Science Matters
Achieving Scientific Literacy
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Narrated by:
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Fred Sanders
About this listen
A science book for the general reader that is informative enough to be a popular textbook and yet well-written enough to appeal to general listeners. “Hazen and Trefil [are] unpretentious—good, down-to-earth, we-can-explain-anything science teachers, the kind you wish you had but never did.”—The New York Times Book Review
Knowledge of the basic ideas and principles of science is fundamental to cultural literacy. But most books on science are often too obscure or too specialized to do the general listener much good.
Science Matters is a rare exception—a science book that is informative enough for introductory courses in high school and college, and yet lucid enough for listeners uncomfortable with scientific jargon and complicated mathematics. And now, revised and expanded, it is up-to-date, so that listeners can enjoy Hazen and Trefil's refreshingly accessible explanations of the most recent developments in science, from particle physics to biotechnology.
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Critic reviews
“Lucid and lively. Hazen and Trefil have a particular genius for picturing even formidably abstract ideas in concrete images. . . . Science Matters is as good as they get” ––The Washington Post Book World
“Hazen and Trefil [are] unpretentious––good, down-to-earth, we-can-explain-anything science teachers, the kind you wish you had but never did.” ––The New York Times
“A book that even scientifically literate readers can consult . . . if they find their recollection of relativity or quantum mechanics getting shaky.” ––New Scientist
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Story
Earth evolves. From first atom to molecule, mineral to magma, granite crust to single cell to verdant living landscape, ours is a planet constantly in flux. In this radical new approach to Earth’s biography, senior Carnegie Institution researcher and national best-selling author Robert M. Hazen reveals how the co-evolution of the geosphere and biosphere - of rocks and living matter - has shaped our planet into the only one of its kind in the Solar System, if not the entire cosmos.
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Makes minerals interesting
- By Gary on 07-31-12
By: Robert M. Hazen
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Calculating the Cosmos
- How Mathematics Unveils the Universe
- By: Ian Stewart
- Narrated by: Dana Hickox
- Length: 12 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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In Calculating the Cosmos, Ian Stewart presents an exhilarating guide to the cosmos, from our solar system to the entire universe. He describes the architecture of space and time, dark matter and dark energy, how galaxies form, why stars implode, how everything began, and how it's all going to end. He considers parallel universes, the fine-tuning of the cosmos for life, what forms extraterrestrial life might take, and the likelihood of life on Earth being snuffed out by an asteroid.
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Crank alert: rejects modern cosmology
- By James Weisner on 03-20-17
By: Ian Stewart
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A Brief Welcome to the Universe
- A Pocket-Sized Tour
- By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, J. Richard Gott
- Narrated by: Neil Hellegers
- Length: 4 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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A Brief Welcome to the Universe offers a breathtaking tour of the cosmos, from planets, stars, and galaxies to black holes and time loops. Best-selling authors and acclaimed astrophysicists Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss, and J. Richard Gott take listeners on an unforgettable journey of exploration to reveal how our universe actually works. Propelling you from our home solar system to the outermost frontiers of space, this book builds your cosmic insight and perspective through a marvelously entertaining narrative.
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A brief welcome for everyone
- By Ashley F on 08-24-24
By: Neil deGrasse Tyson, and others
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The Cosmic Cocktail
- Three Parts Dark Matter
- By: Katherine Freese
- Narrated by: Tamara Marston
- Length: 9 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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The ordinary atoms that make up the known universe - from our bodies and the air we breathe to the planets and stars - constitute only 5 percent of all matter and energy in the cosmos. The rest is known as dark matter and dark energy, because their precise identities are unknown. The Cosmic Cocktail is the inside story of the epic quest to solve one of the most compelling enigmas of modern science - what is the universe made of? - told by one of today’s foremost pioneers in the study of dark matter.
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I was looking for a book about science....
- By Jeff on 03-27-15
By: Katherine Freese
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How to Speak Science
- Gravity, Relativity, and Other Ideas That Were Crazy Until Proven Brilliant
- By: Bruce Benamran, Stephanie Delozier Strobel
- Narrated by: Braden Wright
- Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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As smartphones, supercomputers, supercolliders, and AI propel us into an ever more unfamiliar future, How to Speak Science takes us on a rollicking historical tour of the greatest discoveries and ideas that make today's cutting-edge technologies possible. Wanting everyone to be able to "speak" science, YouTube science guru Bruce Benamran explains - as accessibly and wittily as in his acclaimed videos - the fundamental ideas of the physical world: matter, life, the solar system, light, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, special and general relativity, and much more.
