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Dr. Joe's Brain Sparks: 179 Inspiring and Enlightening Inquiries into the Science of Everyday Life
Prepare to be amazed once again.
Did you know what when you shake a ketchup bottle you're practicing thixotropy? That the ancient Greeks made themselves look less ancient by inventing moisturizer? That the mysterious drug obecalp* is as effective as homeopathy and many herbal cures? From the bestselling author of An Apple a Day , Brain Fuel , and Science, Sense and Nonsense comes a fresh batch of inquiries into the science of everyday life. Dr. Joe, as he is affectionately known to millions of readers, listeners, viewers, and students, presents his third book in the Doubleday Canada series he launched with Brain Fuel .
Using a Q&A format, it explains the world through science, and science through our common experience. There are sections on diet and nutrition, new drugs, and the dubious claims made for alternative remedies and beauty potions. There is a profusion of inspiring, enlightening, sometime just downright bizarre information drawn from the laboratory, from history, from our medicine cabinets and the bottles under our sinks. Science is everywhere, and Dr. Joe is keeping track - and doing it in a marvelously warm, eminently readable style. Let the brain sparks fly!
*Try reading this word backwards.
Did you know what when you shake a ketchup bottle you're practicing thixotropy? That the ancient Greeks made themselves look less ancient by inventing moisturizer? That the mysterious drug obecalp* is as effective as homeopathy and many herbal cures? From the bestselling author of An Apple a Day , Brain Fuel , and Science, Sense and Nonsense comes a fresh batch of inquiries into the science of everyday life. Dr. Joe, as he is affectionately known to millions of readers, listeners, viewers, and students, presents his third book in the Doubleday Canada series he launched with Brain Fuel .
Using a Q&A format, it explains the world through science, and science through our common experience. There are sections on diet and nutrition, new drugs, and the dubious claims made for alternative remedies and beauty potions. There is a profusion of inspiring, enlightening, sometime just downright bizarre information drawn from the laboratory, from history, from our medicine cabinets and the bottles under our sinks. Science is everywhere, and Dr. Joe is keeping track - and doing it in a marvelously warm, eminently readable style. Let the brain sparks fly!
*Try reading this word backwards.
- GenresScienceNonfiction
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
About the author
Joe Schwarcz
58 books112 followersDr. Joe Schwarcz holds a PhD in chemistry and is host of the radio program The Dr. Joe Show, directo of McGill University's Office for Science & Society and the author of fourteen bestselling books. Well known for his informative and entertaining lectures, Dr. Schwarcz has received numerous awards for teaching and deciphering science for the public.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 27, 2013
I fear I won't remember even 10% of the facts, but I can always go back and look them up later I suppose. Dr. Joe has such a great way of making chemistry accessible to everyone. He makes learning fun.
January 16, 2011
I have loved Joe Schwarcz earlier books, but this one was only okay.
October 30, 2024
The book uses science to investigate the world around us and bring it to our common experience. The book is using the Q&A format, but most of the answers are very long and somewhat irrelative. If the chapters have been written concisely, about one-third of the original volume, it could be more useful as a good read.
There are sections about drugs, diet, nutrition, new drugs, alternative remedies, and beauty potions. Some of the most intriguing questions are as follows:
A drug introduced in 1981, isolated from a soil fungus, revolutionized the transplantation of human organs. What drug was that?
Around 1000 BC, a Chinese monk introduced the idea of blowing a substance up the nose of people to protect them from smallpox. What was this substance?
Frankincense is a tree resin that has long been used in incense and perfume production. Recent research shows that it may also be useful in the treatment of what medical condition?
What would happen if you put a dozen sugar cubes into the gas tank of a car?
What part of the body derives its name from the Latin for the breadth of twelve fingers?
During the Second World War, the Germans attacked Britain with V-2 rockets that had a range of more than three hundred kilometres. What fuel did the V-2 use?
According to legend, an ancient Chinese goat herder noticed increased sexual activity in his flock when the animals were grazing on a certain plant. What was tahat plant?
Modal fibre is advertised as a super-soft natural fibre ideal for underwear, bathrobes, towels and sheets. What “natural” substance is it made from?
There are sections about drugs, diet, nutrition, new drugs, alternative remedies, and beauty potions. Some of the most intriguing questions are as follows:
A drug introduced in 1981, isolated from a soil fungus, revolutionized the transplantation of human organs. What drug was that?
Around 1000 BC, a Chinese monk introduced the idea of blowing a substance up the nose of people to protect them from smallpox. What was this substance?
Frankincense is a tree resin that has long been used in incense and perfume production. Recent research shows that it may also be useful in the treatment of what medical condition?
What would happen if you put a dozen sugar cubes into the gas tank of a car?
What part of the body derives its name from the Latin for the breadth of twelve fingers?
During the Second World War, the Germans attacked Britain with V-2 rockets that had a range of more than three hundred kilometres. What fuel did the V-2 use?
According to legend, an ancient Chinese goat herder noticed increased sexual activity in his flock when the animals were grazing on a certain plant. What was tahat plant?
Modal fibre is advertised as a super-soft natural fibre ideal for underwear, bathrobes, towels and sheets. What “natural” substance is it made from?
October 29, 2017
A good science book. I though it could use a little more excitement.
January 9, 2018
I good book for those who want to learn more about the world around them. The writing is a bit dry.
November 29, 2024
This book is so full of misinformation and outright lies, the science is way behind the times. I'm about halfway through the second chapter and cannot finish it, he's so woke.
March 1, 2011
I didn't actually finish this, but it was mostly because it was due back at the library and I couldn't renew it. However, while I usually enjoy this type of thing, I found this to be pretty bland. I didn't like the format of question and answer, found most of the questions to be convoluted and the answers boring.
And then I found that he explains things that are really obvious BUT writes as if you know the chemical structure of random molecules, which I found annoying. I felt like each answer could be explored a little more in depth. However, full disclosure, I don't think that I'm the target audience for this (BSc Honours Chem & MEng Biomedical Engineering)
And then I found that he explains things that are really obvious BUT writes as if you know the chemical structure of random molecules, which I found annoying. I felt like each answer could be explored a little more in depth. However, full disclosure, I don't think that I'm the target audience for this (BSc Honours Chem & MEng Biomedical Engineering)
May 6, 2013
Great for those who can't get into chapter books or sit still for more than a few minutes. The book is usually 1 to 3 pages of very interesting facts. You'll win a few bets with a few of them. Good time waster and one for the doctor's office
June 28, 2011
Perfect for science nerds :) I love learning little random facts and this is basically just a book of various scientific facts :)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews