The Annotated Old Four Legs: The story of the coelacanth PDF Download
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Author: Mike Bruton
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
ISBN: 177584501X
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 339
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Book Description
When the famous South African fish scientist Professor JLB Smith published Old Fourlegs – The Story of the Coelacanth in 1956 he created an international sensation. After all, this 400-million-year-old fish, known only from fossil remains, was thought to have become extinct around 66 million years ago! JLB Smith’s dramatic account of the discovery of the first and second coelacanths in 1938 and 1952 turned him into a cult figure and put South African science on the world map. His book was eventually published in six English editions and translated into nine foreign languages. Mike Bruton’s The Annotated Old Fourlegs includes a facsimile reprint of the original book, to which he has added notes and images in the margins that provide an interesting and revealing commentary on Smith’s text, as well as new introductory and explanatory chapters that bring the coelacanth story up to date.
Author: Mike Bruton
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
ISBN: 177584501X
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 339
Get Book Here
Book Description
When the famous South African fish scientist Professor JLB Smith published Old Fourlegs – The Story of the Coelacanth in 1956 he created an international sensation. After all, this 400-million-year-old fish, known only from fossil remains, was thought to have become extinct around 66 million years ago! JLB Smith’s dramatic account of the discovery of the first and second coelacanths in 1938 and 1952 turned him into a cult figure and put South African science on the world map. His book was eventually published in six English editions and translated into nine foreign languages. Mike Bruton’s The Annotated Old Fourlegs includes a facsimile reprint of the original book, to which he has added notes and images in the margins that provide an interesting and revealing commentary on Smith’s text, as well as new introductory and explanatory chapters that bring the coelacanth story up to date.
Author: Mike Bruton
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
ISBN: 9781775844990
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages :
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Book Description
JLB Smith's famous Old Fourlegs (on the discovery of the first and second coelacanths) was a best-selling South African natural history classic that was translated into 16 languages and published in many editions. Mike Bruton's book offers the original publication, but now with extensive annotations in both margins, modelled on Martin Gardener's The Annotated Alice. The new book features insights and discussion about the personalitites behind the original discovery, and the era in which they operated, along with exciting finds and advances made in the field since the first book was published. With a new foreword, detailed introduction and conclusion, it brings the coelacanth story right up to date.
Author: Weingart, Peter
Publisher: African Minds
ISBN: 1928502032
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 238
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Book Description
Why do we need to communicate science? Is science, with its highly specialised language and its arcane methods, too distant to be understood by the public? Is it really possible for citizens to participate meaningfully in scientific research projects and debate? Should scientists be mandated to engage with the public to facilitate better understanding of science? How can they best communicate their special knowledge to be intelligible? These and a plethora of related questions are being raised by researchers and politicians alike as they have become convinced that science and society need to draw nearer to one another. Once the persuasion took hold that science should open up to the public and these questions were raised, it became clear that coming up with satisfactory answers would be a complex challenge. The inaccessibility of scientific language and methods, due to ever increasing specialisation, is at the base of its very success. Thus, translating specialised knowledge to become understandable, interesting and relevant to various publics creates particular perils. This is exacerbated by the ongoing disruption of the public discourse through the digitisation of communication platforms. For example, the availability of medical knowledge on the internet and the immense opportunities to inform oneself about health risks via social media are undermined by the manipulable nature of this technology that does not allow its users to distinguish between credible content and misinformation. In countries around the world, scientists, policy-makers and the public have high hopes for science communication: that it may elevate its populations educationally, that it may raise the level of sound decision-making for people in their daily lives, and that it may contribute to innovation and economic well-being. This collection of current reflections gives an insight into the issues that have to be addressed by research to reach these noble goals, for South Africa and by South Africans in particular.
Author: Mike Bruton
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780813064642
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 328
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Book Description
"When the famous South African fish scientist Professor JLB Smith published Old Fourlegs - The Story of the Coelacanth in 1956 he created an international sensation. After all, this 400-million-year-old fish, known only from fossil remains, was thought to have become extinct around 66 million years ago! JLB Smith's dramatic account of the discovery of the first and second coelacanths in 1938 and 1952 turned him into a cult figure and put South African science on the world map. His book was eventually published in six English editions and translated into nine foreign languages. Mike Bruton's The Annotated Old Fourlegs includes a facsimile reprint of the original book, to which he has added notes and images in the margins that provide an interesting and revealing commentary on Smith's text, as well as new introductory and explanatory chapters that bring the coelacanth story up to date" - Publisher's website.
