100 Greatest Science Discoveries of All Time

by Kendall Haven

Overview

Brimming with fascinating and fun facts about 100 scientific breakthroughs, this collection presents the real stories behind the history of science, at the same time offering a panoramic overview of the history of science and an introduction to some of the most important scientists in history. Grades 6 and up.

Throughout history, science has changed lives and dramatically altered the way in which the universe is perceived. Focusing on the 100 most significant scientific events of all time—from Archimedes' discovery of the two fundamental principles underlying physics and engineering (levers and buoyancy) in 260 B.C.E. to human anatomy, Jupiter's moons, electrons, black holes, the human genome, and more—storyteller Kendall Haven has created a ready reference for those seeking information on science discoveries.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781591582656
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	02/28/2007
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.57(d)
Age Range:	11 Years

About the Author

Kendall Haven is a nationally recognized master storyteller and the author of numerous books, including Marvels of Math, Write Right!, and Close Encounters with Deadly Dangers. A former research scientist, he is based in Fulton, California.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     ix
Introduction     xi
How to Use this Book     xv
Levers and Buoyancy     3
The Sun Is the Center of the Universe     5
Human Anatomy     7
The Law of Falling Objects     9
Planetary Motion     11
Jupiter's Moons     13
Human Circulatory System     15
Air Pressure     17
Boyle's Law     19
The Existence of Cells     21
Universal Gravitation     23
Fossils     25
Distance to the Sun     27
Bacteria     29
Laws of Motion     31
Order in Nature     33
Galaxies     36
The Nature of Electricity     38
Oceans Control Global Weather     40
Oxygen     43
Photosynthesis     45
Conservation of Matter     47
The Nature of Heat     49
Erosion of the Earth     51
Vaccinations     53
Infrared and Ultraviolet     55
Anesthesia     57
Atoms     59
Electrochemical Bonding     61
The Existence ofMolecules     63
Electromagnetism     65
First Dinosaur Fossil     67
Ice Ages     69
Calories (Units of Energy)     71
Conservation of Energy     73
Doppler Effect     75
Germ Theory     77
The Theory of Evolution     79
Atomic Light Signatures     81
Electromagnetic Radiation/Radio Waves     83
Heredity     86
Deep-Sea Life     88
Periodic Chart of Elements     90
Cell Division     92
X-Rays     95
Blood Types     97
Electron     99
Virus     101
Mitochondria     103
Radioactivity     105
Atmospheric Layers     107
Hormones     109
E = mc[superscript 2]     111
Relativity     114
Vitamins     117
Radioactive Dating     119
Function of Chromosomes     121
Antibiotics     124
Fault Lines     126
Superconductivity     128
Atomic Bonding     131
Isotopes     133
Earth's Core and Mantle      136
Continental Drift     138
Black Holes     140
Insulin     142
Neurotransmitters     144
Human Evolution     146
Quantum Theory     148
Expanding Universe     150
Uncertainty Principle     153
Speed of Light     155
Penicillin     158
Antimatter     160
Neutron     163
Cell Structure     165
The Function of Genes     167
Ecosystem     169
Weak and Strong Force     171
Metabolism     174
Coelacanth     176
Nuclear Fission     178
Blood Plasma     181
Semiconductor Transistor     183
The Big Bang     185
Definition of Information     188
Jumpin' Genes     190
Fusion     192
Origins of Life     194
DNA     196
Seafloor Spreading     199
The Nature of the Atmosphere     201
Quarks     203
Quasars and Pulsars     205
Complete Evolution     208
Dark Matter     211
The Nature of Dinosaurs     213
Planets Exist Around Other Stars     215
Accelerating Universe     218
Human Genome     220
References     223
Discoveries by Scientific Field     229
Scientists     233
The Next 40     237
Index     239

Editorial Reviews

A former research scientist, Haven is now a nationally-recognized master storyteller and author of numerous books. His latest offering for students and interested general readers briefly describes the 100 scientific discoveries which have had the greatest impact on the development of human science and thinking, from Archimedes' discovery of the two fundamental principles underlying physics and engineering to recent work on the human genome. The text provides not only information on science discoveries, but also on the process of doing science and insights into the lives key people in the field. Each entry includes a definition of the discovery and its name, the year of discovery, discovering scientist, why it ranks as one of the 100 greatest, how it was discovered, and a reference list.” —SciTech Book News

“Listed in chronological order, the discoveries range from young Archimedes's description of levers (ca. 260 B.C.E.) and Vesalius's revolutionary study of human anatomy (1543) to Neils Bohr's theory of atomic bonding (1913) and the mapping of the human genome (2003). The author opens each entry with a lucid justification for its inclusion, goes on to relate each discovery's circumstances in a lively way (Tipped off that Franklin had new information, Crick stole one of the Rosalind's X-shaped X-rays), and concludes with a substantial reading list….[w]ould make a useful supplemental resource for students of the history of science.” —School Library Journal

“While this reference is indicated for students grades 6 and up, it's reviewed here for its importance and relevance to many a high school to adult reader who wants a chronological chart of the most notable scientific discoveries, from Archimedes' discovery of the two basic principles underlying physics to discoveries about human anatomy and black holes. From health to astronomy, fun facts about these scientific breakthroughs gather the real stories behind discoveries and reveal how scientists work to prove or disprove theories.” —California Bookwatch

“Each discovery is described in two pages and has the year of discovery, an inset box with What is it? and Who discovered it? A paragraph defends Why is this one of the 100 greatest? and continues with How it was discovered. Fun Facts are shown with a light bulb icon, and a More to explore bibliography will have six or more citations for further research. In settling students at the beginning of each class, science teachers may choose to read one of these entries either one day or stretch it over two days. While it belongs on the reference shelf, you may want to have one or more copies for your circulating collection. This is a winner and you will want to book talk it for your science teachers as soon as your copy arrives. Helping them integrate this content into their curriculum will help make science more important to students who might be less interested.” —GALE Reference for Students

From the Publisher

Gr 5-7
As a companion to 100 Greatest Science Inventions of All Time (Libraries Unlimited, 2006), Haven offers his choices for the most significant advances (in recorded history) in our knowledge or understanding of the physical universe. Listed in chronological order, the "discoveries" range from young Archimedes's description of levers (ca. 260 B.C.E.) and Vesalius's revolutionary study of human anatomy (1543) to Niels Bohr's theory of atomic bonding (1913) and the mapping of the human genome (2003). The author opens each entry with a lucid justification for its inclusion, goes on to relate each discovery's circumstances in a lively way ("Tipped off that Franklin had new information, Crick stole one of Rosalind's X-shaped X-rays"), and concludes with a substantial reading list. He closes the volume with several indexes plus a "B" List of discoveries that didn't quite make the cut. Along with several typos and spelling errors (e.g., "Young Vesalius poured over each volume"), the gray, pictureless layout makes this more suitable for reading aloud to classes than for individual study or pleasure reading. Still, it would make a useful supplemental resource for students of the history of science.
—John PetersCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal