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The Salmon Cannon and the Levitating Frog: And Other Serious Discoveries of Silly Science

The Salmon Cannon and the Levitating Frog: And Other Serious Discoveries of Silly Science

York, Carly Anne

Hardcover

$30.00 $22.50 Save 25%
A brilliant new voice in science writing--"witty, whip-smart, truly one of our best" (Mary Roach)--shows why playfulness and curiosity are the key to science

Why would anyone research how elephants pee? Or study worms who tie themselves into a communal knot? Or quantify the squishability of a cockroach? It all sounds pointless, silly, or even disgusting.

Maybe it is. But in The Salmon Cannon and the Levitating Frog, Carly Anne York shows how unappreciated, overlooked, and simply curiosity-driven science has led to breakthroughs big and small. Got wind power? You might have humpback whales to thank. Know anything about particle physics? Turns out there is a ferret close to the heart of it all. And if you want to keep salmon around, be thankful for that cannon! The research itself can seem bizarre. But it drives our economy. And what's more, this stuff is simply cool.

York invites readers to appreciate the often unpredictable journey of scientific exploration, highlighting that the heart of science lies in the relentless pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. Emphasizing the hard work of the people behind the discoveries, this is an accessible, story-driven book that shows how important and exciting it is to simply let curiosity run wild.

EAN: 9781541605213
Publisher: Basic Books
Publication Date: 2025-06-17
Pages: 288
Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
BISAC Subjects: Life Sciences - Zoology - Ethology (Animal Behavior), Experiments & Projects,
Public Policy - Science & Technology Policy

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