Hammack takes us on a whirlwind tour of how humans built the world we know today. From the grand stone arches of medieval cathedrals to the mundane modern soda can, Hammack explains the golden rule of thumb that underlies every new building technique, every technological advancement, and every creative solution that leads us one step closer to a better, more functional world.

Experiments and other activities introduce building, how materials are used and joined together, and what gives structure its strength.

"Explains the principles of inventing and provides photo-illustrated instructions for making a variety of structures and contraptions"--Provided by publisher.

An introduction to genetic engineering.

Introduces readers to the science behind prosthetics, including how and why the technology was created, current examples of the technology in action, and cutting-edge research advancing the technology.

From New York Times bestselling author Orson Scott Card, Ender's Game—adapted to film in 2013 starring Asa Butterfield and Harrison Ford—is the classic Hugo and Nebula award-winning science fiction novel of a young boy's recruitment into the midst of an interstellar war.

In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses

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"From science fiction visionary Annalee Newitz comes The Terraformers, a sweeping, uplifting, and illuminating exploration of the future. Destry's life is dedicated to terraforming Sask-E. As part of the Environmental Rescue Team, she cares for the planet and its burgeoning eco-systems as her parents and their parents did before her. But the bright, clean future they're building comes under threat when Destry discovers a city full of people that shouldn't...

Profiles fifty unusual structures, include a fire-breathing octopus sculpture, a giant skateboard ramp, a Costa Rican treehouse community, and a life-sized X-Wing Starfighter built of LEGO bricks.