How science changed the world

Examines how the invention of the automobile changed the world. Discusses its origins, evolution, and possible future. Includes color photographs, sidebars, a glossary, and further resources.

"Antibiotics revolutionized the practice of medicine. Deadly diseases and infections became easily curable and untold millions are alive because of antibiotics. The ways industry, agriculture, and medical research function and have developed have been transformed as well. Nevertheless, the bacterial world's response to antibiotics is as dramatic as the results of the human discovery. The rise of drug resistant bacteria is challenging the medical world as never before and threatening the advent of a post-antibiotic era that scientists are determined to forestall"--Provided by the publisher.

Explores how genetic research is helping to understand and treat diseases, improve food crops, develop high-end security and more.

"Electricity is the lifeblood of contemporary society. But the bright, modern-day world lit up by coal, natural gas, nuclear power, and renewable energy sources is a relatively new phenomenon. From the time prehistoric people lived in caves until little more than a century ago, the world was dark at night. People lit wood fires and burned candles made from animal or vegetable fat. The incandescent light bulb invented by Thomas Edison did more than allow people to see better in the dark. Artificial lighting also altered the biological rhythms of life that had guided humanity for thousands of years. But further developments in renewable electricity will continue to fuel progress and change lives well into the next century"--Provided by publisher.

Discusses the history of the Internet and how it has impacted daily life.

Before the advent of vaccines, enormous epidemics of measles, mumps, whooping cough, polio, and other crippling diseases ravaged humanity around the globe. That frightening situation began to change when Edward Jenner, Louis Pasteur, and other pioneering medical researchers developed the first vaccines-which use a portion of a disease germ to stimulate the body's immune reaction to that malady. Today, hundreds of millions of people gain immunity to deadly diseases through vaccination.

Explores the role of robotics in medical care, education, military, exploration and more.