GSXR Compilation 94

1. Nature's Clocks: How Scientists Measure the Age of Almost Everything 2008

When most people read about dating an ancient artifact, we think of carbon-14 dating. But as earth scientist Macdougall (Frozen Earth) tells readers, carbon dating works only if the object contains carbon, and then it can't be more than about 50,000 years old. Many other elements are radioactive, allowing, for example, for a potassium-argon dating system of volcanic and Precambrian rocks, and other applications in studying archeology and human evolution. Macdougall says that scientists have used these various radiometric dating systems for research as far-flung as dating the age of the solar system, figuring out when humans immigrated to the North America and when the Neanderthals died out, determining that a huge tsunami was created by a massive earthquake off the Northwest Pacific Coast in 1700 and nailing down the age of the Shroud of Turin (it dates to the Middle Ages, though controversy persists). Science buffs from all fields along with general readers will find this a helpful handbook on how we are now able to travel to the distant past. B&w photos, line drawings, map. (June)

2. The Void 2008

Aristotle famously wrote that nature abhors a vacuum, but as Oxford physicist Close illustrates in this concise study, that depends on what you mean by a vacuum or a void. Greek and medieval philosophers gave philosophical arguments against the existence of the void, but an artificial vacuum was finally created in 1643 and quickly used to investigate atmospheric pressure. Scientific exploration of a vacuum's properties and applications took off in the 19th century, although ancient ideas like the concept of an ether that pervaded empty space masqueraded as serious science until Einstein explained them away via relativity. Close (Lucifer's Legacy) is a particle physicist at heart, and he hits his stride as he explains why scientists now don't think a void is really empty at all, but is teeming with particles popping in and out of existence and pervaded by a contemporary version of the ether, called the Higgs field. Close misses opportunities to make this a more rewarding interdisciplinary study that would attract a broader readership, and science buffs will find it redundant with other books in their collections. The moral of Close's book should be, as Nietzsche said, that when you look into the void, it really is looking back at you. 20 b&w illus.

3. Evolution in Health and Disease 2008

In this fully revised and updated edition, the editors have integrated a completely new set of contributions from the leading researchers in the field to describe the latest research in evolutionary medicine, providing a fresh summary of this rapidly expanding field 10 years after its predecessor was first compiled. It continues to adopt a broad approach to the subject, drawing on medically relevant research from evolutionary genetics, human behavioral ecology, evolutionary microbiology (especially experimental evolution of virulence and resistance), the evolution of aging and degenerative disease, and other aspects of biology or medicine where evolutionary approaches make important contributions.

4. Calm Energy: How People Regulate Mood with Food and Exercise - robert thayer 2003

Obesity is reaching alarming proportions. In this insightful new approach to understanding why this is happening, acclaimed mood scientist Robert Thayer offers a new appreciation of the real cause-emotional eating. But this is not just emotional eating as previously known; rather it is a new scientific analysis of exactly how different moods affect eating. He shows how unprecedented stress in society and epidemic levels of depression have led people to food as a poor means of managing mood. In this original approach, Thayer describes how people's daily energy and tension variations occur, and how this knowledge helps overcome the urge to eat the wrong food and to achieve the goal of ""calm energy."" Also, in this most up-to-date scientific analysis of exercise and mood, he shows how physical activity is essential to psychological and physical health, yet why it is resisted. Thayer's work has been discussed in hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles, and here he outlines in detail the cutting-edge theories and scientific research findings that have generated this extensive media attention.

5. God, Evil and Design: An Introduction to the Philosophical Issues - david o'conner 2008

Although vast and complex, the universe is orderly in many ways, and conditions at its beginning were right for the eventual evolution of life on this planet. But with life there is death, and with sentient life there is great pain and suffering, often with no apparent justification or purpose. Taking these things together, is it reasonable to conclude that the universe was brought about by God? Moreover, does the magnitude of seemingly pointless suffering square with the idea that God exists, or is it good reason to think there is no God? These questions come up for many people, not just religious believers, and are examined in this engaging and thought-provoking book.