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Wowzers!
- By Ralph Temblador on 02-15-21
By: Bruce Benamran, and others
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The Physics of Star Trek
- By: Lawrence M. Krauss
- Narrated by: Larry McKeever
- Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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What actually happens when the words, "beam me up, Scottie" are uttered? What "warps" when something travels at warp speed? Internationally renowned theoretical physicist and educator Lawrence M. Krauss provides matter-of-fact scientific explanations of the physics of Star Trek in this highly creative and informative guide for both the devoted Trekkie and the physics novice.
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Interesting Book. Quite Technical
- By Christopher B. on 12-07-04
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The Unknown Universe
- A New Exploration of Time, Space and Cosmology
- By: Stuart Clark
- Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
- Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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On March 21, 2013, the European Space Agency released a map of the afterglow of the big bang. Taking in 440 sextillion kilometers of space and 13.8 billion years of time, it is physically impossible to make a better map: We will never see the early universe in more detail. On the one hand, such a view is the apotheosis of modern cosmology; on the other, it threatens to undermine almost everything we hold cosmologically sacrosanct.
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Everything, Absolutely Everything!
- By Gillian on 03-09-17
By: Stuart Clark
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Life's Engines
- How Microbes Made Earth Habitable
- By: Paul G. Falkowski
- Narrated by: Nick Sullivan
- Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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Paul Falkowski looks "under the hood" of microbes to find the engines of life, the actual working parts that do the biochemical heavy lifting for every living organism on Earth. With insight and humor, he explains how these miniature engines are built - and how they have been appropriated by and assembled like Lego sets within every creature that walks, swims, or flies. Falkowski shows how evolution works to maintain this core machinery of life, and how we and other animals are veritable conglomerations of microbes.
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Best Science Book Ever Written. Period.
- By serine on 07-28-15
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A Little History of the World
- By: E. H. Gombrich
- Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
- Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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E. H. Gombrich's world history, an international best seller now available in English for the first time, is a text dominated not by dates and facts but by the sweep of experience across the centuries, a guide to humanity's achievements, and an acute witness to its frailties.
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an enlightening book; very well read
- By A.B.Oxford on 06-03-06
By: E. H. Gombrich
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When the Earth Had Two Moons
- Cannibal Planets, Icy Giants, Dirty Comets, Dreadful Orbits, and the Origins of the Night Sky
- By: Erik Asphaug
- Narrated by: Adam Verner
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1959, the Soviet probe Luna 3 took the first photos of the far side of the Moon. Even in their poor resolution, the images stunned scientists: The far side is an enormous mountainous expanse, not the vast lava plains seen from Earth. Subsequent missions have confirmed this in much greater detail. How could this be, and what might it tell us about our own place in the universe? As it turns out, quite a lot. When the Earth Had Two Moons is an astonishing exploration of planet formation and the origins of life by one of the world’s most innovative planetary geologists.
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Poorly written, poorly narrated
- By RickyF on 05-11-23
By: Erik Asphaug
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The Science of Rick and Morty
- The Unofficial Guide to Earth's Stupidest Show
- By: Matt Brady
- Narrated by: Joe Hempel
- Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
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Blending biology, chemistry, and physics basics with accessible - and witty-prose, The Science of Rick and Morty equips you with the scientific foundation to thoroughly understand Rick's experiments from the show, such as how we can use dark matter and energy, just what is intelligence hacking, and whether or not you can really control a cockroach's nervous system with your tongue. Perfect for longtime and new fans of the show, this is the ultimate segue into discovering more about our complicated and fascinating universe.
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Some good science in here?
- By Darin Harbert on 02-06-20
By: Matt Brady
What listeners say about Science Matters
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Joshua
- 09-18-09
Everything I thought I knew, brilliantly told.
