Words That Begin with Q

Words That Begin with Q Words That Begin with Q Words That Begin with Q By Maeve Maddox In spite of the fact that Scrabble assets list many â€Å"English words† starting with the letter q, there are just around 80 (not including intonations) that the vast majority are probably going to experience in their perusing. I’ll sort them as per â€Å"Basic Vocabulary,† â€Å"General Vocabulary,† and â€Å"Advanced Vocabulary.† Note: In English orthography, q is generally trailed by the letter u. The ordinary way to express qu is [kw]. In a couple of words, qu is articulated [k]; I’ll note them. Fundamental Vocabulary quail curious Quaker qualify quality amount squabble quarry quart group of four quartz sovereign eccentric question mission question line [kju] quiche [keesh] snappy calm quilt quintet joke stop very test quantity quote remainder General Vocabulary quack drink entanglement tremor misgiving difficulty quantum quark suppress semi shake quay [kee] suppress extinguish squeamish bandy stimulate quid quieten plume quince idiosyncrasy quirt shudder unrealistic Quixote (Standard American way to express Quixote: [kee-HOH-tee]; Standard British elocution: [KWIK-sit]) majority quoth Propelled Vocabulary quaestor quahog (additionally spelled quohog; a few speakers articulate the qu as [k]) quai [kay] (this is the word for the quays in Paris) quartile quean quern quiddity Quietism quietude end quiff quire quoin [KOYN] quoit [koit] and [kwoit] quondam Related post: Q in English Words Need to improve your English in a short time a day? Get a membership and begin accepting our composing tips and activities every day! Continue learning! Peruse the Vocabulary classification, check our mainstream posts, or pick a related post below:20 Types and Forms of HumorDisappointed + Preposition40 Synonyms for Praise

Dentist Essay Example For Students

Dental specialist Essay The Trip to the Dentist OfficeThinking to myself, is there any way I could shock back in my vehicle and head back for home, I enter the tall slim tan hued block building and stroll over to the lift, trusting that the last half hour of cleaning my teeth to death pays off. Apprehensively, I press the up button and persistently pause. The lift entryway speedily opens and I am immersed, the entryway closes, up I go. Once on the subsequent floor, I leave the lift and quickly I can smell the blend of the wintergreen seasoned tooth glue and the mind-boggling fragrance of fade out in the lobby, alongside the sound of the teeth pounding drills which gives, not, at this point the sentiment of the dental specialist office yet of street development zone. With the opening of the external entryway, the impact of cool air hits me giving a sentiment of being stripped vulnerable fierce winter. I stroll in and add my name to the rundown on the long sign in sheet. Andrew, the thin silver haired lady be hind the winter white iridescent glass slide window, sees me and tells me that the dental specialist will be prepared in a brief instant. While I stand by reluctantly for the dental right hand in her fresh perfect creme hued uniform to declare my name, I take a gander at the little tropical turquoise sprinkled fish in the enormous completely clear tank sitting toward the side of the room. The smooth quiet fish dart about playing find the stowaway with the plastic mermaid figure indented profound at the base of the tank with the gems of the ocean. While the small silver air pockets smoothly slip to the highest point of the tanks surface and break quietly while I stand by. At that point I turn and hope to see a photograph collection sitting on an old looking end table. I get it just to see mouthfulls of despairing rotting teeth and gums. I rapidly close the book thinking on the off chance that I saw it long enough I would go to stone and screen at the idea, however glad to realize that mine are all there twinkling in the wealth of daylight that is topping in from the outside world through the streak free window. At long last, the medical caretaker calls my name and I enter the internal office and sit in the cream hued trap looking seat, trusting that it will swallow me and send me anyplace yet here. Taking a gander at all of the glossy hardened steel instruments gives me an inclination that I am going to enter war. Setting out the brilliant overhead light immediately blinds me, at that point he begins the system. All in all, how have things been going with you since the last time Ive seen you Andy? he inquires. Auuuuuuhhhhh right. Is everything I could answer with. He giggles and keeps on cleaning, clean, scratch, and floss. Spit in to this cup. He orders. With inclining my head forward and spit into the cup was simply outlandish with the substantial lead cover set over me. I thought I had prevailing in that modest errand yet as I rested my head down on the seat I could feel some quickly running down the side of my mouth. Okay Andy you are done, allowed to go! he said cheerfully. I was hesitant to ask yet it would eat at me in the event that I didnt know now before he would call my folks to set up another incrushiating arrangement. Do I have any depressions, Dr. Schall? apprehensively I inquired. No, you are without depression keep doing awesome. He at that point gives me another delicate tip toothbrush and I leave the dental specialist office with a substantially more joyful grin all over, while I turn my tongue over my magnificent whites.