Starting out with no pre-disposition to theism, atheism, or agnosticism, God, Evil, and Design takes up these questions in order to see where an impartial investigation leads. To achieve impartiality, the reader is invited to simulate ignorance insofar as his or her own religious preference is concerned. With this approach, God, Evil, and Design provides both a fresh look at important and controversial issues in philosophy and an excellent introduction to the contemporary debates surrounding them. Lively and non-technical, this book will be accessible to anyone with an interest in these topics.

6. Human Body (DK Eyewitness Books) 2009

Two titles with a slightly different bent. Instead of a straightforward presentation of what exists, Parker poses a series of hypothetical questions such as "What if the Earth were twice as big?" and "What if there were no wind?" In The Human Body, he asks "What if we had no skin?" and "What if people didn't have sex?" Explanations are clear and lively (if perhaps given too many exclamation points). Average-quality cartoon illustrations mirror the texts and provide a touch of humor. Given their scattershot approach, the books are better suited to browsing than for report writing. The "Understanding Science & Nature" series (Time-Life) gives a bit more coverage in these areas.

7. Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science

Fair, witty appraisal of cranks, quacks, and quackeries of science and pseudoscience: hollow earth, Velikovsky, orgone energy, Dianetics, flying saucers, Bridey Murphy, food and medical fads, more. "A very able and even-tempered presentation.

8. Concentration - Christian D. Larson (1920)

Synopsis :
Concentration in general may be defined as an active state of mind
wherein the whole of attention, with all available energy and talent,
is being applied upon the one thing that we are doing now.

9. The Cambridge Companion to Atheism - michael martin 2006

In this volume, eighteen of the worlds leading scholars present original essays on various aspects of atheism: its history, both ancient and modern, defense and implications. The topic is examined in terms of its implications for a wide range of disciplines including philosophy, religion, feminism, postmodernism, sociology and psychology. In its defense, both classical and contemporary theistic arguments are criticized, and, the argument from evil, and impossibility arguments, along with a non religious basis for morality are defended. These essays give a broad understanding of atheism and a lucid introduction to this controversial topic.

10. The Monstrosity of Christ: Paradox or Dialectic

A militant Marxist atheist and a 'Radical Orthodox' Christian theologian square off on everything from the meaning of theology and Christ to the war machine of corporate mafia. In this corner, philosopher Slavoj Zizek, a militant atheist who represents the critical-materialist stance against religion's illusions; in the other corner, 'Radical Orthodox' theologian John Milbank, an influential and provocative thinker who argues that theology is the only foundation upon which knowledge, politics, and ethics can stand. In "The Monstrosity of Christ", Zizek and Milbank go head to head for three rounds, employing an impressive arsenal of moves to advance their positions and press their respective advantages. By the closing bell, they have not only proven themselves worthy adversaries, they have shown that faith and reason are not simply and intractably opposed. Zizek has long been interested in the emancipatory potential offered by Christian theology. And Milbank, seeing global capitalism as the new century's greatest ethical challenge, has pushed his own ontology in more political and materialist directions. Their debate in "The Monstrosity of Christ" concerns the future of religion, secularity, and political hope in light of a monsterful event - God becoming human. For the first time since Zizek's turn toward theology, we have a true debate between an atheist and a theologian about the very meaning of theology, Christ, the Church, the Holy Ghost, Universality, and the foundations of logic. The result goes far beyond the popularized atheist/theist point/counterpoint of recent books by Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, and others. Zizek begins, and Milbank answers, countering dialectics with 'paradox'. The debate centers on the nature of and relation between paradox and parallax, between analogy and dialectics, between transcendent glory and liberation.

11. A Secular Age Summary - By Charles Taylor 2007

What does it mean to say that we live in a secular age? Almost everyone would agree that we--in the West, at least--largely do. And clearly the place of religion in our societies has changed profoundly in the last few centuries. In what will be a defining book for our time, Charles Taylor takes up the question of what these changes mean--of what, precisely, happens when a society in which it is virtually impossible not to believe in God becomes one in which faith, even for the staunchest believer, is only one human possibility among others.

