1 In the beginning
The universe was created from a very tiny and incredibly hot ball
of energy. Scientists call this 'The Big Bang' but the creation was
very quiet as there was no air to carry the sound. When people
later appeared. they used science as a way to find out what was
going on. Scientists would carry out experiments, collect and
compare samples, and use telescopes to see the stars.
2 Heavenly bodies
The universe is very big. There are so many stars, planets and
moons in it than we could ever count. There are also things in the
universe called black holes that are so heavy and massive that they
suck light into themselves. Galaxies are formed when stars group
together in massive clusters. Our solar system has one sun and
eight planets including Earth.
3 Life as we know it
All the different kinds of living things on Earth contain DNA
inside them. Living things that share similar features are put
together in a group. Millions of tiny living things, like bacteria,
can live in plants and animals. All living things need food to
build up their bodies and they can also reproduce which means they
can make babies.
4 The smallest things
All living things have millions of tiny building blocks called
cells. Microscopes are used to see the cells in your body.
Computers are not living things but they are also made up of tiny
building blocks called microchips. Molecules are the tiny things
that make up everything. Most molecules are too small to be seen
with a microscope. Molecules are made of even smaller bits called
atoms.
5 The secret behind everything
Energy is what makes atoms do anything. It never appear or
disappears but it can be changed from one kind to another. Nuclear
power stations find energy by splitting atoms into pieces. This is
called nuclear fission. The nuclear energy that is released is used
to make electricity. Solar panels change light energy into
electricity.
6 Mixed reactions
Molecules that are made of just one kind of atom are known as
elements. Chemical reactions happen when two elements are mixed
together and this creates a whole new substance. Chemical reactions
can also separate elements from each other. Elements are listed in
a chart called 'The Periodic Table'.
7 Putting things together
Understanding how things work mean that amazing things can be built
like robots that do jobs that too dangerous or too boring for
people. Altering the DNA of living things can lead to new kinds of
plants and animals with special abilities. Discoveries that happen
accident can be used create amazing things and examples of such
accidental discoveries are penicillin and x-rays.
8 See into the future
Knowing everything about how the world works would allow scientists
to predict the future very accurately.
9 What's what
Branches of science include cosmology, entomology, quantum physics,
mechanical engineering, dendrology, informatics, and
meteorology.
Alex Frith (Author)
Alex Frith has been writing Usborne books since 2005. His diverse
output covers such titles as 'See inside Your Head', 'Stories of
Thor' and 'Politics for Beginners'. He has spoken at multiple
festivals about his book '100 Things to Know About Space'. Alex can
be found in London.
It would be impossible to praise this series too highly.
*The Bookseller*
This book was about science, space, the sky, the smallest things,
the jungle, mixed reactions, putting things together, seeing into
the future and the secrets behind everything. The pictures were
very good... I think my friends would like this book. In fact, one
of my friends in my class (primary 2) has it now.
*Yogi (age 7), The Biologist*
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