Books to Make You Happy, Productive, Focused, and Smart

Books to Make You Happy, Productive, Focused, and Smart When the weather first turns terrible for winter, as it already has here in Minnesota, I need books that make me feel good. I need books that make me feel like I can make positive changes, and I need books that make me motivated get my shit together. A couple years ago, the book that kicked my slump was The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. The book chronicles Rubin’s 12 month quest to become happier, focusing her energy on one area of her like each month and obsessively tracking her results. I thought it was delightful and a little weird, but it made me feel filled with possibility. I didn’t like her second book, Happier at Home, nearly as much, mostly because fact that she lives an awfully privileged lifestyle hides just underneath the surface. I was feeling a little intimidated by how much she accomplishes every day until I learned that she’s married to senior partner at a hedge fun, living in an Upper East Side triplex, and employs a sitter and a housekeeper. My life could a lot happier if I didn’t have to do the dishes all the time, too. All that said, I can’t help but be a little excited about Rubin’s newest book coming out in March, Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives. Instead of focusing on happiness directly, Rubin is turning her attention to habits, which she sees as a way to master self-control and ultimately contribute to happiness. But since that book is still several months away, and many of us set January 1 as an arbitrary date to try and change our lives for the better, I’ve got four suggestions of books on habits, willpower, and happiness you can read today. Thanks to the rest of the Book Riot crew for chiming in on several of these suggestions. Getting Things Done by David Allen Getting Things Done is basically the bible of productivity (and pretty much the only reason anything gets done at Book Riot). In the book, Allen outlines fives stages of workflow and shares a system that helps maximize productivity at each of those stages. And even if you read the book and don’t feel like implementing the system, his basic principles â€" write things down, put them in the place that makes sense, review your lists, find ways to give yourself reminders in context and keep strong walls around your systems â€" make total sense in other contexts, too. Don’t let the self-helpy cover turn you off; if you want to be more organized and productive, this one is a must read. The Distraction Addiction by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang One of my ongoing bad habits is getting distracted by my smartphone and by the Internet at large. The Distraction Addiction was the first book I read about distraction that asked the right question about technology â€" “Can we stay connected without diminishing our intelligence, attention spans, and ability to really live?” â€" and offered smart answers to that question. Pang doesn’t advocate we get rid of our devices, but does encourage readers to think carefully about how we let them interrupt our lives and attention. After I read the book, I turned off nearly every notification on my phone (including email) and have not looked back since. The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg I haven’t actually read The Power of Habit yet, but several other Riot writers have raved about it. In the book, Duhigg, a New York Times business reporter, looks at the science behind habits to look at why they exist and what we can do to change them. The whole first section is filled with diagrams to illustrating the Habit Loop and how to use that loop to your advantage. Because Duhigg has a business background, the book is full of examples of marketers who’ve taken advantage of triggers to connect products to daily habits. Sounds super interesting. Manage Your Day-to-Day edited by Jocelyn K. Glei If you’ve read a ton about time and productivity, then this book isn’t going to provide anything new. But if you’re just diving into this topic, then this collection of short essays is a great place to start. The book brings together “leading creative minds” to talk about how they find time to do creative work during otherwise hectic lives. The essays are organized into four sections â€" building a rock-solid routine, finding focus in a distracted world, taming your tools, and sharpening your creative mind â€" and are nice to pick up during brief moments when you need a brain break. I felt like this one was largely practical, with lots of concrete information about the routines of talented people. ____________________ Book Riot Live is coming! Join us for a two-day event full of books, authors, and an all around good time.

Analysis of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice Essay

Analysis of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice Pride and prejudice is a novel set in the late 17th Century and was written by author Jane Austen. The novel is based upon the theme of marriage and social settings of the 17th century. The novel is set in an era where women where 2nd class citizens and were inferior to men. This is ever so prevalent in the novel. In the time of which the novel is set women were not meant to meddle in men’s affairs theses included involving in politics, participating in financial affairs this disabled the women to be independent. This did not allow women to play a greater role in society, in fact women were supposed to â€Å"bore birth and bring up and look after the children†. This was there only†¦show more content†¦Getting married had also its complications, I lady had to get married quickly (by today’s standards). A woman reaching thirty would have a very minimal chance and would die a spinster, this created pressure on the women to find a right husband but quickly, but in most cases they women got married purely for the reason that it would give them a secure future. This case is evident in proposal of Charlotte Lucus as she is 28 years of age and realizes her chances of finding a loving husband are very minimal so therefore pounces on the chance of getting married to Mr Collins. â€Å"Miss Lucus perceived him from an upper window as he walked towards the house, and instantly set out to meet him accidentally in the lane.† Miss Lucus therefore accidentally meets up with Mr Collins so he can propose to her and she can secure her future, because a women not getting married was seen as act of disregard towards one’s duty. Proposal one Mr Collins proposes to Elizabeth first in the novel. When we are firstly introduced to Mr Collins we are introduced in a form of a letter. When Mr Collins arrives at Longbourn he is describes as a comical character. When we are first introduced to Mr. Collins through the letter the reader can pick up on the fact he constantly mentions Catherine Lady De Burg constantly relating with stuff he writes with her. â€Å"I have been soShow MoreRelated An Analysis of Characters in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice1662 Words   |  7 PagesAn Analysis of Characters in Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice An author will often give his or her work a title that reflects the overall theme or meaning of the piece-this is certainly the case in Jane Austens novel Pride and Prejudice. A title may set the mood or describe a situation which otherwise might require several paragraphs to develop. Pride and Prejudice is a combination of humor, irony, and twists of events. 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The United States And Military Weapons - 963 Words

1) The United States it could be argued has an absolute advantage in the production of military weapons, or at least in some weapon systems. Using a completely free market perspective in terms of economic freedom in general, and in particular international trade, companies should be allowed to sell whatever and to whomever they want. Explain how this thinking is either valid or flawed. According to the article, War is Business, the United State is the largest producer and exporter of military weapons including tanks, drones, and attacked helicopters. As mentioned before, the United States has an entire advantage when it comes to trade manufacture military equipment. They export to many countries including South Korea, Australia, U.A.E.,†¦show more content†¦Companies should not be allowed to sell to whatever country they want because that could end up in something bad for many countries. For example, The United States have allies which I understand they buy military equipment from the US. On the other hand, The USA also has enemies, which I believe they could not sell them any equipment because in the long run the United States citizens could be affected by its own equipment. In my point of view, companies should not be allowed to sell military equipment to everybody because its country could be affected which is why all the rules and laws exist within thi s international business. 2) Does a United Nations treaty making for multinational regulations of arms exports make sense to you? Why do you think the United States isn’t enthusiastically supporting the agreement? A United Nations treaty making for multination regulations of arms exports make total sense for me because somehow it could minimize the violence in some countries. The name of the treaty the United Nations is working on is â€Å"Arms Trade Treaty† (ATT), the purpose of this treaty is to have more control in the international arms trading because nowadays it has no international supervision. As mentioned before, the ATT would be helpful for some countries because it might decrease the violence within countries. The treaty would stop the sales to countries that are more likely to use weapons to