13. The Roving Mind - by Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke 1997

Isaac Asimov's death on 6 April 1992, was a great loss to the world of literary science and free thought. The prolific author's vision is unmatched today, and his pointed honesty shines through in "The Roving Mind", now reissued in this special tribute edition. This collection of essays is wide-ranging, reflecting Asimov's extraordinary skill in disseminating knowledge from across the spectrum of human thought. Some of the areas explored in this volume of 62 essays include creationism, pseudoscience, censorship, population, philosophy of science, transportation, computers and corporations of the future, and astronomy. His predictions about cloning which has only recently become the topic of public debate the theory of 'technophobia', and other scientific developments are astounding. In a lighter tone, Asimov includes several personal stories from his life including thoughts on his style of writing and memories of family in younger days. With tributes by Arthur C Clarke, L Sprague de Camp, Harlan Ellison, Kendrick Frazier, Martin Gardner, Donald Goldsmith, Stephen Jay Gould, E C Krupp, Frederik Pohl, and Carl Sagan.

14. Dark Mission: The Secret History of NASA - Richard C. Hoagland, Mike Bara 2007

For most Americans, the word NASA suggests a squeaky-clean image of technological infallibility.

Yet the truth is that NASA was born in a lie, and has concealed the truths about its occult origins. Dark Mission documents this seemingly wild assertion.

Why is the Bush administration intent on returning to the moon as quickly as possible? What are the reasons for the current “space race” with China, Russia, and India? Remarkable images reproduced within this book provided to author Richard C. Hoagland by disaffected NASA employees provide clues why, including information about suppressed lunar discoveries.

Mystical organizations quietly dominate NASA, carrying out their own secret agendas behind the scenes. This is the story of men at the very fringes of rational thought and conventional wisdom, operating at the highest levels of our country. Their policies are far more aligned with ancient religions and secret mystery schools than the facade of rational science NASA has successfully promoted to the world for almost fifty years.

Dark Mission is proof of the secret history of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the astonishing, seminal discoveries it has repeatedly suppressed for decades.

Richard C. Hoagland is the former science advisor to CBS News, author of The Monuments of Mars, and a frequent guest on the popular radio programs Coast To Coast and The Art Bell Show.

Mike Bara is a consulting engineer for Boeing aircraft. This is his first book.

15. Air Pollution Is Killing Millions 2004

16. Toxic at Any Speed: Chemicals in Cars & the Need for Safe Alternatives 2006

In Wake of High-Profile Study on Air Pollution in Cars,
Volvo, Hyundai Move Toward Elimination of Dangerous Chemicals
International Attention for Ecology Center’s Report on Toxic Chemicals in Cars
Serves as Wake-Up Call for Car Manufacturers and Consumers
Mercedes, Chrysler, Toyota and Subaru Urged to Reduce
Highest Levels of Toxic Chemicals Used to Make Interior Auto Parts
(Detroit, MI) – Since the January 11 release of the Ecology Center’s first-of-its-kind study about toxic
chemical exposure in automobile interiors, car manufacturers have been under pressure to prove that their cars
are safe for drivers and passengers alike.
The study – Toxic at Any Speed: Chemicals in Cars & the Need for Safe Alternatives – looked at two
groups of chemicals that have been linked to birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, premature births and
early puberty in laboratory animals, among other serious health problems. The chemicals in question -- PBDEs,
used as flame retardants, and phthalates, used to soften PVC plastics (and partly responsible for “new car
smell”) -- are used to make seat cushions, armrests, floor coverings, wire insulation and other interior auto parts.
Dozens of news stories are continuing to come out about the new report on such stations as ABC, NBC, CBS,
Fox and Telmundo, putting car manufacturers and consumers on alert.

17. FLUORIDATION: Mind Control of the Masses - y Ian E. Stephens

Despite damning evidence on fluoride toxicity,
bureaucracies and multinationals continue to pollute our
drinking water and mess with our physical and mental
health

18. MIAC Strategic Report