Science and the Secrets of Nature

Science and the Secrets of Nature PDF Author: William Eamon
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691214611
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 508

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Book Description
By explaining how to sire multicolored horses, produce nuts without shells, and create an egg the size of a human head, Giambattista Della Porta's Natural Magic (1559) conveys a fascination with tricks and illusions that makes it a work difficult for historians of science to take seriously. Yet, according to William Eamon, it is in the "how-to" books written by medieval alchemists, magicians, and artisans that modern science has its roots. These compilations of recipes on everything from parlor tricks through medical remedies to wool-dyeing fascinated medieval intellectuals because they promised access to esoteric "secrets of nature." In closely examining this rich but little-known source of literature, Eamon reveals that printing technology and popular culture had as great, if not stronger, an impact on early modern science as did the traditional academic disciplines.

Science and the Secrets of Nature

Science and the Secrets of Nature PDF Author: William Eamon
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691214611
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 508

Get Book Here

Book Description
By explaining how to sire multicolored horses, produce nuts without shells, and create an egg the size of a human head, Giambattista Della Porta's Natural Magic (1559) conveys a fascination with tricks and illusions that makes it a work difficult for historians of science to take seriously. Yet, according to William Eamon, it is in the "how-to" books written by medieval alchemists, magicians, and artisans that modern science has its roots. These compilations of recipes on everything from parlor tricks through medical remedies to wool-dyeing fascinated medieval intellectuals because they promised access to esoteric "secrets of nature." In closely examining this rich but little-known source of literature, Eamon reveals that printing technology and popular culture had as great, if not stronger, an impact on early modern science as did the traditional academic disciplines.

Secrets of Nature

Secrets of Nature PDF Author: William R. Newman
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 9780262140751
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 472

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Book Description
A fresh look at the role of astrology and alchemy in Renaissance thinking and everyday life.

What the Robin Knows

What the Robin Knows PDF Author: Jon Young
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN: 0547451253
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 277

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Book Description
How understanding bird language and behavior can help us to see more wildlife.

Seventy Great Mysteries of the Natural World

Seventy Great Mysteries of the Natural World PDF Author: Michael J Benton
Publisher: Thames and Hudson
ISBN:
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 312

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Book Description
Draws on the perspectives of sixty eminent scientists to discuss what is currently understood about the functioning of the planet as it relates to massive changes in the environment, in an extensively illustrated reference that features such sections as evolution, animal behavior, and global warming.

Searching for the Secrets of Nature

Searching for the Secrets of Nature PDF Author: Simon Varey
Publisher: Stanford University Press
ISBN: 9780804739641
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
This collection of essays by historians, historians of science and medicine, and literary and textual scholars from several countries analyzes the achievements of Dr. Francisco Hernández (1515-87), author of the monumental The Natural History of New Spain, in the history of medicine and science in Europe and the Americas.

The Amazing Secrets of Nature

The Amazing Secrets of Nature PDF Author: Reader's Digest Association
Publisher: Reader's Digest Association
ISBN: 9789622583061
Category : Natural history
Languages : en
Pages : 358

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Book Description
With 900 full-color photographs and illustrations, this book takes the reader on a tour of the natural world, from appreciating the mechanics of a bird's flight to mass migrations of land mammals to explanations of tsunamis and volcanoes.

Secrets of Snakes

Secrets of Snakes PDF Author: David A. Steen
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
ISBN: 1623497973
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 186

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Book Description
Winner, 2020 National Outdoor Book Award, Nature and the Environment Snakes inspire extreme reactions. Love or hate these limbless reptiles, almost everyone is fascinated by them. Although snakes are widespread and frequently encountered, they may be more misunderstood than any other group of animals. From giant rattlesnakes to mating dances, there are dozens of myths and misconceptions about snakes. In Secrets of Snakes: The Science beyond the Myths, wildlife biologist David Steen tackles the most frequently asked questions and clears up prevailing myths. In a conversational style with a bit of humor, Steen presents the relevant biology and natural history of snakes, making the latest scientific research accessible to a general audience. When addressing myths about snakes, he explains how researchers use the scientific method to explain which parts of the myth are biologically plausible and which are not. Steen also takes a close look at conventional wisdom and common advice about snakes. For example, people are told they can distinguish coralsnakes from non-venomous mimics by remembering the rhyme, “red on black, friend of Jack, red on yellow, kill a fellow,” but this tip is only relevant to coralsnakes and two mimics living in the southeastern United States, and it does not always work with other species or in other countries. Enhanced by more than 100 stunning color photographs and three original drawings, Secrets of Snakes: The Science beyond the Myths encourages readers to learn about the snakes around them and introduces them to how scientists use the scientific method and critical thinking to learn about the natural world. Number Sixty-one: W. L. Moody Jr. Natural History Series

The Secret Wisdom of Nature

The Secret Wisdom of Nature PDF Author: Peter Wohlleben
Publisher: Greystone Books Ltd
ISBN: 1771643897
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 272

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Book Description
“As you read these pages you will understand why I so admire [Peter Wohlleben] and am so in love with his work.”—JANE GOODALL Nature is full of surprises: deciduous trees affect the rotation of the Earth, cranes sabotage the production of Iberian ham, and coniferous forests can make it rain. But what are the processes that drive these incredible phenomena? And why do they matter? In The Secret Wisdom of Nature, master storyteller and international sensation Peter Wohlleben takes readers on a thought-provoking exploration of the vast natural systems that make life on Earth possible. In this tour of an almost unfathomable world, Wohlleben describes the fascinating interplay between animals and plants and answers such questions as: How do they influence each other? Do lifeforms communicate across species boundaries? And what happens when this finely tuned system gets out of sync? By introducing us to the latest scientific discoveries and recounting his own insights from decades of observing nature, one of the world’s most famous foresters shows us how to recapture our sense of awe so we can see the world around us with completely new eyes. Published in Partnership with the David Suzuki Institute.

Tapestries of Life

Tapestries of Life PDF Author: Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780008402754
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 368

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Book Description


Books of Secrets

Books of Secrets PDF Author: Allison Kavey
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
ISBN: 0252091590
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 215

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Book Description
How cultural categories shaped--and were shaped by--new ideas about controlling nature Ranging from alchemy to necromancy, "books of secrets" offered medieval readers an affordable and accessible collection of knowledge about the natural world. Allison Kavey's study traces the cultural relevance of these books and also charts their influence on the people who read them. Citing the importance of printers in choosing the books' contents, she points out how these books legitimized manipulating nature, thereby expanding cultural categories, such as masculinity, femininity, gentleman, lady, and midwife, to include the willful command of the natural world.