Acommon cartoon theme involves a person wearing a sandwich sign or carrying a poster that proclaims, “Repent! The end is near!” What’s implied is that some sudden, violent event is just around the corner and that people need to brace themselves for whatever’s coming. And usually, the end that’s near involves...

Biology is based on the fundamental laws of nature embodied in chemistry and physics, but the origin and evolution of life on earth were historical events. This makes biology more like astronomy than like chemistry and physics. Neither the organization of the universe nor life as we know it had to evolve as it did. Chance played a central...

Planetary Science is an exciting, fast-moving, interdisciplinary field with courses taught in a wide range of departments, including astronomy, physics, chemistry, earth sciences and biology. Planets and Planetary Systems is a well-written, concise introductory textbook on the science of planets within our own and other solar...

?Sound, practical advice driven home with real-world examples. . . . This...

London is both traditional and trend-setting — the home of ceremonious pomp and pageantry and the "anything goes" aura of Soho. You can hang around the Tower of London or seek out the happening spots. Dine on fish and chips, try modern British cuisine, or take advantage of great ethnic restaurants, including Indian, French,...