Creepy, kooky science

"Bonampak, Troy, Machu Picchu--these and other sites were . . . 'long lost' to the modern world. Then, using scientific tools, archaeologists revised and revitalized the stories of these 'lost' civilizations. Through color images and . . . facts presented in . . . text and . . . sidebars, students will learn how scientists rediscovered and scientifically dated murals, sculptures, and artifacts covered with grime or buried under ashes and stones"--Provided by publisher.

The history of medicine is chock full of weird and wild remedies as well as brilliant breakthroughs. Through entertaining text, full-color images, and intriguing sidebars, readers will explore the most bizarre medical treatments of the past, including elixirs made of toxic metals, dressings of dung, corpse cures, and cupping. By examining the innovative ways different cultures around the world utilized the resources they had available to them to treat illness and injury, students will also learn the difference between weird science and quackery. They'll discover how some monstrous medical missteps led to modern medical miracles.

"This . . . book explores the strange science behind the bloodsuckers that surround us, including mosquitoes, head lice, and fleas. These critters can be irritating and sometimes even deadly, spreading terrible diseases such as malaria and the bubonic plague, which have killed millions. Students may be surprised to discover that bloodsuckers also help people. This text discusses how scientists are turning the chemicals blood drinkers produce into medicines and how doctors still use leeches to heal injuries"--Provided by publisher.

"Insects have adapted to all kinds of environments and thrive on a . . . variety of diets. The face fly gets its nourishment from a horse's tears, and there are beetles that raise their offspring on elephant dung. The praying mantis sometimes eats its own mate. This book introduces the reader to insects, some of the most numerous animals on earth"--Provided by publisher.

"Plants sit at the bottom of the food chain. They provide meals for the vast majority of animals on earth, but what if the food chain were upset? Strange as it may sound, there are places on virtually every continent where plants are the hunters and animals the hunted. Some plants move so quickly that insects do not know what hit them. Others lay elaborate traps to lure their prey. This book will introduce young readers to the real meat-eating plants of the world"--Provided by publisher.