Life is an enduring mystery. Yet, science tells us that living beings are merely sophisticated structures of lifeless molecules. If this view is correct, where do the seemingly purposeful motions of cells and organisms originate? In Life's Ratchet, physicist Peter M. Hoffmann locates the answer to this age-old question at the nanoscale.Below the calm, ordered exterior of a living organism lies microscopic chaos, or what Hoffmann calls the molecular storm -- specialized mol...

Praise for the prior edition"The author has done a magnificent job… this book is highly recommended for introducing biophysics to the motivated and curious undergraduate student."―Contemporary Physics"a terrific text … will enable students to understand the significance of biological parameters through quantitative examples―a modern way of learning biophysics." ―American Journal of Physics"A superb pedagogical textbook… Full-color illustrati...

The groundbreaking, "seminal work" (Time) on intelligent design that dares to ask, was Darwin wrong?In 1996, Darwin's Black Box helped to launch the intelligent design movement: the argument that nature exhibits evidence of design, beyond Darwinian randomness. It sparked a national debate on evolution, which continues to intensify across the country. From one end of the spectrum to the other, Darwin's Black Box has established itself as t...

Candid, provocative, and disarming, this is the widely-praised memoir of the co-discoverer of the double helix of DNA.

Quantum Evolution presents a revolutionary new scientific theory by asking: is there a force of will behind evolution? In his astonishing first book, Johnjoe McFadden shows that there is.‘McFadden’s bold hypothesis that quantum physics plays a key role in the origin and evolution of life looks increasingly plausible. The weird behaviour of matter and information at the quantum level could be just what is needed to explain life’s astonishing properties. If these ideas are right, the...

We want to help you succeed on the MCATWe've put all of our proven expertise in McGraw-Hill's MCAT to make sure you're ready for this difficult exam. This book will give you essential skill-building techniques and strategies developed by a team of renowned MCAT experts. You'll get the facts about the current exam, concise summaries of important concepts, hundreds of diagrams and scientific illustrations, two downloadable full-length practice tests, and mor...

Complete preparation for the more than 30,000 students taking the PCAT each yearThe number of Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) test takers has doubled since 2001-and that number continues to grow. McGraw-Hill's PCAT provides comprehensive review of every test topic while preparing you for the new format of the test that was instituted in June 2007. With sample tests, test-taking strategies, and intricate scientific illustrations, you'll have all the ...

This guide is packed with useful and up-to-date information regarding Organic Chemistry - Reactions. This guide contains information on: features of an organic reaction, kinetics & reaction mechanism, organic acid & base, benzene/arene, alkyne & alcohol and much more.

The processes in a single living cell are akin to that of a city teeming with molecular inhabitants that move, communicate, cooperate, and compete. In this Very Short Introduction, Philip Ball explores the role of the molecule in and around us - how, for example, a single fertilized egg can grow into a multi-celled Mozart, what makes spider's silk insoluble in the morning dew, and how this molecular dynamism is being captured in the laboratory, promising to reinvent chemistry as the centra...

This highly unusual book began as a serious inquiry into Schrödinger's question, “What is life?”, and as a celebration of life itself. It takes the reader on a voyage of discovery through many areas of contemporary physics, from non-equilibrium thermodynamics and quantum optics to liquid crystals and fractals, all necessary for illuminating the problem of life. In the process, the reader is treated to a rare and exquisite view of the organism, gaining novel insights not only into the physi...

"A beautifully written journey into the mechanics of the world of the cell, and even beyond, exploring the analogy with computers in a surprising way" (Denis Noble, author of Dance to the Tune of Life).How does a single-cell creature, such as an amoeba, lead such a sophisticated life? How does it hunt living prey, respond to lights, sounds, and smells, and display complex sequences of movements without the benefit of a nervous system? This book offers a st...

An extraordinarily accessible, illuminating chronicle of the great moments of scientific discovery in the 20th century, and an exploration into the minds of the remarkable men and women behind them.We know and read the literary masterpieces; how many of us have had the opportunity not only to read but understand the masterpieces of science that describe the very moment of discovery? The last century has seen an explosion of creativity and insight that led to breakthroughs in every ...