Discover the Power of GO Programming: Your Gateway to Software Excellence!Are you ready to embark on a journey into the world of GO programming? Look no further – we're here to guide you through the intricacies of this dynamic language. Developed by Google luminaries Robert Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thompson in 2007, GO language offers a statically-typed syntax reminiscent of C, coupled with cutting-edge features like garbage collection, type safety, and dynamic...

What is the best way to kill weeds in paving? How scared should we really be of Japanese knotweed? And what is a weed anyway?Biologist Ken Thompson set out to write a different kind of gardening column, one that tackles what he calls 'the grit in the gardening oyster'. In this new collection he takes a look at some of the questions faced by gardeners everywhere in a bid to sort the truth from the wishful thinking.Why are the beaks of British great tits gettin...

"A survey of the botanical experimenting and theorizing that occupied Darwin's golden years. . . . with expert evolutionary commentary." — New York Review of BooksFor many people, Charles Darwin's trip to Galapagos Islands on the Beagle, where he saw a biodiversity of birds, inspired him to write his theory of evolution. But this simplified narrative leaves out a major part of Darwin's legacy. He published On the Origin of Species nearly t...

How are birds linked to house prices?How can a gardener improve theflavour of their vegetables?Do wildflowers really thrive in poor soil?In this collection of articles from The Telegraph, biologist and gardening columnist Ken Thompson takes a scientific look at some of the greater – and lesser – questions faced by gardeners everywhere in a bid to sort the genuine wisdom from the hokum.Wha...

We often imagine that rarity is special - we seek out the most uncommon wild plants to tick off our lists, while overlooking the extraordinary appeal of the species we encounter day-to-day. Yet it's these plants -the most successful, able to adapt and thrive - which are truly fascinating.Botanist, writer and expert gardener Ken Thompson has set out to chart Britain's fifty most abundant wild plants and reveal the secrets of their success. He explores the roots of their common names...

In 2003 a MORI poll for the Royal Horticultural Society revealed that an extraordinary number of us are interested in attracting wildlife into our gardens. It also indicated, however, that many of us have no idea how to go about it. Information is sparse, and public opinion seems to suggest that gardens that are plentiful in wildlife are unattractive, expensive to upkeep and hard work to maintain. But this couldn't be further from the truth.In this illuminating book, Ken Thompson e...

Jean Baudrillard on consumption: `It is not defined by the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the car we drive ... but in the organization of all this as signifying substance ... Consumption, in so far as it is meaningful, is a systematic act of the manipulation of signs.' Auguste Comte on science and sociology: `From science comes prevision; from prevision comes action (Savoir pour prevoir et prevoir pour pouvoir).' Emile Durkheim on suicide: `If religion protects a man from the desire to ...

How much do we really know about the species that make up the natural world?All over the world, biodiversity is gravely threatened – by overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution and climate change. Yet life on Earth has previously experienced five episodes of mass extinction, and nature has repeatedly proved itself to be a resilient, regenerative force.In this fascinating book, ecologist Dr. Ken Thompson surveys the Earth's biodiversity, its origins and s...

How did plants get to be the way they are? Why do they have pretty flowers? How different would things have been if the wrong kind of pollinators had got the upper hand? Why are Latin names so complicated, and why Latin anyway? Why is a weed-free lawn an ecological impossibility?This entertaining book gives the answers to these questions and many more. It shows how a little botanical knowledge can bring not just better results but peace of mind, and that losing sleep over such tradi...

A gripping examination of invasive species' impact.Super species are the phenomenally successful invasive life-forms that are dominating ecosystems. These animals, plants and microbes have spread far from their native habitats, most often as a result of human activities.The key to super species' success is their ability to adapt quickly. Super species may be unusually aggressive, difficult to kill, unfazed by the presence and activity of humans, capable of ...

"A fascinating exploration of this vast mysterious universe. Wonderfully written, it will grab you from page one and carry you all the way through." ―Philippe CousteauThe ocean teems with life that thrives under difficult situations in unusual environments. The Extreme Life of the Sea takes readers to the absolute limits of the ocean world—the fastest and deepest, the hottest and oldest creatures of the oceans. It dives into the icy Arctic and boiling hydr...

In Jared Diamond’s follow-up to the Pulitzer-Prize winning Guns, Germs and Steel, the author explores how climate change, the population explosion and political discord create the conditions for the collapse of civilizationEnvironmental damage, climate change, globalization, rapid population growth, and unwise political choices were all factors in the demise of societies around the world, but some found solutions and persisted. As in Guns, Germs, and S...