Science : Astrophysics & Space Science

In one of the most surprising and important findings in cosmology in the century, astronomers recently discovered that the universe may be expanding at an ever-increasing rate. As astrophysicist Mario Livio explains in this book, most cosmologists have long believed that the universe will expand at a gradually decreasing rate until the expansion effectively stops. The discovery that the expansion appears in fact to be speeding up - and therefore that the universe will keep expanding faster and faster for infinity - throws the view of a perfectly balanced 'beautiful universe' into question. more...

Price: $15.95

A lively astronomy primer that uses cataclysmic scenarios to explain the universe’s most fascinating events. According to astronomer Philip Plait, the universe is an apocalypse waiting to happen But how much do we really need to fear from things like black holes, gamma-ray bursts, and supernovae? And if we should be scared, is there anything we can do to save ourselves? With humor and wit, Plait details the myriad doomsday events that the cosmos could send our way to destroy our planet and life as we know it. This authoritative yet accessible study is the ultimate astronomy lesson. Combining fascinating—and often alarming—scenarios that seem plucked from science fiction with the latest research and opinions, Plait illustrates why outer space is not as remote as most people think. Each chapter explores a different phenomenon, explaining it in easy-to-understand terms, and considering how life on earth and the planet itself would be affected should the event come to pass. Rather than sensationalizing the information, Plait analyzes the probability of these catastrophes occurring in our lifetimes and what we can do to stop them. With its entertaining tone and enlightening explanation of unfathomable concepts, Death from the Skies! will appeal to science buffs and beginners alike. more...

Price: $24.95

Launched in 2004, "Nuclear Physics in Astrophysics" has established itself in a successful topical conference series addressing the forefront of research in the field. This volume contains the selected and refereed papers of the 2nd conference, held in Debrecen in 2005 and reprinted from "The European Physical Journal A - Hadrons and Nuclei". more...

Price: $219.00

This monograph deals with the main principles of large-scale atmospheric dynamics on the basis of adiabatic motion constants. It can be considered as an introduction to the theory of quasi two-dimensional fluid motion concentrating primarily on nearly horizontal fluid parcel displacements in a stably stratified compressible fluid. A thorough mathematical treatment of the governing equations is coupled with a clear interpretation of the phenomena studied and accompanied by examples of real meteorological data analysis. Topics include a complete set of compressible fluid dynamic equations along with a survey on fluid dynamical conservation laws used in meteorology and atmospheric physics; the derivation of two-dimensional atmospheric models; large-scale flows; isentropic analysis of large-scale atmospheric processes; and the principles of kinetic energy sinks and their relation to the energy balance in the atmosphere. more...

Price: $139.95

This book builds on the fluid and kinetic theory of equilibria and waves presented in a companion textbook, Basic Space Plasma Physics (by the same authors), but can also serve as a stand-alone text. It extends the field covered there into the domain of plasma instability and nonlinear theory. The book provides a representative selection of the many possible macro- and microinstabilities in a space plasma, from the Rayleigh–Taylor and Kelvin–Helmholtz to electrostatic and electromagnetic kinetic instabilities. Their quasilinear stabilization and nonlinear evolution and their application to space physics problems are treated. The chapters on nonlinear theory include nonlinear waves, weak turbulence and strong turbulence, all presented from the viewpoint of their relevance to space plasma physics. more...

Price: $101.40