Wonder Science

Early one morning in 1995, a rancher in Humacao, Puerto Rico, found three of his goats dead. The blood seemed to have been drained from their bodies. As dozens more farm animals were found dead across the island, the fear of the so-called Chupacabra—the "goat sucker"—grew. But was a mysterious cryptid really responsible for all of these deaths? And if so, where would it go next? Follow the trail of the Chupacabra in this exciting new title.

This is a selection of short stories each containing a seed of wonder. Apocalyptic stories, hopeful stories, stories of alternative realities all await your enjoyment.

In this exciting true adventure mixed with amazing scientific study, a young, exuberant explorer and geoscientist journeys deep into the Amazon - where rivers boil and legends come to life. When Andrés Ruzo was just a small boy in Peru, his grandfather told him the story of a mysterious legend: There is a river, deep in the Amazon, that boils as if a fire burns below it. Twelve years later, Ruzo - now a geoscientist - hears his aunt mention that she herself had visited this strange river....

Like so many of us, McKibben grew up believing—knowing—that the United States was the greatest country on earth. As a teenager, he cheerfully led American Revolution tours in Lexington, Massachusetts. He sang “Kumbaya” at church. And with the remarkable rise of suburbia, he assumed that all Americans would share in the wealth. But fifty years later, he finds himself in an increasingly doubtful nation strained by bleak racial and economic inequality, on a planet whose future is in peril. And he is curious: What the hell happened?

Cosmic Odyssey is a fascinating journey through the wonders of astronomy, from the earliest observations of the stars to the latest discoveries about the universe. This book is designed for readers who want to explore the cosmos and learn about the science behind the celestial objects that populate our sky. The book covers a wide range of topics, including the history of astronomy, the birth and death of stars, the mysteries of black holes and dark matter, the search for extraterrestrial life, and much more. Starting with the ancient Greeks and their observations of the stars, Cosmic ...

The masters of sky and sea confront each other in this monstrous battle. Few beasts can match the power of a fire-breathing dragon. But huge sea monsters are also fearsome forces of nature. Discover the weapons and abilities of these mighty beasts, and then get ready for a fiery, head-to-head fight.

Like many people, you’ve probably asked some of these questions when you were younger or maybe recently. Well, you will be pleasantly surprised to discover the interesting and maybe slightly bizarre origins of the strange things we do. In Wonder Why? Fascinating Stories, Curious Facts, and Answers About the Mysteries of Science, History, Pop Culture, and Traditions Around the World cover 55 of the most regularly asked questions with fascinating origin stories.

The Wonders of Radium by Maynard Shipley is a captivating scientific exploration of one of the most fascinating discoveries of the early 20th century. Written in a time of scientific revolution, this work explains the origin, nature, and wide-ranging applications of radium, a radioactive element famously discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie. Shipley skillfully translates complex scientific principles into accessible language, detailing radium's powerful effects—from revolutionizing medical treatments, such as early cancer therapies, to its curious industrial and agricultural uses.

“Cosmos” comes from a Greek word for an orderly and systematic universe. In this book, we present the most riveting discoveries and mind-bending ideas about our cosmic home, from what we know of the origins of the universe and the cartography of space to the most bizarre phenomena and the search for life. Discussions include the possibility that the big bang was the consequence of a black hole in a fourth spatial dimension, that cosmic ripples created infinite universes, that entangled black holes could act as wormhole-like passageways through space, and much more.

In the aftermath of World War II, a succession of mass supernatural events swept through war-torn Germany. A messianic faith healer rose to extraordinary fame; enormous crowds traveled to witness apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Most strikingly, scores of people accused their neighbors of witchcraft and found themselves in turn hauled into court in turn on charges of defamation, assault, and even murder.

Ice cream has never tasted so evil... For Lacey Stamford, life is life. Mom to two, wife to none. Until one hot spring afternoon, when a simple, harmless decision changes it all. Now, thrust suddenly into a world she's never known, this lost soul must face the impossible: a force so evil, so unpredictable, it could destroy millions. That is, if she refuses its ultimatum. Aided by her 'gifted' son and the incomparable neuroscientist Sebastian Cannery, Lacey must plunge headfirst into the unspeakable. A dark underworld of deceivers, corrupters, and cold-blooded conglomerates. The choice is ...

Heard about the lizard that shoots blood from its eyes? Or the ancient Romans who used pee as mouthwash? Did you know that going on a roller coaster can cure kidney stones? In this compendium of obscure facts listeners will be treated to baffling knowledge they would never learn at school. Broken into chapters including geography, space, and history, a team of experts has scoured the world to find the silliest and most pointless facts that it has to offer.

Sea monsters have a long history in lore and literature. Homer first wrote of them in 700 BCE. What Do We Know About the Kraken? lets curious young listeners explore what we actually know about this mysterious sea monster's long history. Dive into the facts behind this massive squid-like creature that was first described using the word "Kraken" in the beginning of the eighteenth century.

Many scientists believe that we are currently living through the Earth’s sixth mass extinction, with species disappearing at a rate not seen for tens of millions of years – a trend that will only accelerate as climate change and other pressures intensify. What does it mean to live in such a time? And what exactly do we lose when a species goes extinct? In Lost Wonders conservationist and science writer Tom Lathan tells the stories of ten species that have lived, died out and been declared extinct since the turn of the twenty-first century.

From campfire tales told in Shakespeare’s plays, ghosts have long been favorite story subjects. But are some places more likely to attract unwanted spirits of the dead? This high-interest series for young listeners explores common haunts for restless souls through stories of ghostly encounters.

The Mystery of the Hanging Garden of Babylon is an exciting story of detection involving legends, expert decipherment of ancient texts, and a vivid description of a little-known civilization. Recognized in ancient times as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the legendary Hanging Garden of Babylon and its location still remains a mystery steeped in shadow and puzzling myths. In this remarkable volume Stephanie Dalley, a world expert on ancient Babylonian language, gathers for the first time all the material on this enigmatic World Wonder.

Thirteen-year-old Jack McKinley has fought impossible odds to save himself, his friends, and the world. Having already defeated the Colossus of Rhodes, hunted through Ancient Babylon, and outfoxed legions of undead, the Select have recovered three of the lost Loculi hidden in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only to lose one of them in order to save a life. They must now find a way to undo what has been done, to save themselves from the power that will overwhelm them - and destroy the world.

Fairies have fluttered through popular fairy tales for many years. Have you ever wondered what fairies look like, where they live, or what kinds of tricks they play? Fly through this book to find out the truth about fairies.

How big was the world's biggest cookie? How many dominoes were used in the longest domino wall? Listen to this book to find out!

"I delivered twenty babies in the summer of 1977. I was hardly more than a baby myself, just turned 24 and starting my third year of medical school." So began Mark Sloan's three-decades-long exploration of the wonders and oddities of human childbirth. Pediatrician, husband, and father, the author has attended nearly 3000 births since that long-ago summer, encountering everything from routine deliveries to tense labor-room dramas.