 | popular science
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Featured Topic: Global Warming
Is it really happening? Not even the science community can decide on a definite answer. The debate has raged for years and will continue to do so for many more to come, but we can help you make up your own mind. The theory goes that humans have been releasing vast quantities of the insulating gas, CO2, into the atmosphere since the industrial revolution. This coupled with the hole in the Ozone layer caused by CFC emissions has led to a warming Earth. On the other hand there are those who say that this is just a natural cycle and that humans are having no real effect on the current warming climate. |
Books:
 The Two-mile Time Machine: Ice Cores, Abrupt Climate Change and Our Future by Richard B. Alley."Recent news reports about large holes in the ice and open waters at the Arctic Circle have prompted renewed concerns about the effects of global warming. In measured tones, however, geoscientist Alley reminds us that during the last 100,000 years or so the earth has experienced a wildly varied climate pattern. Using readings of ice cores taken from Greenland, where he participated for several years in the '90s in far-reaching research projects, Alley demonstrates that periods of slow cooling and centuries of cold have been punctuated by periods of sudden warming. In fact, he notes, climatic stability is the exception rather than the rule, and he contends that the unusually warm, stable climate we have experienced for the past 10,000 years is an anomaly." (Publishers Weekly) |
 Climate Change: The Science, Impacts and Solutions by A.Barrie Pittock."It is widely accepted in the scientific community that climate change is a reality. In this second edition, leading climate researcher Barrie Pittock revisits the effects that global warming is having on our planet, in light of ever-changing scientific research. Pittock presents all sides of the arguments about the science and possible remedies." (Amazon.co.uk) |
 Global Warming: Understanding the Forecast by David Archer."Examining the greenhouse effect, the carbon cycle, and what the future may hold for global climate, this text draws on a wide range of disciplines, and summarizes not only scientific evidence, but also economic and policy issues, related to global warming. A companion web site at (http://understandingtheforecast.org) provides access to interactive computer models of the physics and chemistry behind the global warming forecast, which can be used to support suggested student projects included at the end of each chapter. Solutions and artwork from the book are available to instructors at www.blackwellpublishing.com/archer." (Amazon.co.uk) |
Articles from our online databases:
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center
A one-stop source for information on social issues, including viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles (library card required)
WorldWideScience.org
A global science gateway searching across over 40 scientific databases and portals from more than 50 countries.
NASA's Earth Observatory
NASA's Earth Observatory team give an introduction to the global warming of the Earth through a number of instructional videos, diagrams and interactive maps. The site also covers how each area on earth will be affected from the rain forests to the coral reefs.
For more articles please visit our mygateway.info Science databases
Recent science books
(for the latest science books every month, click here)
 Darwin's Armada: Four Voyages and the Battle for the Theory of Evolution by I McCalman."In delightful prose, University of Sydney historian McCalman tells the intertwined stories of Charles Darwin and three younger 19th-century explorers who came together to make the case for evolution and aid its relatively rapid acceptance around the world. The younger three were greatly influenced by Darwin's 1839 description of his travels on the Beagle and wanted to follow suit. McCalman devotes a section to the travels of each: Darwin on the Beagle; botanist Joseph Hooker's journeys around Australia and Antarctica; biologist Thomas Henry Huxley's excursions around Australia and New Guinea; and zoologist Alfred Russel Wallace's years in the Amazon and throughout Southeast Asia." (Publishers Weekly) |
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 Meteorites, by Caroline Smith, Sara Russell, Gretchen Benedix."Meteorites are rocks from space that have fallen to the Earth's surface. Once considered bad omens, they are now recognised as giving us a unique insight into the nature of material that was present at the formation of the solar system. In 'Meteorites', leading experts from the Natural History Museum, London provide a compelling and up-to-date introduction to these mysterious objects. They reveal what meteorites are, where they are most likely to be found and the environments which allow this, and the type of parent bodies that they come from. The book contains all the latest information on key meteorite falls and considers some of the big questions relating to the study of meteorites that still remain. With a mix of photographs, diagrams and maps, 'Meteorites' is essential reading for all those with an interest in these intriguing objects and the history of our solar system." (Amazon) |
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finding science books in the library
| 500 | Natural sciences |
| 510 | Maths |
| 520 | Astronomy |
| 530 | Physics |
| 540 | Chemistry |
| 550 | Earth Sciences |
| 560 | Paleontology |
| 570 | Life sciences |
| 580 | Botany |
| 590 | Zoology |
| 600 | Applied Sciences & Technology |
| 610 | Medicine |
| 620 | Engineering & Electronics |
At Central Library, science books are on the 1st floor. If in doubt, search the catalogue; if you need further assistance, ask one of our library staff members next time you visit or email us.
