of the year has a rich scientific and technological heritage just waiting to be uncovered. This book collects the most intriguing anecdotes for every day in a package that will appeal to hardcore techies and curious lay people alike.
A Little History of Science by William F. Bynum: With delightful illustrations and a warm, accessible style, this is a volume for young and old to treasure together. It takes readers to the stars through the telescope, as the sun replaces the Earth at the centre of our universe. It delves beneath the surface of the planet, charts the evolution of chemistry's periodic table, introduces the physics that explain electricity, gravity and the structure of atoms. It recounts the scientific quest that revealed the DNA molecule and opened unimagined new vistas for exploration.
Physics of the Future by Michio Kaku: Space elevators. Internet-enabled contact lenses. Cars that fly by floating on magnetic fields. This is the stuff of science fiction - it's also daily life in 2100. The author considers how these predicted inventions might affect the world economy, addressing the key questions: Who will have jobs? Which nations will prosper? He forecasts a century of earthshaking advances in technology that could make even the last century's leaps and bounds seem insignificant.
Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us by Joe Palca and Flora Lichtman: A look at why some things - and some people - drive us crazy. It happens everywhere: offices, schools, even your own backyard. Seemingly anything can trigger it: cellphones, sirens, bad music, constant distractions, your boss or even your spouse. We all know certain things get under our skin. Can science explain why? How often can you say you're happily reading a really annoying book!
Mathematics Minus Fear by Lawrence Potter: How can math help you bet on horses or win in Vegas? What's the foolproof way to solve Sudoku? How can probability teach you to calculate your chances of survival in Russian roulette? Find out in this irreverent and entertaining guide to mathematics.
The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean: You will learn that Marie Curie used to provoke jealousy in her colleagues' wives when she'd invite them into closets to see her glow-in-the-dark experiments. Did you know Lewis and Clark swallowed mercury capsules as they crossed the U.S.A. and their campsites are still detectable by the poison in the ground? Why did Gandhi hate iodine? Topics span the Big Bang to the end of time.
The Joy of Chemistry by Cathy Cobb: This book challenges the perception of chemistry as too difficult to bother with and too clinical to be any fun. From fireworks to the functioning of smoke detectors and computers, and the fundamentals of digestion (as when good pizza goes bad ), the authors illustrate the concepts of chemistry in terms of everyday experience, using familiar materials.
As well, Popular Science and American Scientific are two great magazines with lots of fascinating up-to-date information on what's going on in a wide variety of scientific fields. Don't forget to check out your library's collection of documentary DVDs such as the Planet Earth series produced by BBC.
So remember the magic number: 500s. Those are the shelves to explore on your next library visit, or ask for help at the Information desk.
A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published every Wednesday. Saied Forouzi works at Port Moody Library.
