NCW Libraries

"For the past century, scientists and naturalists have been steadily unravelling the secrets of bird migration. How and why birds navigate the skies, traveling from continent to continent--flying thousands of miles across the earth each fall and spring--has continually fascinated the human imagination, but only recently have we been able to fully understand these amazing journeys. Although we know much more than ever before, even the most enthusiastic...

Not since the atomic bomb has a technology so alarmed its inventors that they warned the world about its use. That is, until 2015, when biologist Jennifer Doudna called for a worldwide moratorium on the use of the gene-editing tool CRISPR-a revolutionary new technology that she helped create-to make heritable changes in human embryos. The cheapest, simplest, most effective way of manipulating DNA ever known, CRISPR may well give us the cure to HIV,...

Researchers on the undersea laboratory Aquatica have genetically altered the brains of captive sharks to develop a potential cure for Alzheimer's disease. However, there is one noteworthy unexpected side effect--the sharks got smarter. Which could mean trouble for the researchers.

Explores today's scientific pursuit of immortality, with exclusive visits inside Silicon Valley labs and interviews with the visionaries who believe we will soon crack into the aging process and cure death. "Veteran journalist Chip Walter takes us deep inside Silicon Valley's boardrooms and the world's most advanced biomedical labs to reveal the incredible new science of extending human lifespan. Here are the bold business moves funded by Google...

What is the nature of science? The answer to that question can be found in the momentous theories and discoveries that have occupied scientists for generations. The Importance of Scientific Theory series helps students develop a broader and deeper understanding of the nature of science by examining richly detailed examples from history. Titles in this series examine how scientists arrived at core ideas such as atomic theory, germ theory, evolution...

With major breakthroughs happening constantly, stem cell research continues to be as much of a hot button issue as it is the stuff of miracles. Stem cells are cells that can differentiate into other kids of cells. Many praise stem cell therapy for it's rarely tapped healing power and rejuvenation capabilities. Join us on this documentary exploration to uncover what could be the secrets to immortality as stem cells are dissected and discussed at length....

For centuries, doctors have struggled to define mental illness--how do you diagnose it, how do you treat it, how do you even know what it is? In search of an answer, in the 1970s a Stanford psychologist named David Rosenhan and seven other people--sane, normal, well-adjusted members of society--went undercover into asylums around America to test the legitimacy of psychiatry's labels. Forced to remain inside until they'd "proven" themselves sane, all...

Do you believe in ghosts? Enter the realm of the paranormal with Kelly Milner Halls. Explore what ghosts are, where they're found, and meet some famous ghost busters. Check out the high-tech equipment modern ghost hunters use, and see their most convincing evidence that ghosts are real. Finally,take a look at a few famous hoaxes.