Biochip Free Essays

Contents ?Abstract ?Introduction ?Principle of biochip ?The biochip technology ?Working of a biochip ?General applications of biochip ?Biomedical applications of biochip ?Conclusion ?Reference ? ABSTRACT â€Å"Biochips†-The most exciting future technology is an outcome of the fields of computer science, electronics biology. A biochip is a collection of miniaturized test sites (microarrays) arranged on a solid substrate that permits many tests to be performed at the same time in order to achieve higher throughput and speed. Like a computer chip that can perform millions of mathematical operations in one second, a biochip can perform thousands of biological reactions, such as decoding genes, in a few seconds. We will write a custom essay sample on Biochip or any similar topic only for you Order Now Biochips helped to dramatically accelerate the identification of the estimated 80,000 genes in human DNA, an ongoing world-wide research collaboration known as the Human genome project. Developing a biochip plat-form incorporates electronics for addressing, reading out, sensing and controlling temperature and, in addition, a handheld analyzer capable of multiparameter identification. The biochip platform can be plugged in a peripheric standard bus of the analyzer device or communicate through a wireless channel. Biochip technology has emerged from the fusion of biotechnology and micro/nanofabrication technology. Biochips enable us to realize revolutionary new bio analysis systems that can directly manipulate and analyze the micro/nano-scale world of bio molecules, organelles and cells. ? INTRODUCTION What is biochip? A biochip is a collection of miniaturized test sites (microarrays) arranged on a solid substrate that permits many tests to be performed at the same time in order to achieve higher throughput and speed. Biochips are any microprocessor chips that can be used in Biology. Biochip was developed in 1983 for monitoring fisheries, the rapid technological advances of the biochemistry and semiconductor fields in the 1980s led to the large scale development of biochips in the 1990s. Biochip was made by Fred Sanger and Walter Gilbert. Biochip was invented in 4G generation the development is still continued. Biochips were largely a â€Å"platform† technology which consisted of several separate, yet integrated components. PRINCIPLE OF BIOCHIP While designing the biochips, a semiconducting organic molecule is inserted into a protein frame work; the whole unit is fixed onto a protein support. In biochips the electrical signals can pass through the semiconducting organic molecule. Biochip THE BIOCHIP TECHNOLOGY The biochip implants system consists of two components: a transponder and a reader or scanner. The transponder is the actual biochip implant. The biochip system is radio frequency identification (RFID) system, using low-frequency radio signals to communicate between the biochip and reader. The reading range or activation range, between reader and biochip is small, normally between 2 and 12 inches. TRANSPONDERS The transponder is the actual biochip implant. It is a passive transponder, meaning it contains no battery or energy of its own. In comparison, an active transponder would provide its own energy source, normally a small battery. Because the passive biochip contains no battery, or nothing to wear out, it has a very long life, up to 99 years, and no maintenance. Being passive, it’s inactive until the reader activates it by sending it a lowpower electrical charge. The reader â€Å"reads† or â€Å"scans† the implanted biochip and receives back data (in this case an identification number) from the biochip. The communication between biochip and reader is via low-frequency radio waves. The biochip transponder consists of four parts: 1. Computer Microchip: The microchip stores a unique identification number from 10 to 15 digits long. The storage capacity of the current microchips is limited, capable of storing only a single ID number. AVID (American Veterinary Identification Devices), claims their chips, using an nnn-nnn-nnn format, has the capability of over 70 trillio n unique numbers. The unique ID number is â€Å"etched† or encoded via a laser onto the surface of the microchip before assembly. Once the number is encoded it is impossible to alter. The microchip also contains the electronic circuitry necessary to transmit the ID number to the â€Å"reader†. 2. Antenna Coil: This is normally a simple, coil of copper wire around a ferrite or iron core. This tiny, primitive, radio antenna â€Å"receives and sends† signals from the reader or scanner. ? 3. Tuning Capacitor: The capacitor stores the small electrical charge (less than 1/1000 of a watt) sent by the reader or scanner, which activates the transponder. This â€Å"activation† allows the transponder to send back the ID number encoded in the computer chip. Because â€Å"radio waves† are utilized to communicate between the transponder and reader, the capacitor is â€Å"tuned† to the same frequency as the reader. 4. Glass Capsule: The glass capsule â€Å"houses† the microchip, antenna coil and capacitor. It is a small capsule, the smallest measuring 11 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter, about the size of an uncooked grain of rice. The capsule is made of biocompatible material such as soda lime glass. After assembly, the capsule is hermetically (air -tight) sealed, so no bodily fluids can touch the electr onics inside. Because the glass is very smooth and susceptible to movement, a material such as a polypropylene polymer sheath is attached to one end of the capsule. This sheath provides a compatible surface which the bodily tissue fibers bond or interconnect, resulting in a permanent placement of the biochip. The biochip is inserted into the subject with a hypodermic syringe. Injection is safe and simple, comparable to common vaccines. Anesthesia is not required nor recommended. In dogs and cats, the biochip is usually injected behind the neck between the shoulder blades. Trovan, L td. , markets an implant, featuring a patented â€Å"zip quill†, which you simply press in, no syringe is needed. THE READER: The reader consists of an â€Å"exciter† coil which creates an electromagnetic field that, via radio signals, provides the necessary energy (less than 1/1000 of a watt) to â€Å"excite† or â€Å"activate† implanted biochip. The reader also carries a receiving coil that receives the transmitted code or ID number sent back from the â€Å"activated† implanted biochip. This all takes place very fast, in milliseconds. The reader also contains the software and components to decode the received code and display the result in an LCD disp lay. The reader can include a RS-232 port to attach a computer. ? WORKING OF A BIOCHIP The reader generates a low-power, electromagnetic field, in this case via radio signals, which â€Å"activates† the implanted biochip. This â€Å"activation† enables the biochip to send the ID code back to the reader via radio signals. The reader amplifies the received code, converts it to digital format, decodes and displays the ID number on the reader’s LCD display. The reader must normally be between 2 and 12 inches near the biochip to communicate. The reader and biochip can communicate through most materials, except metal. ? GENERAL APPLICATIONS OF BIOCHIP With a biochip tracing of a person/animal, anywhere in the world is possible: Once the reader is connected to the internet, satellite and a centralized database is maintained about the bio chipped creatures, It is always possible to trace out the personality intended. A biochip can store and update financial, medical, demographic