Bravo! Carly Anne York leaps to the defense of basic scientific research with wit, passion, and unabashed wonder. <b>Filled with insights and eureka moments</b>, <i>The Salmon Cannon and the Levitating Frog</i> is <b>a timely, thought-provoking, and thoroughly terrific read</b>

- Thor Hanson, author of CLOSE TO HOME,

<b>York is a witty, whip-smart, lithely engaging science storyteller, truly one of our best.</b> This book is a celebration of curiosity and a spirited defense of the quirky endeavors it inspires. With clear but never dumbed-down explanations and an infectious taste for the surreal, York makes the case for pure inquiry -- showcasing the value and world-changing discoveries that come of asking why. Fascinating, entertaining, and a welcome antidote to the small minds of certain politicians

- Mary Roach, author of STIFF and FUZZ,

York offers a countermeasure to the cynicism of our times: the pure joy of curiosity and wonder. <b>With humor and a scientist's keen eye</b>, she dissects silly-sounding science to reveal its surprising benefits. Along the way, she digs up my favorite kinds of stories: the ones that make you say "wow," "what?!," or "ew" - and then make you think

- Erika Engelhaupt, author of GORY DETAILS,

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<b>A joyful read with a lot of depth</b>, York's book will make you the hit of the dinner party (or online conversation) with her pithy and fun stories of how "silly science" is anything but. York shows - through examples from Archimedes' tub to how Gila Monsters led to the discovery of Ozempic - that what some see as pointless inquiry so often leads to a great discovery or key scientific insight. From the eccentric to the inspiring, York proves that human curiosity is an imperative part of the scientific process, and that there are rarely wasted experiments

- Starre Vartan, author of THE STRONGER SEX,

<b>A delightful plunge</b> into the curiosity-driven discoveries at the heart of science

- Kirkus,

This is <b>pop science at its finest</b>

- Publishers Weekly,

'York is a witty, whip-smart, lithely engaging science storyteller, truly one of our best'
Mary Roach, author of Stiff and Fuzz

A playful examination of how science's silliest research leads to crucial breakthroughs and enduring insights.

Why would anyone research how elephants pee? Or study worms who tie themselves into a communal knot? Or quantify the squishability of a cockroach?

Carly Anne York shows how unappreciated, overlooked and simply curiosity-driven science has led to breakthroughs big and small. Got wind power? You might have humpback whales to thank. Know anything about particle physics? Turns out there is a ferret close to the heart of it all. And if you want to keep salmon around, be thankful for that cannon! The research itself can seem bizarre, but it drives our economy. York invites us to appreciate the often-unpredictable journey of scientific exploration, highlighting that the heart of science lies in the relentless pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. Emphasizing the hard work of the people behind the discoveries, this is an accessible, story-driven book that shows how important and exciting it is to simply let curiosity run wild.

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A playful examination of how science's silliest research leads to crucial breakthroughs and enduring insights.

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781399817004
Publisert
2025
Utgiver
John Murray Press
Vekt
300 gr
Høyde
214 mm
Bredde
134 mm
Dybde
26 mm
Aldersnivå
00, G, 01
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
288

Forfatter

Biografisk notat

Carly Anne York is currently an associate professor at Lenoir-Rhyne University. She received her PhD in ecological studies from Old Dominion University. She is also the author of two nonfiction science books for children, A Day in the Life: Horses and Queens of the Jungle. She lives in North Carolina.