|
ucl website | book blog | istethoscope pro | iloop
| |||
|
(Above: UK trade cover. Below: US hardback.)
|
NEW POPULAR SCIENCE BOOK OUT! We all know that things go wrong: wine stains, toast burns, computers crash. But how many of us pause to think why these accidents happen? Undercover Scientist Peter Bentley is fascinated by the science of the everyday, and in this eye-opening book, organised in the form of one of those days when everything falls apart, he probes into the reasons why mishaps occur, from sleeping through the alarm to making the bathwater overflow. As he does so he explains exactly what happens when you put metal in a microwave (the electric field inside the oven causes the metal to heat up like a lightbulb filament) and why getting the juice from chilli peppers in your eye is so painful (the peppers contain a chemical that fools your nerve-endings into behaving as though they've been burnt). And from there he goes on to show how these simple events form part of a pattern of scientific principles that govern everything around us. If you want to find out how a diesel engine is able to run on chip fat or why lightning actually does strike the same place twice, The Undercover Scientist has all the answers. UK Publisher: Random House Books. July 2008. ISBN: 978-1-847-94523-5 US Publisher: Rodale Books. April 2009. ISBN: 978-1594869563
Unabridged UK audio book published March 2009 by Whole Story Audio Books, narrated by Roger May. US Title: Why Sh*t Happens: The Science of a Really Bad Day. Unabridged US audio book published March 2009 by Brilliance Audio Books, narrated by Phil Gigante. Available from audiobookstand.com Click here to download the unabridged bibliography for Why Sh*t Happens and foreign language editions of The Undercover Scientist. |
|
|
|
(Above: UK hardback cover and sample pages. Below: Japanese translation, German, Canadian, US, French and UK covers.) |
Numbers are at the heart of the existence of the universe and everything that is in it, and yet most of us have very little everyday understanding of the fundamentals of mathematics, let alone their part in philosophy, art, music, architecture, quantum mechanics, physics, computer technology, literature, biology, commerce, religion, and the occult; indeed every discipline which has been and is the proper study of man. This beautifully illustrated book, using computer imagery, historical drawing, paintings and photography in 350 colour and b/w pictures gives a synopsis of many of the most important mathematical discoveries in each of these categories and captures some of the spirit of the men and women who have contributed to unravelling the secrets of numbers. The Book of Numbers by Peter J Bentley is a fascinating new popular science book describing everything from the discovery of zero to infinity, and is calculated to amaze and astound the reader and inspire people of all ages in the subject. UK Publisher: Cassell Illustrated. February 2008. ISBN: 1 84403 396 1 Click here if you have a query about this book.
|
|
US/Canadian Publisher (paperback): Firefly Books Ltd. 2008. ISBN: 978-1-55407-361-0 French-Canadian Publisher: Reader's Digest (Canada) 2008. ISBN: 978-0-88850-964-2 German Publisher: Primus Verlag. 2008. ISBN: 978-3-89678-378-3 Dutch Publisher: Fontaine Uitgevers. October 2008. ISBN: 978-9-07736-316-4 Korean Publisher: SKK University. 2008. ISBN: 978-8-97986-730-5 Japanese Publisher: Yu-Shokan 2009. ISBN: 978-4-903487-27-4 French Publisher: Groupe Eyrolles. 2009. ISBN: 978-2-212-54226-4 Brazilian Portuguese Publisher: Larousse. 2008. ISBN: 978-8-44932-138-2 Spanish Publisher: Editorial Paidos. 2008. ISBN: 978-84-493-2138-2 Turkish Publisher: Domingo. 2009. |
|
|
(UK hardback, US hardback and UK paperback cover images) | Imagine a future world where computers can create universes - digital environments made from binary ones and zeros. Imagine that within these universes there exist biological forms that reproduce, grow and think. Imagine plant-like forms, ant colonies, immune systems and brains, all adapting, evolving and getting better at solving problems. Imagine if our computers became greenhouses for a new kind of nature. Just think what digital biology could do for us. Perhaps it could evolve new designs for us, think up ways to detect fraud using digital neurons, or solve scheduling problems with ants. Perhaps it could detect hackers with immune systems or create music from the patterns of growth of digital seashells. Perhaps it would allow our computers to become creative and inventive. Now stop imagining. |
(Brazilian translation and Korean translation cover images) Listen to 6 minute edit of BBC Radio 4 programme: "Natural Technology", broadcast in May 2001. MP3 version Listen to full 28 minute programme | Digital Biology is a major new popular science book by Peter J Bentley describing processes of nature such as evolution, brains, insect swarms, immune systems and development and showing how we use the same processes within computers to solve our problems. US Hardback: Simon and Schuster, Feb 2002, ISBN: 0743204476. UK Paperback: Review Pub., March 2002, ISBN: 0747266549. UK Hardback: Hodder Headline, 3rd May 2001, ISBN: 074727021X. Brazilian translation: Berkeley Brazil 2002, ISBN: 85-7251-634-4 Korean translation: Gimm-Young Korea, May 2003, ISBN 89-349-1281-2 |