data, basically everything about a person: An implanted biochip can be scanned to pay for groceries, obtain medical procedures, and conduct financial transactions. Currently, the in use, implanted biochips only store one 10 to 15 digits. If biochips are designed to accommodate with more ROM RAM. A biochip leads to a secured E-commerce System: A biochip is the possible solution to the â€Å"identification and security† dilemma faced by the digital economy. This type of new bio-security device is capable of accurately tracking information regarding what users are doing, and who are to accurately track information regarding what users are doing, and who is actually doing it. Biochips really are potent in replacing passports, cash, and medical records: The really powered biochip systems can replace cash, passports, medical other records. Payment system, authentication procedures may all be done by the means Biochips. BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF BIOCHIP Blood pressure sensor: In normal situations, The Blood Pressure of a healthy Human being is 120/80 mm of Hg. A Pressure ratio lower than this is said to be â€Å"Low BP â€Å" condition A Pressure ratio more than this is â€Å"High BP† condition. Serious Effects will be reflected in humans during Low High BP conditions; it may sometimes cause the death of a Person. Blood Pressure is checked with BP Apparatus in Hospitals and this is done only when the patient is abnormal. However, a continuous monitoring of BP is required in the aged people Patients. A huge variety of hardware circuitry (sensors) is available in electronics to detect the flow of fluid. It’s always possible to embed this type of sensors into a biochip. An integration of Pressure (Blood Flow) detecting circuits with the Biochip can make the chip to continuously monitor the blood flow rate when the pressure is in its low or high extremes it can be immediately informed through the reader hence to take up remedial measures. Genomics : Genomics is the study of gene sequences in living organisms and being able to read and interpret them. The human genome has been the biggest project undertaken to date but there are many research projects around the world trying to map the gene sequences of other organisms. The use of Biochip facilitate: Automated genomic analysis including genotyping, gene expression DNA isolation from complex matrices with aim to increase recovery efficiency DNA amplification by optimizing the copy number DNA hybridization assays to improve speed and stringency . Proteomics Proteome analysis or Proteomics is the investigation of all the proteins present in a cell, tissue or organism. Proteins, which are responsible for all biochemical work within a cell, are often the targets for development of new drugs. The use of Biochip facilitates: 1. High throughput proteomic analysis . Multi-dimensional micro separations (pre LC/MS) to achieve high plate number 3. Electro kinetic sample injection for fast, reproducible, samples 4. Stacking or other preconcentration methods (as a precursor to biosensors) to improve detection limits 5. Kinetic analysis of interactions between proteins to enable accurate, transport-free kinetics. Cellomics Every living creature is made up of cells , the basic building blocks of life.. Cells are used widely by for several applications including study of drug cell interactions for drug discovery, as well as in bio sensing. The use of Biochip facilitates: 1. Design â€Å"lab-in-cell† platforms handling single or few cells with nano probes in carefully controlled environments. 2. Field/reagent based cell lyses, where the contents of the cell are expelled out by breaking the membrane, or increase the efficiency of transfixion using reagents/field. 3. Intracellular processes to obtain high quality safety/toxicity ADME/T data. Biochips can detect cancers before symptoms develop : Biochip consists of a sq. Cm array that comprises several hundred dots. Each of these dots contains a unique protein, antibody or nucleic acid that will attach to a particular DNA sequence or antigen. Proteins are generated by a tumor in early stages. Antibodies are released to kill those proteins. In their hunt for cancer indicators, Eprogen uses a process called 2-dimesional protein fractionation. By using cancer patients own auto-antibodies as a diagnostic tool, doctors could potentially tailor treatments based on their personal autoantibody profile. ? Biochip as Oxygen sensor : The biochip can also be integrated with an oxygen sensor . The oxygen sensor will be useful not only to monitor breathing in intensive care units, but also to check that packages of food, or containers of semiconductors stored under nitrogen gas, remain airtight. The oxygen-sensing chip sends light pulses out into the body. The light is absorbed to varying extents, depending on how much oxygen is being carried in the blood, and the chip detects the light that is left. The rushes of blood pumped by the heart are also detected, so the same chip is a pulse monitor. Biochip as Glucose Detector : The Biochip can be integrated with a glucose detector. The chip will allow diabetics to easily monitor the level of the sugar glucose in their blood. Diabetics currently use a skin prick and a hand-held blood test, and then medicate themselves with insulin depending on the result. The system is simple and works well, but the need to draw blood means that most diabetics don’t test themselves as often as they should. Although they may get away with this in the short term, in later life those who monitored infrequently suffer from blindness, loss of circulation, and other complications. The solution is more frequent testing, using a less invasive method. The biochip will sit underneath the skin, sense the glucose level, and send the result back out by radio frequency communication. ? Brain surgery with an on-off switch : Sensing and measuring is one thing, but can we switch the body on and off? The electric pulses of active implant, made by US-based Medtronics Inc. , are directed not at the heart but at the brain. Drug therapy of Parkinson’s disease aims to replace the brain messenger dopamine, a product of brain cells that are dying. The implantation surgery is far less traumatic than thalamotomy, and if there are any post-operative problems the stimulator can simply be turned off. Adding sound to life : The most ambitious bioengineers are today trying to add back brain functions, restoring sight and sound where there was darkness and silence. The success story in this field is the cochlear implant. The cochlear implant delivers electrical pulses directly to the nerve cells in the cochlea, the spiral-shaped structure that translates sound in to nerve pulses. The implant mimics the job of the hair cells. It splits the incoming noises into a number of channels (typically eight) and then stimulates the appropriate part of the cochlea. Experiments with lost sight : Several groups are working on the implantable chips that mimic the action of photoreceptors, the light-sensing cells at the back of the eye. Joseph Rizzo of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, and John Wyatt of Massachusetts Institute of Technology have made a twenty electrode 1mm-square chip. The final setup will include a fancy camera mounted a pair of glasses. The camera will detect and encode the scene, then send it into the eye as a laser pulse, with the laser also providing the energy to drive the chip. For now the power supply comes from a wire inserted directly in the eye and, using this device, signals reaches the brain. ? How to cite Biochip, Essay examples