Author: Mike Bruton
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
ISBN: 1775846474
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 312
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Book Description
The discovery of the modern-day coelacanth will forever be linked with the name of JLB Smith. An intense, irascible, eccentric man, JLB (as he was widely known) and his long-suffering wife Margaret were both remarkable South African scientists who changed the course of the biological sciences. Best known for their research on the coelacanth, they also contributed in many other ways to the scientific study of fishes (ichthyology) and related fields. The first comprehensive biography about JLB and Margaret Smith. Traces their formative years and serendipitous meeting, leading up to the discovery of the coelacanth, and the tumultuous years that followed. Details their punitive work ethic, eccentric and rugged lifestyle, and their astonishingly productive lives. A story awash with adventure, travel, discovery, risk-taking, near-death experiences – and their extraordinary contribution to science. Illustrated with black-and-white images of the Smiths’ fascinating lives, as well as a 16-page colour section, Mike Bruton’s lively account fills a scientific and biographical niche and will become a classic of the South African scene. Sales points: Important biography of a famous South African couple, lively portrayal of colourful, eccentric, tumultuous lives, with contributions from many other scientists and personalities and illustrated with black-and-white images throughout, and a colour section.
Author: Micki Pistorius
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
ISBN: 0143527177
Category : True Crime
Languages : en
Pages : 239
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Book Description
The first comprehensive study of serial homicide in South Africa is intended primarily for psychologists, students, educators and police officers who require background on the behavioural patterns, motives and other details about serial killers. It is a serious attempt to understand the mind of the serial killer so that he may be identified and apprehended as soon as possible. For, as the author points out, serial killers' prospects of rehabilitation are negative - and they need to be removed from society for the remainder of their lives. Detectives need specific training to investigate serial homicide and Pistorius believes that an understanding of the psychodynamics of serial killers should be extended to state prosecutors, judges, parole officers and pathologists. She also believes that those who work with children need to be aware that all documented cases of serial killers reveal either childhood abuse or neglect and that children displaying antisocial behaviour should be identified and receive counselling. Only in being proactive in preserving the mental health and well-being of children can the double tragedy of serial homicide ultimately be prevented.
Author: Louis Liebenberg
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
ISBN: 1775848728
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 280
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Book Description
This handy guide provides simple tools to help interpret the tracks and signs of some 105 southern African mammals, reptiles, frogs and birds. Photographs and diagnostic spoor illustrations are given for each animal, along with information on behaviour, habits and habitat, and up-to-date distribution maps show where the animals occur. Special features on insects and scat supplement the text and a detailed introduction offers basic guidelines for learning how to become a tracker. Sales points: Clear illustrations of more than 125 animal tracks. 175 full-colour photographs. Special features on insects and scat. Author expertise well recognised in this field.
Author: J.A. Musick
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401131945
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 444
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Book Description
Author: Margaret M. Smith
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642828582
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 1205
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Book Description
Dr. D. S. Henderson, Chairman of the 1. L. B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology and Vice Chancellor of Rhodes University This book is a unique, international collaborative effort ranging all of the colour plates for the book. For the past of 76 scientists, representing 15 countries. Several skilled eight years, she has been assisted in the research, writing artists and photographers have also contributed to the and editing of the book by Dr. P. C. Heemstra. numerous and beautiful illustrations. Research done in It is essential for the proper management of the marine South Africa was supported by the Council for Scientific fish resources of southern Africa that we know what species and Industrial Research. Work on the book at the J.L.B. we are dealing with. This book will greatly facilitate the Smith Institute was also funded by the Department of identification of our fishes. It will thus be of vital import National Education and The Trustees of the Sea Fishes of ance to the understanding and wise use of our tremendously Southern Africa Book Fund. Expenses of visits by ichthy diverse and valuable fish fauna. ologists from overseas were defrayed by a grant from the We are proud of the affiliation of the J.L.B. Smith Insti John S. Schlesinger Foundation. tute with Rhodes University and happy to see the successful Although this book is an impressive contribution to the completion of this long-awaited work.
Author: Yunhui Liu
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1439854882
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 343
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Book Description
Robotic engineering inspired by biology—biomimetics—has many potential applications: robot snakes can be used for rescue operations in disasters, snake-like endoscopes can be used in medical diagnosis, and artificial muscles can replace damaged muscles to recover the motor functions of human limbs. Conversely, the application of robotics technology to our understanding of biological systems and behaviors—biorobotic modeling and analysis—provides unique research opportunities: robotic manipulation technology with optical tweezers can be used to study the cell mechanics of human red blood cells, a surface electromyography sensing system can help us identify the relation between muscle forces and hand movements, and mathematical models of brain circuitry may help us understand how the cerebellum achieves movement control. Biologically Inspired Robotics contains cutting-edge material—considerably expanded and with additional analysis—from the 2009 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Biomimetics (ROBIO). These 16 chapters cover both biomimetics and biorobotic modeling/analysis, taking readers through an exploration of biologically inspired robot design and control, micro/nano bio-robotic systems, biological measurement and actuation, and applications of robotics technology to biological problems. Contributors examine a wide range of topics, including: A method for controlling the motion of a robotic snake The design of a bionic fitness cycle inspired by the jaguar The use of autonomous robotic fish to detect pollution A noninvasive brain-activity scanning method using a hybrid sensor A rehabilitation system for recovering motor function in human hands after injury Human-like robotic eye and head movements in human–machine interactions A state-of-the-art resource for graduate students and researchers in the fields of control engineering, robotics, and biomedical engineering, this text helps readers understand the technology and principles in this emerging field.
