The life cycle of a plant can be truly remarkable to observe, and the energy of plant life can be truly mystifying; consider how certain environments are inhospitable to life, yet they're sprinkled with various forms of vegetation. Plant reproduction can occur asexually or sexually; the method of reproduction sets the stage for the plant's growth and maturity. This flourishing volume examines the processes of plant reproduction and the stages of plant...

Life comes in all shapes and forms, and living entities dwell in all types of habitats. There are seven characteristics that all life forms share-the ability to move, to sense, to respire, to consume nutrition, to grow, to reproduce, and to excrete waste matter. Complete with annotated illustrations that clarify complex structures and life processes, this volume surveys the parts, characteristics, and classifications of various living things and explores...

Our visual experience of the world and our ability to perceive the objects and people around us would be impossible without light and the many roles it plays in our daily lives. In addition to facilitating our perception, light sustains life on earth by providing energy to plants and heating the atmosphere. The fundamentals of light-including how it is measured, its interaction with matter, and the particle and wave theories of light-are covered in...

Routinely going through daily life, people may be inured to the fact that Earth takes up only a small fraction of a solar system, let alone the universe. Still, the planet we call home is unique for a number of reasons. The more we can learn about Earth and its Moon-the two bodies in the solar system of which the most has been discovered to date-the more likely scientists are to uncover truths about the universe as a whole. The properties, motions,...

Frequently cited as a land that birthed civilization and culture as we know it, the impact of ancient Greece on the world cannot be overstated. Its flourishing city-states laid the creative foundations for much of the literature, drama, art, and architecture we enjoy today, while advances in governance and law have shaped the development of democracy. This lively volume chronicles the major events and achievements of this dynamic society and profiles...

Even as environmental consciousness and "green" habits become increasingly embedded with numerous individuals, many of the planet's natural resources and species remain in danger. On a global scale, effectively protecting the environment requires top-down solutions from political and economic structures and the incorporation of environmentalist initiatives into legislative and legal action. This intuitive volume examines the emergence of the environmental...