Twelfth night Essay Example

Twelfth night Essay Twelfth Night, a play written by William Shakespeare seems to be a very romantic story that has a lot of interesting twists involved. Everyone appears to be in love but within all of these love stories, there is a lot of drama that surrounds the play. All of the main characters find themselves to be in love, yet none of them seem to get that love returned. The problems occur because within those main characters, each person has their own motives behind their feelings and most of the feelings are not returned. Orsino, the Duke of Illyria falls in love with Olivia. Olivia, besides the fact that she wants to veil herself for seven years in honor of her deceased brother, falls in love with Viola. Orsino continues to try however, to prove his love to Olivia even when she wants nothing to do with him romantically. Viola is actually a woman, but is dressed up as a man. But this whole time as Viola is playing the role of a man, she is falling in love with Orsino. All of these individual lo ve stories are all mixed up into a bigger story that has a lot of drama involved. Orsino finds Olivia absolutely beautiful and cannot get his mind off of her but throughout the play, Olivia finds herself falling in love with Violas brother Sebastian. Sebastian does not exactly take his time to think about his feelings but instead rushes into feelings of love for Olivia. He thinks he is in love with her and because of this, quickly asks her to marry him. He says, If you mean well, go with me underneath that consecrated roof, plight me the assurance of your faith. She accepts his offer and they end up getting married. Viola ends up revealing her true self, that she is not Cesario and because of this, Orsino asks her to marry him. Viola tells later in the play, After him I love more than I love these eyes, more than my life. This quote showed that audience that her feelings are real and true for Orsino. As wel

Free Essays on Weblogs And Emergent Democracy

Introduction Ten years ago, if someone told you that in 10 years there would be just shy of a billion Internet users, more than 100 billion Web pages, and trillions of dollars of commerce based on a globally connected network, you might have thought the person insane. It was difficult to imagine then, as it is difficult to imagine now. Internet is developing at an escape speed, millions of thousands of virtual communities such as online games, weblogs, social networks, mailing lists, Instant messaging, regular IRC channels, etc, established .Among them, weblog boosts in recent years. Replacing the high-cost, venture-funded Web site with one that is intensely personal and built around the connectivity between people and ideas, weblogs play more and more important role in today’s society. It's no accident that weblogs are increasingly turning up as the top hits on search engines, since they trade in the same currency as the best search engineshuman intelligence, as reflected in who's already paying attention to what. As Joi said developers and proponents of the Internet have hoped to evolve the network as a platform for intelligent solutions which can help correct the imbalances and inequalities of the world. however, the Internet of today is a noisy environment with a great deal of power consolidation instead of the level, balanced democratic Internet. In 1993 Howard Rheingold wrote[2], We temporarily have access to a tool that could bring conviviality and understanding into our lives and might help revitalize the public sphere. The same tool, improperly controlled and wielded, could become an instrument of tyranny. The vision of a citizen-designed, citizen-controlled worldwide communications network is a version of technological utopianism that could be called the vision of "the electronic agora." In the original democracy, Athens, the agora was the marketplace, and moreit was where citizens met to talk, gossi... Free Essays on Weblogs And Emergent Democracy Free Essays on Weblogs And Emergent Democracy Introduction Ten years ago, if someone told you that in 10 years there would be just shy of a billion Internet users, more than 100 billion Web pages, and trillions of dollars of commerce based on a globally connected network, you might have thought the person insane. It was difficult to imagine then, as it is difficult to imagine now. Internet is developing at an escape speed, millions of thousands of virtual communities such as online games, weblogs, social networks, mailing lists, Instant messaging, regular IRC channels, etc, established .Among them, weblog boosts in recent years. Replacing the high-cost, venture-funded Web site with one that is intensely personal and built around the connectivity between people and ideas, weblogs play more and more important role in today’s society. It's no accident that weblogs are increasingly turning up as the top hits on search engines, since they trade in the same currency as the best search engineshuman intelligence, as reflected in who's already paying attention to what. As Joi said developers and proponents of the Internet have hoped to evolve the network as a platform for intelligent solutions which can help correct the imbalances and inequalities of the world. however, the Internet of today is a noisy environment with a great deal of power consolidation instead of the level, balanced democratic Internet. In 1993 Howard Rheingold wrote[2], We temporarily have access to a tool that could bring conviviality and understanding into our lives and might help revitalize the public sphere. The same tool, improperly controlled and wielded, could become an instrument of tyranny. The vision of a citizen-designed, citizen-controlled worldwide communications network is a version of technological utopianism that could be called the vision of "the electronic agora." In the original democracy, Athens, the agora was the marketplace, and moreit was where citizens met to talk, gossi...

Circles on ACT Math Geometry Formulas and Strategies

Circles on ACT Math Geometry Formulas and Strategies SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips One of the ACT’s absolute favorite shapes is the circle (or at least we assume so, given how often circles show up on the test). You will not be given any formulas on the ACT, so you’ll have to know and memorize the ins and outs of how circles work before test day. And, considering how often circles show up, mastering circle problems is definitely in your best interest. This will be your complete guide to ACT circles, including areas, circumferences, degrees, arcs, and points on a circle. We’ll take you through what these terms mean, how to manipulate and solve for various aspects of a circle, and how to tackle the most difficult ACT circle questions you may see on test day. What Are Circles? A circle is formed from the infinite number of points equidistant (the same distance) from a single pointthe center of the circle. A circle is also a two dimensional shape, which means it is completely flat. So any and all straight lines drawn from the center will exactly hit the edge of the circle as long as all the lines are of equal length. Degrees and Radians A circle is measured in either degrees or radians. Both are ways to express either the whole circle or pieces of the circle. A full circle has 360 degrees. A semicircle (half a circle) has $360/2 = 180$ degrees, which is why a straight line equals 180 degrees. To find a piece of a circle, you must find it in relation to 360 degrees. So an eighth of a circle is $360(1/8) = 45$ degrees, and a third of a circle is $360(1/3) = 120$, etc. Just as a circle has 360 degrees, you could also say that it has $2Ï€$ radians. You find the radian measure of pieces of a circle the exact same way that you found pieces of a circle using degrees. So an eighth of a circle in radians is $2Ï€(1/8) = Ï€/4$ radians and a third of a circle in radians is $2Ï€(1/3) = {2Ï€}/3$ radians, etc. (For more information on radians, check out our guide to ACT trigonometry.) Circumference The circumference is the edge of the circle. It is made from the infinite points equidistant from the center. Diameter A diameter is any straight line drawn through the center of the circle which connects two opposite points on the circle’s circumference. Radius The radius of a circle is a straight line drawn from the center to any point on the circle’s circumference. It is always half the diameter. Tangency Circles are often described as â€Å"tangent† with one another. This means that they touch at exactly one point on each circumference. They might be inside one another (as in this picture), or they may touch "externally" at a single point. p p="" Ï€ (pi) If you’ve taken a geometry class, then you are also probably familiar with Ï€ (pi). Ï€ is the mathematical symbol that represents the ratio of any circle’s circumference to its diameter. It is usually expressed as 3.14(159), but its digits go on infinitely. (For more information on ratios, check out our guide to ACT ratios.) Let's say we have a circle with a particular diameter (any diameter will do). Now let's line up this same circle so that we have a series of the same diameter measurement all in a row. Now, if we pick a point on the circumference of the circle and line it up at the beginning of the line, we can then "unroll" the circumference to see how long it is. Once we unroll the circumference and lay it out flat, we can see that it measures a little over 3 times the diamter of the circle (specifically, 3.14159, or Ï€, times the diameter). No matter what the diameter of the circle, the circumference will always be Ï€ times that diameter. So, if a circle’s diameter is 1, then its circumference is Ï€. And if its diameter is 2, then its circumference is 2Ï€, etc. You know all your definitions (whoo!), so now what? Well it's time to put the pieces together into our trusty circle formulas! Circle Formulas You will not be given any formulas on the test, so you will need to know these ACT circle formulas by heart in order to solve your circle problems. Let's look at all the formulas you'll need. Circumference $$c = Ï€d$$ Because Ï€ is the relationship between a circle’s diameter and its circumference, you can always find a circle’s circumference as long as you know its diameter (or its radius) with the formulas: $c = Ï€d$ or $c = Ï€2r$ Because the contestant must run around the course, she is running the circumference of the circle. And we are told that she will do so 3 times in order to complete her race. So a 1-track loop would be: $c_{1 \loop} = Ï€2r$ (We are told that the radius is â€Å"$R$† so we can leave it as is.) And a 3-track loop would be: $c_{3 \loop} = (Ï€2r) * 3$ $Ï€6r$ So our final answer is K, $6Ï€r$ Area $$a = Ï€r^2$$ You can also use Ï€ to find the area of a circle as well, since a circle’s area is closely related to its circumference. (Why? Because a circle is made of infinite points, and so it is essentially made up of infinite triangular wedgesbasically a pie with an infinite number of slices. The height of each of these wedges would be the circle’s radius and the cumulative bases would be the circle’s circumference.) So you would be able to find a circle’s area using the formula: $a = Ï€r^2$ The dog’s leash represents the radius of the circle, because the dog can run 9 feet in any straight line from the center of the stake in the ground. So we must find the area of the circle using 3.14 for $Ï€$ and 9 for the radius. $a = Ï€r^2$ $a = (3.14)(9^2)$ $a = (3.14)(81)$ $a = 254.34$ So our final answer is D, 254. Arcs $$c_\arc = Ï€d({\arc \degree}/360 °)$$ $$a_{\arc \sector} = Ï€r^2({\arc \degree}/360 °)$$ In order to find the circumference of a circle’s arc (or the area of a wedge made from a particular arc), you must multiply your standard circle formulas by the fraction of the circle that the arc spans. To determine the fraction of the circle that the arc spans, you must have the degree measure of the arc and find its measure out of the circle’s full 360 degrees. So if you want to find the circumference of an arc that is 90 °, it would be $1/4$ the total area of the circle. Why? Because $360/90 = 4$ (in other words, $90/360 = 1/4$). In order to find the circumference measure of an arc, we must have both the degree measure and the circle’s radius or diameter. Luckily, we have all of these. The degree measure of the arc, we are told, is 45. The top diagram tells us that the diameter of the circle is 24 feet. So the circumference of our arc is: $c \arc = Ï€d({\arc \degree}/360 °)$ $c \arc = Ï€24(45/360)$ $c = 3Ï€$ Because we can see that our answer does not use units of $Ï€$, let us convert our answer to digits by replacing $Ï€$ with 3.14. $3Ï€ = 3(3.14)$ $9.42$ We have successfully found the measurement of our arc, but we are not quite done. The question is asking us to find the full length of the zipper, which spans the length of the arc as well as the radius of the circle. This means we must find our radius and add it to our arc measurement. The radius of the circle is 12. Why 12? Because our diameter is 24 feet and a circle’s radius is always half the diameter. $24/2 = 12$ So when we add our arc measure and our radius together, we get: $9.42 + 12 = 21.42$ And the closest answer to match our measurement of 21.42 is answer choice G, 22. This means our final answer is G, 22. With a dash of formula knowledge (and, presumably, some eye of newt), you can solve any and all circle problems. Magic! Typical Circle Questions on the ACT Circle problems on the ACT will be one of two typesdiagram problem or word problem. Let us look at each type. Diagram Problem A diagram problem will give you a diagram from which to work. You must use the visual you are provided and either find a missing piece or find equivalent measurements or differences. Helpful hint: often (though not always), the trick to solving a circle problem is in finding and understanding the radius. All lines drawn from the center to the circumference are radii and are therefore equal, and this will often play a vital part to solving the whole problem. We are hoping to find the one statement that is NOT true, so let’s go through them and see which ones are accurate and inaccurate. Answer choice F says that angle TUM is 65 °. Well, we know that angle TMU must be 50 ° because it is opposite angle RMS and opposite angles are equal. (For more on this, check out our guide to ACT lines and angles.) We also know that lines TM and MU are equal. Why? Because they are both radii of the circle (lines from the center to the circumference of the circle) and so they must be equal. This means that the triangle TMU is an isosceles triangle, which means that angles MTU and TUM are equal. There are 180 ° in a triangle, so if we subtract 50 °, we get: $180 - 50 = 130$ This means that each of the angles MTU and TUM add up to equal 130. And, because they are equal, we can find their measure by dividing 130 ° in half. $130/2 = 65$ So F is correct, angle TUM is 65 °. Now let’s look at option G, which says that lines RS and TU are parallel. We know this to be true. Why? Because together, the triangles form two diameters of the circle. And so straight lines downwards from where those diameters touch the circumference of the circle will be parallel. H says that arc TXU measures 50 °. We already know this to be true, because angle RMS measures 50 ° and its opposite angle is TMU, which must also measure 50 °. Because the arc TXU contains and is made from angle TMU, its measurement must also be 50 °. Answer choice J says that line RM = line TM, which we also know is true. Why? Because they are both radii of the circle and so they must be equal. By process of elimination, this must mean that K is wrong (and thus our final choice), but let’s make sure. K says that lines RS and SM are equal, but we already know this cannot be true. Why? Because RM and MS are both radii and so they must be equal and angle RMS is 50 °, which means the triangle is not equilateral. Because it is not an equilateral triangle, lines RM and TM cannot be equal. (Note: if this question was at all confusing to you, check out our guide to ACT triangles) So our final answer is K. Word Problem Word problem questions about circles will describe a scene or situation that revolves around circles in some way. As you saw earlier in the section on areas and circumferences, word problem questions will often be a little more straightforward than a diagram question, as the picture is not given to you. When given a word problem question, it is a good idea to do your own quick sketch of the scene. This will help you keep all the details in order. Because this is a word problem, let us make our own picture of the scene. First, we know that we have a circular table. We are told that is is 3 feet in diameter (in other words, 36 inches), so let us draw it. Now, the tablecloth will be rectangular and will hang down at least 5 inches from any point on the circular table. Finally, we need 1 more inch of tablecloth on every side (to sew down as a finishing touch). Now, we can simply count our inches from top to bottom (or side to side) in a straight line. This will tell us the minimum length required for the fabric. If we go from top to bottom, we can see that we will need: $1 + 5 + 36 + 5 + 1$ $48$ inches of fabric. Our final answer is K, 48. Real life (and delicious) applications of circumferences and areas. How to Solve a Circle Problem When confronted with a circle problem, remember to employ these ACT math strategies: #1: Write down your formulas at the beginning of the math section As soon as you open up your ACT math section, take 20 seconds and write down your formulas. This way, you’ll have them as a reference for the rest of your allotted time, and you won’t worry about forgetting them in the heat of the moment when you’ll need them later on. #2: Draw your own diagrams If you’re not given a diagram, draw one yourself! It doesn’t take long to make your own picture and doing so can save you a lot of grief and struggle as you go through your test. It can be all too easy to make an assumption or mix up your numbers when you try to perform math in your head, so don’t be afraid to take a moment to draw your own pictures. And if you are given a diagram, draw on it too! Mark down congruent lines and angles, write in your radius measurement or your given angles. Mark any and all pieces of information you need or are given. The reason not everything is marked in your diagrams is so that the question won’t be too easy, so always write in your information yourself. #3: Analyze what’s really being asked of you All the formulas in the world won’t help you if you think you’re supposed to find the area, but you’re really being asked to find the circumference. Always remember that standardized tests are trying to get you to solve questions in ways in which you’re likely unfamiliar, so read carefully and pay close attention to the question you’re actually being asked. #4: Use your formulas Once you’ve verified what you’re supposed to find, most circle questions are fairly straightforward. Plug your givens into your formulas, isolate your missing information, and solve. Voila! A tasty mathematical conspiracy? Test Your Knowledge Now let's put your circle knowledge to the test on these real ACT math problems. 