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The Seventy Great Mysteries of the Natural World
What we know and what we predict about the nature of life and the future of life on Earth.
Every day we read about or experience massive changes in the environment and the natural world. But what do we really know about the functioning of Earth and of life? What do we still have to learn?
Here, over sixty of the world's most eminent scientists--from the United States and the UK to India and Australia, from France and Germany to Italy and the Netherlands--share prvileged insights into their cutting-edge research and findings. The volume's seven sections explore the origins of the planet and of life, the inner and outer workings of the earth, the concept and evidence for evolution, biogeography and environments, plants and animals, animal behavior, and global warming and the future.
The authors address an extraordinary range of Were the dinosaurs warm-blooded or not? Why do mammals rule the earth? Which was the largest volcanic eruption ever? How did the eye evolve? Why did our ancestors have eight toes? Has there always been ice at the poles? Are humans the only animals with consciousness? Is the largest living thing a whale, a giant redwood, or a fungus? What will happen to climates in the future?
Michael J. Benton is Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology and was the Head of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol. He has published more than forty books, including When Life Nearly Died.
Every day we read about or experience massive changes in the environment and the natural world. But what do we really know about the functioning of Earth and of life? What do we still have to learn?
Here, over sixty of the world's most eminent scientists--from the United States and the UK to India and Australia, from France and Germany to Italy and the Netherlands--share prvileged insights into their cutting-edge research and findings. The volume's seven sections explore the origins of the planet and of life, the inner and outer workings of the earth, the concept and evidence for evolution, biogeography and environments, plants and animals, animal behavior, and global warming and the future.
The authors address an extraordinary range of Were the dinosaurs warm-blooded or not? Why do mammals rule the earth? Which was the largest volcanic eruption ever? How did the eye evolve? Why did our ancestors have eight toes? Has there always been ice at the poles? Are humans the only animals with consciousness? Is the largest living thing a whale, a giant redwood, or a fungus? What will happen to climates in the future?
Michael J. Benton is Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology and was the Head of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol. He has published more than forty books, including When Life Nearly Died.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2008
About the author
Michael J. Benton
136 books135 followersMichael J. Benton FRS is Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology at the University of Bristol. He is particularly interested in early reptiles, Triassic dinosaurs, and macroevolution, and has published over 50 books and 300 scientific articles. He leads one of the most successful palaeontology research groups at the University of Bristol, and has supervised over 60 PhD students.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 9, 2016
Повечето от седемдесетте големи загадки на дивата природа си имат обяснение: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/s...
”Седемдесетте големи загадки на дивата природа” е помпозно наименование, но далеч не всичко в книгата е посветено на загадки. Науката имаше броени десетилетия на фона на хилядолетията религиозна тъма, но успя да проникне в тайните на живота и да излезе вън от Слънчевата система. След Дарвин формулираната от него теория бе развита в нови посоки, а генетиката безусловно доказа валидността на еволюционните предпоставки – което далеч не означава, че знаем всичко; но значи, че сме поели на прав път в разкриването на загадките на природата. А тя – за милиардите години съществуване на планетата – е натрупала толкова много чудеса, че още безброй генерации учени ще проникват в тях и пак ще останат неясноти. Простите отговори са винаги лъжливи, затова са и привилегия на тези, които предпочитат да не знаят истината, а да паразитират върху измамата – всякакви проповедници и пседоучени.
Riva Publishers (Издателство РИВА)
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/s...
”Седемдесетте големи загадки на дивата природа” е помпозно наименование, но далеч не всичко в книгата е посветено на загадки. Науката имаше броени десетилетия на фона на хилядолетията религиозна тъма, но успя да проникне в тайните на живота и да излезе вън от Слънчевата система. След Дарвин формулираната от него теория бе развита в нови посоки, а генетиката безусловно доказа валидността на еволюционните предпоставки – което далеч не означава, че знаем всичко; но значи, че сме поели на прав път в разкриването на загадките на природата. А тя – за милиардите години съществуване на планетата – е натрупала толкова много чудеса, че още безброй генерации учени ще проникват в тях и пак ще останат неясноти. Простите отговори са винаги лъжливи, затова са и привилегия на тези, които предпочитат да не знаят истината, а да паразитират върху измамата – всякакви проповедници и пседоучени.
Riva Publishers (Издателство РИВА)
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/s...
December 23, 2025
I learned a lot of new things and glad to see up to date information as it was released in 2008. There was some level of comfort knowing that despite the Earth going through 2 massive events of extinction, life still found a way. Good to know if humans destroy themselves through nuclear war, there is a potential that life will still find a way. Hopefully it doesn't have to come to that.
September 30, 2013
Least fav of the 'Seventy' series so far, it was disappointing because the others I have read were so good!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews