Describes the invention and function of such things as a combine harvester, a laser, an electronic microscope, a missile, and plastic. Includes several related activities.

Traces the history of medicine from early surgery and the discovery of radioactivity to progress in modern medicines and genetic engineering. Includes some simple activities.

Describes the evolution of land, sea, and air transportation including high-speed trains, submarines, and supersonic airplanes; includes instructions for science experiments relating to these vehicles.

Discusses the history of genetics, how knowledge of genes has been developed to treat illnesses, and ethical issues related to gene therapy.

Looks at the history, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing threat of tuberculosis, which continues to be the most deadly infectious disease in the world.

Discusses the history of man's knowledge of the heart, early heart surgery, and the results, possible complications, costs, and future of heart transplants.

A forgotten heroine of science and how she solved one of the crucial mysteries of the universe. How big is the universe? In the early twentieth century, scientists took sides. One held that the entire universe was contained in the Milky Way galaxy. Their champion was the strong-willed astronomer Harlow Shapley. Another camp believed that the universe was so vast that the Milky Way was just one galaxy among billions―the view that would prevail,...