extreme environments

The search for life in other worlds begins with the search for a habitable planet. This book explores the (3z(BGoldilocks Zone,(3y (Ba defined area that is perfect for harboring life in our universe. Readers will find out how scientists are finding habitable planets by using terrestrial and orbiting telescopes to search these regions. Readers will also get to know how extreme zones on Earth are helping scientists redefine their concept of (3z(Bhabitable(3y (Band what kind of life we might find. Fascinating full-color photographs and artist renderings from NASA illustrate this fascinating hunt.

Short of intergalactic travel or aliens landing on Earth, it may seem there is no way for us to learn about extraterrestrial life. However, as this captivating volume details, we may know more than we think. Science and sci-fi enthusiasts will be fascinated to discover that the conditions of various extreme environments on Earth—the Arctic, deep underground, and deep sea, to name a few—are analogous to those of various regions of space. By examining the terrestrial species—or extremophiles—that thrive in these conditions and their survival mechanisms, we can begin to understand extraterrestrial life before ever making contact.

Simple text and full-color photographs describe the coldest places on the planet.

Learn all about the wettest and driest places on Earth and find out what it takes for life to survive in these extreme locations.

An anesthesiologist and NASA adviser explores how pioneering doctors and scientists have built on findings about the body's response to extreme environments and physical challenges to develop such medical innovations as open-heart surgery, skin grafts, and trauma care.

Readers will want to don their raincoats as they learn about the torrential downpours that pound parts of India, Hawaii, and South America. How this precipitation affects the people, animals, and landscape of these sites will astound readers and remind them of the awesome power of nature. Colorful maps, fun fact boxes, and illustrative photographs support the eye-opening information in this text, which includes such important science curriculum topics as the water cycle and weather-related events such as flooding and monsoons.

Earth's landscape can be vastly different from region to region, and it's always changing! The shifting plates on which the planet's crust sits cause some areas to rise, while others sink. The Dead Sea in the Middle East is the lowest dry place on Earth, about 1,300 feet (396 m) below sea level. In the ocean, Challenger Deep is home to some creepy marine life, much different than anything we see near the surface. These interesting places and others are featured in this book, which interweaves intriguing science and social studies subject matter with many fun facts.

Everyone has experienced hot days in which it's hard to move without sweating. Readers will realize those days were cool compared to some of the sweltering locations vividly described within the pages of this volume. Death Valley, the Sahara, and Ethiopia are highlighted in text and on maps in this trip around the globe in search of Earth's hottest places. Why some locations are so hot, different ways of measuring temperature, and the health risks of extreme heat are just a few of the topics touched upon in this book, compatible with any science and social studies collection.

For those who have ever wondered what it's like to stand on top of Mount Everest, this attention-grabbing book is the closest way to visit the world's highest places without getting vertigo. But readers will be surprised to learn that the label "highest place on Earth" is a controversial one. They'll find out about the contenders for the prize, including Mount Everest, Hawaii's Mauna Kea, and Ecuador's Mount Chimborazo. They'll also travel to some jaw-dropping tall buildings around the world. Beautiful, vivid photographs give readers a true sense of what it would be like to visit these unique sites.

Few people enjoy a rainy day, but many places around the globe are in great need of rain. Readers will learn why rain and other forms of precipitation are so important to people, plants, and animals. They'll visit the driest places on Earth, including the Atacama Desert, Antarctica's Dry Valleys, and Death Valley. Maps and photographs of these remarkable sites and others aid in geography skills, while topics such as irrigation, water conservation, and even mummification will further interest and inform readers.