The Lucent library of science and technology

Examines the history of space stations, beginning with the launch of Salyut 1 by the Soviet Union in 1971 and Skylab bythe U. S. in 1973, discusses space station architecture and technology, looks at what it is like to live in outer space, and examines some of the discoveries that have been made as a result of space station research.

Presents an introduction to the science of forensics, explaining how it uses chemistry and genetics to solve crimes and other mysteries.

Presents a concise study of plate tectonics, and examines continental drift, earthquake disasters around the world, and more.

Explains how the Internet came to be and how it works; describes its varied uses and its dark elements such as cyberstalking and fraud; and explores the ways it has changed the world and how it may shape homes of the future.

Describes the origins and development of the multifaceted field of artificial intelligence, and spectulates on what the area of research might hold for the future.

Presents an investigation of asteroids and comets, discussing ancient beliefs about the appearance of comets, their demystification with the emergence of modern astronomy, how they formed, and their different types and composition, and looking at the possibilities for mining asteroids, as well as what happens when they hit Earth.

Discusses the history and current state of scientific understanding of genetics, exploring the roles of genes, DNA, and RNA, as well as the medical, legal, and ethical dimensions of such issues as genetic engineering and DNA evidence.

Discusses the history and current state of scientific understanding of black holes, exploring what they are, how they are formed, potential uses, and what they tell us about the fate of the universe.

Discusses various types of bacteria and viruses, methods of fighting diseases, and how bacteria and viruses can be used to benefit people and the environment.

Presents a study of virtual reality in the twenty-first century and provides information on what it is, how it was developed, and how it is used to test urban renewal projects, in the classroom and business world, and the future of virtual reality.