English naturalist Charles Darwin is among one of the most influential figures in the history of science. Inspired by evidence that he collected during his expedition on the 'HMS Beagle' and his research regarding selective breeding, Darwin theorized that all species descended from a common ancestor. In his groundbreaking work of evolutionary biology, "On the Origin of Species," he details the scientific theory of evolution, which posits that species...

"What can we learn from the genes of our closest evolutionary relatives? Neanderthal Man tells the story of geneticist Svante Paabo's mission to answer that question, beginning with the study of DNA in Egyptian mummies in the early 1980s and culminating in his sequencing of the Neanderthal genome in 2009. From Paabo, we learn how Neanderthal genes offer a unique window into the lives of our hominin relatives and may hold the key to unlocking the mystery...

An exploration of how the wild wolves became dogs, and how we learned to communicate and grow alongside the creatures we love. "A sweet picture book about how dogs evolved from wolves to become man's best friend"--

In 2009, scientists found the bones of "Dracula" in Transylvania - that was what they named the fossils of a new pterosaur whose wings could spread 12 meters wide. Millions of years ago, gigantic reptiles like "Dracula" ruled the skies. This book explores the history of some of the most massive creatures that soared through the skies, and how they are related to (or are even examples of) modern living things

Charles Darwin knew that there was a significant event in the history of life that his theory did not explain. In what is known today as the "Cambrian explosion," 530 million years ago many animals suddenly appeared in the fossil record without apparent ancestors in earlier layers of rock. In Darwin's Doubt Stephen C. Meyer tells the story of the mystery surrounding this explosion of animal life -- a mystery that has intensified, not only because...

"In The Disappearing Spoon, bestselling author Sam Kean unlocked the mysteries of the periodic table. In THE VIOLINIST'S THUMB, he explores the wonders of the magical building block of life: DNA. There are genes to explain crazy cat ladies, why other people have no fingerprints, and why some people survive nuclear bombs. Genes illuminate everything from JFK's bronze skin (it wasn't a tan) to Einstein's genius. They prove that Neanderthals and humans...

Donald R. Prothero's Evolution is an entertaining and rigorous history of the transitional forms and series found in the the fossil record. Its engaging narrative of scientific discovery and well-grounded analysis has led to the book's widespread adoption in courses that teach the nature and value of fossil evidence. Evolution tackles flood geology, rock dating, Neo-Darwinism, and macroevolution. It includes extensive coverage of the primordial soup,...

A pillar of evolutionary biology, Mayr (comparative zoology, Harvard U.) writes for three types of readers: anyone, biologist or not, who wants to know more about evolution; those who accept evolution but doubt the Darwinian explanation of it; and creationists who want to learn more about it even if only to challenge it better.

A modern man experiences through his dreams the harsh and savage life of an ancestor from a time when our species was only beginning to rise above its animal origins. London's powerful writing conjures not only the sights, smells and sounds of that ancient time, but also the feelings of terror, joy and love that set early man apart from the animals. Considered by many to be America's finest author, Jack London, had little formal schooling. Initially,...

"Horses have a story to tell, one of resilience, sociability, and intelligence, and of partnership with human beings. In The Horse, the journalist and equestrienne Wendy Williams brings that story brilliantly to life." -- From dust jacket.