When I graduated MIT in 1984 with a degree in Biology, mine was the first class to be offered a laboratory course in genetic engineering. The rest, as they say, is history. This is the best, most fascinating intro and review of the highlights of all branchs of modern sciences since Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. Compared to that wonderful book, this one has less history and more theory - and is more current and succinct, but never dry. This is the book for the curious mind, whether or not you've every studied the laws of thermodynamics or plate tectonics. As the authors point out, even professional scientists rarely know the latest theories that are outside their own narrow field of study. Here's the chance for layman and scientist to get up to speed. C'mon, now, its the 21st century, and with this book there's no excuse not to be up-to-date.
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39 people found this helpful
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- Thomas
- 10-11-12
On the road to becoming scientifically literate
Words cannot fully sum of the vast importance of this audiobook. In it is first explained why every single citizen should be scientifically literate. It is quite literally of paramount importance. I cannot sum it quite as well as the book elaborates.
Additionally, I found out that I was not quite as literate as I had thought. I learned some new concepts, and at the end felt so much more enlightened by all this SCIENCE!
As a scientist, books like this make me smile, not only because of the data and facts, but because of the noble attempt to teach the world the basics, and sum it all up in one book.
Do not let this idea scare you, nothing is delved into in vast detail. This is an incredibly broad set of descriptions to bring you up to speed on basic science and how some things work. America's future depends on science, as well as every other technologically competant country!
Listen now!
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- Gary
- 05-26-12
Detailed survey science book
This probably shouldn't be your introductory survey science book ("The History of Nearly Everything" would be a better intro). If you had read other science books recently and want to know more of the fundamentals, this would be a good intro to give you a good foundation. Some sections are hard to follow if it is the first time in years you've come across that bit of science.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 02-15-13
one of my favorites
What made the experience of listening to Science Matters the most enjoyable?
the tone and pacing of the book were just right. I listened to it with my 7 year old
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
yes
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- Henry
- 07-11-10
Science For Everyone 101
A great book! I read lots of non-fiction and several science/nature magazines regularly. While I was listening to Science Matters, the topics presented kept coming up in book after book and article after article. It was almost uncanny. Further, even though I felt I was literate on most of the topics I found that the authors added depth and clarity to my understanding. So whether you are a total novice or a well read person I recommend this book. It is more than worth the time to listen to it.
Next, the book is well written. It is easy to follow and easy to understand.
Lastly, the narration was very good.
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10 people found this helpful
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- Jamie Griffith
- 01-04-20
Good book, lacking on story
“Science matters “ is ,in my opinion, is a good book with a lot of fact, but as people’s history of science, falls flat on its face. I understand it is trying to teach raw science, but it spends no very little time on the personality’s of the scientific community.
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- Margaret
- 09-10-10
Excellent clarity
This is a great book to refresh some concepts that I thought I knew, but had gotten a little fuzzy on. I'm recommending this for everyone who considers themselves "scientifically literate" or would like to be.
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8 people found this helpful
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- Lucas
- 11-24-11
dry, dry, dry
The authors obviously know their stuff and the concepts are written clearly but it's much like reading a textbook. I think this would be a good book to have as a reference on your shelf but as far as something to listen to while driving, you better make sure you have a strong cup of coffee on hand or you may wake up in the hospital.
I started this one in September and, two moths later, I'm still listening in small chunks. With about 30% still to go, I'll finish it eventually but I've heard enough to make my opinion
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3 people found this helpful
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- SionnachOghma
- 10-08-15
Excellent content, narration could be better.
As a primer for science, Science Matters is excellent; very little jargon, and concise explanations every subject discussed. You can take it as a whole, or as separate essays on the fundamental topics of science.
The narration was by no means awful, but having experienced one of the authors (Robert M. Hazen) give some very lively performances on his Great Courses lectures, 'The Joy of Science' and 'The Origin and Evolution of Earth', I would have preferred to have him do the reading here. Fred Sanders was a little on the dry side, and his pronunciations were sometimes very strange.
Despite the not-quite-invigorating narration, I'd definitely recommend Science Matters, and I'll add that the actual book is well worth having on your shelf.
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- Carlos P
- 04-14-10
Easy listening, good leanings!
I wish I had a physics teacher like the ones in the book! My university and later professional life would have been much easier; I really enjoyed listening things that I already know explained in such an easy and clear way.
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4 people found this helpful