Science in Our Daily Lives is a first novel written by David Michael Slater, whose real name is Samuel Slater. It’s a “how to” guide to scientific discovery. I enjoyed it, although I know many who won’t. It takes a look at how scientific discoveries are made and what are the possible effects on society, energy, and the planet. Some of the “mysterious powers” that science has revealed about cars and other machines are quite terrifying.
Chemistry World: Science in Our Daily Lives introduces readers to elementary chemistry and historical chemistry, and how major chemical compounds are used not only for specific purposes but also sometimes become dangerous to human health and the environment. Examples include chlorine in swimming pools and fertilizers, microorganisms in water and soil, and hormones in milk and meat production. The author shows how everyday chemicals like gasoline, pesticides, lubricants, solvents, and insecticides have been intimately involved in the development of science itself.
The author shows how changes in chemistry affected society from the ground up, starting with the industrial revolution and continuing through the Information Age. Examples include how women were denied the right to vote until the 20th century, how our food was contaminated with heavy metals before we had antibiotics, how asbestos became a toxic substance, how nuclear radiation causes cancer, and how the chemical world around us continues to develop and become more dangerous. This is a very serious book with plenty of information to interest and enlighten readers, but it is also written in an engaging, humorous style that makes it easy to read. The short chapters are well organized, while the detailed descriptions are clear and easy to follow.
The author examines how science has contributed to our understanding of the causes and prevention of disease, as well as environmental issues such as air pollution, acid rain, global warming, pesticides, genetically modified foods, and food safety. She shows how the study of science has improved our ability to deal with day to day living and death situations by identifying causes, devising solutions, testing possible remedies, and preventing or eliminating potential threats. These chapters address many different topics, and the book is full of illustrations and examples to aid the reader. The layout is logical and easy to follow, with clear explanations and detailed photographs helping to portray each topic.
If you have an interest in how science has molded our world around us, The Chemistry of Everyday Lives is an excellent, quick read. The author begins by reviewing some basic concepts including evolution, the chemical world around us, the effect of natural disasters on our health and well-being, and the relationship between humans and other living things. Then she goes into discussing topics that have broad bearing on health, including genetic engineering, pesticides and herbicides, nutrition, infectious disease, and endocrine disruption. Chapter two looks at the impact of radiation on health, with a particular emphasis on genetic disorders that are caused by radiation. The third chapter looks at alternative methods of dealing with nuclear weapons.
As I read these books, I was interested in how the knowledge of natural science and the power of machines has increased in tandem over time. It seems that while in prehistoric times people had to hunt animals for food, we now have machine-assisted vehicles to do just about everything we need to do. Our cars don’t just drive us from point A to point B; they also keep us safe from animal attacks and wild weather. Generators are no longer used just to power homes and offices; they are one of the leading sources of clean energy. And we are even learning that computers can help us reduce our dependence on oil.
In essence, all of the knowledge in this book could have been presented in a single lecture, but Price goes into much greater depth regarding how these natural laws and machines work together in our daily lives. It’s not just about knowing more about the science behind the various items in our lives, but it’s about how they can benefit us directly. For example, did you know that the airplanes that fly around the world use very simple principles of physics and chemistry to produce their energy? That is only the tip of the iceberg. They produce less harmful exhaust gases, which significantly reduces the impact on the environment. And that’s just one example.
In addition to the chapters on science in our daily lives, Price provides a bibliography that includes hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific journal articles. These are excellent resources for those who want to delve further into the fascinating topic of natural science. You will be able to find the latest research in a variety of scientific disciplines including earth science, astronomy, mathematics, environmental science, psychology, physiology, statistics, and more. While this book may appeal to those who already consider themselves to be “naturalists,” Price does an excellent job of opening the door to a new set of individuals who have never before considered the relationship between science and technology in their lives. This is a great book for anyone interested in learning more about the relationships between science and technology in their daily lives.