Heavy wind swept across the clearing, howling through the surrounding maples and pounding the tiny cabin with sheets of rain as the worn and bent farmer trudged across the newly sown lawn, making for the warmth of the candle-lit windows.Did you get a mental picture as you read the above sentence? Did you see the cabin? Did you see the rain blowing across the clearing and beating on the tiny structure?If you answered yes, consider yourself extremely lucky. You have retained ...

Most people pride themselves on being logical, rational individuals, but we all fall prey to cognitive biases - errors in reasoning, perception, memory, and decision-making.Even though we may not know them by name, cognitive biases and other psychological phenomena impact everything from what we buy and how we vote to the ways we prejudge others and resolve conflicts. These mental shortcuts can be beneficial in some situations and harmful in others. These biases ca...

The military's focus on innovation and problem-solving has led to the creation of numerous items and technologies that have transcended the battlefield and become commonplace in our daily lives.This accessible reference volume explores 46 of these innovations, from duct tape to microwaves, focusing on the people and events that made each possible. Entries follow a standardized format that covers both the development and initial military applications of each innovat...

Profiling 60 medical innovations and milestones from the 11th through 21st centuries, this book highlights the people and stories behind these key moments while also exploring their historical context and enduring legacy.Medical Firsts: Innovations and Milestones That Changed the World brings together a carefully curated collection of turning points in the history of medicine over the last millennium. These firsts are drawn from a wide array of medical fie...

Providing accurate, accessible information on vaccines and the controversies that surround them, this book outlines the history of vaccine regulation and interactions between vaccines and the immune system, and thoughtfully considers each vaccine debate.A part of Greenwood's Health and Medical Issues Today series, The Vaccine Debate provides a straightforward introduction to the interaction between vaccines and the immune system.Th...

Some of them were elementary school dropouts. Others became medical doctors or college professors. Some were famous, while some toiled in obscurity. Some became rich. Others remained poor their whole lives. But the African-American scientists and inventors profiled in this book had one thing in common: a determination to succeed. And in pursuing their dreams, these creative thinkers made the world a better place. Lewis Latimer devised a manufacturing process that made electric lights affor...

Many people dream of owning their own business or making it to the top of the corporate ladder. In the pages of this book, you'll meet African Americans who overcame obstacles and stereotypes to make their dreams a reality. Madam C. J. Walker was orphaned at age 7, married at 14, became a mother at 18, and was widowed at 20. She went on make a million dollars selling hair care products. Berry Gordy loved music but went broke after opening a record store. He didn't give up, though. Gordy ev...

Historically, theocracy has been a fairly rare form of government. Still, theocracies have appeared all over the globe, and they have taken a variety of forms. This book examines theocratic governments, from ancient Egypt to present-day Iran. It explores how different theocracies arose, how their leaders maintained authority, and what it was like for ordinary people living under religious rule. Theocracy will provide students with a wealth of fascinating and thought-provoking information.

This book provides easy-to-understand, scientifically backed answers to readers' questions about hormones, helping them understand the many important roles they play, particularly during adolescence.Especially during the teenage years, people are quick to blame raging hormones for everything from acne to rebellious behavior. But hormones play vital and varied roles throughout our lives, driving such basic processes as growth and metabolism and orchestrating sexual ...

This accessibly written book provides a broad introduction to diabetes-its signs, symptoms, and effects on the body; how it can be managed and prevented; and the issues and controversies that surround this all-too-common condition.Today, nearly one in 10 Americans has diabetes, and complications from diabetes are now the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Rates of type 2 diabetes are on the rise, despite the fact that it's considered a highly prev...

Providing scientifically accurate, detailed, and accessible information to students and general readers, this book presents the history of vaccination; describes the administration, manufacturing, and regulation of vaccines in the United States; and explains the most recent scientific findings about vaccination while addressing concerns of those who oppose immunization.What is a vaccine and how does it work? How are vaccines made? Who discovered vaccines? What dise...

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, basketball legend and the NBA's alltime leading scorer, champions a lineup of little-known African-American inventors in this lively, kid-friendly book. Did you know that James West invented the microphone in your cell phone? That Fred Jones invented the refrigerated truck that makes supermarkets possible? Or that Dr. Percy Julian synthesized cortisone from soy, easing untold people's pain? These are just some of the black inventors and innovators scoring big points in...