(UK hardback and paperback cover images) |
A PhD can be one of the most challenging things you do in your life. It can also be one of the most rewarding - resulting in you becoming a world expert in your area of choice and making significant impact in the sciences, arts or humanities. But when the whole process of obtaining funding, finding a good supervisor, deciding on your research area and writing a research proposal seems so difficult, many potential PhD students are never able to begin this life-changing experience. The PhD Application Handbook by Peter J Bentley reveals all you need to know - from widely publicised requirements to secrets that academics don't normally talk about - to ensure you achieve the best start to your doctorate as possible. The book includes a detailed resource guide, which contains information including how to apply for different forms of PhD, student visas, and the range of funding options available for students of all nationalities wishing to perform research in the UK. Publisher: Open University Press. August 2006. ISBN: 0335219527 (paperback) ISBN: 0335219535 (hardback) |
|
|
| On Growth, Form and Computers edited by Sanjeev Kumar and Peter J Bentley provides an authoritative introduction to developmental biology and computational development. By augmenting experimental biology with computer models of development, biologists are building a greater understanding of how developmental processes such as pattern formation, morphogenesis, cell signalling and regeneration construct the staggering complexities of living organisms. At the same time, by creating computer algorithms based on developmental processes, computer scientists are enabling computers to solve a range of challenging problems such as neural network design and robot control. The book includes chapters from many of the best and most respected scientists in their fields (including Lewis Wolpert, Richard Dawkins, Ian Stewart, Hans Meinhardt, and Randall Beer). As disciplines increasingly merge in areas such as computational biology and bioinformatics, this book forms a much-needed interface between the fields of developmental biology and computer science, providing an invaluable reference for researchers and students in evolutionary biology, artificial life, anatomy and evolutionary computation. Publisher: Academic Press. August 2003. ISBN: 0-12-428765-4 |
|
|
| Evolution within our computers can do more than simple optimisation. Evolutionary computation now provides solutions for applications in creative areas such as architecture, art, music, and design. The potential of evolutionary computation in this general area is vast; there are already CDs on the market which feature saxophone solos produced by evolutionary algorithms, displays at art galleries featuring abstract evolutionary art, and structures being built according to innovative designs generated with evolutionary computation systems. There are other exciting applications of evolutionary computation for which the keywords are innovation and creativity; for example, evolving novel flight manoeuvres for combat aircraft, and evolving novel playing strategies for soccer teams. Creative Evolutionary Systems edited by Peter J Bentley and David W Corne comprises a collection of the most creative uses of evolutionary computation to date. A CD-ROM is included with the book, which includes a collection of evolved music (from dance to jazz).Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann Pub. July 2001. ISBN: 1-55860-673-4 |
|
|
| Some of the most startling achievements in the use of computers to automate design are being accomplished by the use of evolutionary search algorithms to evolve designs. Evolutionary Design by Computers edited by Peter J Bentley provides a showcase of the best and most original work of the leading experts in Evolutionary Computation, Engineering Design, Computer Art, and Artificial Life. By bringing together the highest achievers in these fields, including a foreword by Richard Dawkins, this book provides the definitive coverage of significant developments in Evolutionary Design. A CD-ROM is included with the book, providing readers with hands-on activities, evolved images, animations, and source code related to the text.Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann Pub, 1999. ISBN: 1-55860-605-X "Darwin would love this book" Richard Dawkins. |
|
|
On-line stores: Just search for "undercover scientist", "bentley book of numbers", "phd application handbook", "digital biology", "on growth, form and computers", "creative evolutionary systems" or "evolutionary design by computers"! Also try |
If you would like to contact the author about any of his books, send an e-mail to: bookquery @ peterjbentley.com For news and discussion go to WORLD OF PETER J BENTLEY. Also try checking out the ask the author page for frequently asked questions. |
Related items in the media:
|
