Explores the secrets of the Earth, answering questions about the what lies beneath the Earth's crust, why sea water is salty, what the ocean floor looks like, why Africa is splitting apart, and other topics.

Provides detailed descriptions of a wide variety of topics from sedimentary rock to the stratosphere, in a lavishly illustrated introduction to the planet and its role in the solar system that pairs example photographs with accessible captions.

"The earth is a strange and wondrous place. Discover incredible facts about its saltiest seas, tallest mountains, largest organisms, and more in this fun book!"--

Presents concepts in earth sciences using lively descriptions and cartoon illustrations personifying each concept.

"An exhilarating, time-traveling journey to the solar system's strangest and most awe-inspiring volcanoes. Volcanoes are capable of acts of pyrotechnical prowess verging on magic: they spout black magma more fluid than water, create shimmering cities of glass at the bottom of the ocean and frozen lakes of lava on the moon, and can even tip entire planets over. Despite their reputation for destruction, volcanoes are inseparable from the creation of...

"Come closer and look at these rocks: they're not normal stones at all! They're thousands and thousands of mollusks, fossilized together in the sediment. But how did a million oysters ever land on top of a mountain? Written by a geologist, this inquisitive journey guides readers through the movements of seas, strata, and tectonic plates. The landscapes of the present can be clues to events in the past. Lush, atmospheric illustrations offer fascinating...

"People have weeks of warning prior to volcanic eruptions, days of warning before a blizzard, and hours of warning before tornadoes. But there is still no warning system at all for earthquakes, though they have killed millions, and millions more live in constant danger from them. In The Million Death Quake, British Geological Survey seismologist Roger Musson takes us on a riveting journey through earthquakes. After making plain the science behind...

"Earth is the planet we know the most about because it's our home, but we're always learning more. Every day we find out something new about the animals that live in the oceans, the plants that grow in the forests, and what's inside Earth's crust. Readers will enjoy taking a closer look at some of the most fascinating things about the planet we call home, expanding their knowledge of common science curriculum topics"--Publisher's website.

The fascinating story of the most powerful source of energy the earth can yield. Uranium is a common element in the earth's crust, and the only naturally occurring mineral with the power to end all life on the planet. After World War II, it reshaped the global order. Marie Curie gave us hope that uranium would be a miracle panacea, but the Manhattan Project gave us reason to believe that civilization would end with apocalypse. Slave labor camps in...

"A beautifully illustrated and definitive book on dinosaur fossils"--