biographies
If you want a biography of a scientist, the library catalogue will give you the location. Here are some selected biographies grouped by specialisation:
botanists | zoologists | astronomers | paleontologists | physicists | women in science | Gale Biography Resource Center
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magazines
Science magazines are held on the 1st floor of Central Library, and all branches have a small collection of popular titles. You can search for articles in our mygateway.info science databases. We keep back-issues of many magazines, eg Scientific American (1878-1908, 1927- ).
databases & science mags online
We have many science magazines available for full text reading online through mygateway.info.
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websitesNew Zealand | General | Women and Science | Meteorology Earthquakes | Volcanoes | Astronomy | Science can be Fun! |
Featured websites:
The BBC Science Portal Revamped, Now Available
"The science portal from the BBC has received a makeover. You can find it at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/. One section that remains available is Lab UK. Here users can, "participate in groundbreaking scientific experiments online." In this BBC Internet Blog post, you'll read how Lab UK is working with University College London and Stanford University to, to test whether the internet has changed the physiology of our brains." (BBC Internet Blog)
general:
mygateway.info Science: Our information gateway to reliable information on the Net relating to Science, including our subscriber databases.
Science Daily: Breaking news about the latest discoveries and hottest research projects in everything from astrophysics to zoology.
SciTech Daily: Links to science-related articles from around the Internet
Intute: The UK gateway to Science, Engineering and Technology. It covers the physical sciences, engineering, computing, geography, mathematics and environmental science.
Environmental Ethics: Directory of unannotated links to general environmental ethics Web resources.
The Why Files: The science behind today's news headlines.
Smithsonian Institution: Science & Technology
Yahoo! Science and Biology
Google Directory: Biology and Botany
New Zealand birds
WebElements Periodic Table
UNC Minerals in thin section - minerals under a microscope and their different optical properties.
new zealand:
Te Puna Web Directory - New Zealand Science & Technology
IndexNZ.com science links
GNS Science
Latest NZ earthquake
NIWA: National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research
women and science:
Women-Related Web Sites in Science/Technology
science can be fun!:
Live chemistry
Insanely great science websites
Who is Sue? The world's largest and best preserved T.Rex
HotAIR" Tidbits from the Annals of Improbable Research (AIR), featuring winners of the annual Ig Nobel Prize for "for achievements that cannot or should not be reproduced."
World Flood Map: Raise sea level up to 14m and see if your house gets flooded
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meteorology:
MetVUW, weather and climate service
World sunlight map
List of all online weather stations in the country.
Weather Underground: Provides global weather forcasts and much more..
earthquakes:
Kidscat Earthquakes
Library material on earthquakes
New Zealand - general information
Geonet: Find out about the latest New Zealand earthquake and information on New Zealand Volcanoes
IRIS - Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology
New Zealand: Earth Sciences
volcanoes:
US Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program
Current volcano activity
USGS: FAQ about volcanoes
Kidscat Volcanoes
astronomy:
Astronomy magazine
NASA
NASA: Image gallery
Observing the sky blog
Astonomy New Zealand
Downloadable sky maps
360 Sky map of Northern Germany. Controls are in German, but are very easy to work out.
Our own Kids Catalogue Web has great links to our science books and recommended websites
dvds & videos
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