1. 2. 3. Answers: B, B, H Answer Explanations: 1. In order to determine the degree measure of a section of a pie chart, we must determine the fraction (or percentage) of the sector we’re working with compared to the whole amount of the circle. In this case, we want to know what fraction of people total voted for Gomez in order to find how much of the pie chart the Gomez votes should be allotted. If 40 people out of 200 voted for Gomez, then the Gomez votes are: $40/200$ $1/5$ of all the votes total. Because Gomez votes are $1/5$ of the total votes, then they should take up $1/5$ of the pie chart. A circle is 360 degrees. So: $(360)(1/5) = 72$ The arc sector of the Gomez votes will be at a 72 degree angle in the pie chart. So our final answer is B. 2. We are given a diameter of 8 and we need to find the perimeter of the entire figure of two semicircles and a square. Together, the two semicircles make a full circle with a diameter of 8, and their circumference makes up part of the perimeter. This means we must find the circumference of the circle the two semicircles make when put together. $c = Ï€d$ $c = Ï€(8)$ So the circumference of the circle the two semicircles make is $8Ï€$. (Because we are dealing with semicircles, you could also find half of each of their circumferences by saying: ${1/2}c = 8Ï€$ = $4Ï€$. Each of their circumferences would be $4Ï€$, so together, they would make: $4Ï€ + 4Ï€ = 8Ï€$. Either way, the total circumference of the perimeter would be $8Ï€$.) Now we must add that to the rest of the perimeter, which is formed by part of the square. Two sides of the square (both measuring 8) make part of the perimeter, so we have: $p = 8 + 8 + 8Ï€$ $p = 16 + 8Ï€$ So our final answer is B. 3. Because we are working with circles, we know that lines PS and PT are radii. Why? P is the center of the circle and points T and S lie on the circumference, so we know that the lines connecting them are radii. Because PS and PT are equal and angle PST is 30 degrees, that means that angle PTS is also 30 degrees. Why? Angles opposite equal lines are equal (for more on this, check out our guide to ACT triangles). This means we can find angle TPS as the shape is a triangle (which has 180 degrees total). $180 - 30 - 30 = 120$ So angle TPS = 120 degrees. Now that we have found angle TPS, we can also find angle RPS. Together, the two angles make a straight line, which means that they must equal 180 degrees total. (Why? Because a circle is 360 degrees and a semicircle is 180 degrees. A straight line will therefore always measure 180 degrees.) $180 - 120 = 60$ This means that angle RPS = 60 degrees. And since angle RPS forms our arc, our arc measure it 60 degrees. So our final answer is H. Puppies cannot lie; it is scientific fact. You solved your ACT math problems and are, indeed, awesome. The Take-Aways Circle problems are quite common, but most of them are slight variations on the same themes of area and circumference. On the ACT, the most useful part of any circle is generally the radius and, once you’ve gotten used to thinking that all radii are equal, then you will often be able to breeze past even the trickiest of ACT circle problems. Remember your formulas and keep a clear head about what’s being asked of you and you will be able to take out a significant portion of the ACT geometry section with circles alone. What’s Next? Now that you know all there is to know about ACT circles, make sure you're up to speed on all the other math topics on the ACT. Whether you need to brush up on solid geometry, trigonometry, ratios, or integers, you'll find what you need in our ACT math guides. Running out of time on ACT math? We'll show you the tips and tricks you need in order to beat the clock. Looking for a math tutor? Check out our guides on how to find the perfect ACT tutor for your needs. Angling to get a perfect score? Our guide to an 800 on the math (written by a perfect-scorer) will tell you exactly how to reach those score goals by test day. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math lesson, you'll love our program. Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Research and findings Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research and findings - Essay Example Some of his furniture is a re-work of initial ideas like the combination of a part of a chair and that of a steel material. He is a great designer and studied technology to the professor level in furniture design and industrial design2. The big easy chair is a very famous piece of furniture that was designed and created by Ron Arad particularly for Moroso. This chair is made of a frame from steel material that has stress resistant foam made of polyurethane and also polyester fiber. Although this cover cannot be removed, the armchair has both the properties of a waterproof material and also resistant to light. This makes it easy to use the chair, as it is portable and can be used both outside and inside. It is a rotational chair that can be molded and recycled with colored polythene. The main advantages of this chair are that, it can be used for both outdoor and indoor activities. It is also essential to note that it is waterproof hence, resistant to fade3. This was the first piece of furniture chair that was produced by Ron Arad. This piece of furniture is a fusion of two ideas. The ideas came from readymade of Kee-Klamp scaffolding which was designed originally in the 1930s. The other part that clumps onto the Kee-Klump is the seat of scrap yard which came from a Rover 200. This chair is basically a combination of a car chair with a frame of structural tubing. The frames are what provide the arm and feet rest for the individual sitting on this chair. In 1981, this chair was sold almost at three times its production cost due to its attractive nature. The seat is made of leather while the frames painted in black made of steel material.4 These two designers made it big in the early 1907 to 1978. They were modern architects and also designed furniture. They worked in the industrial and also graphic design including film and fine art. Charles worked in a steel company where he

Aristotle on akrasia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Aristotle on akrasia - Essay Example Therefore, making a study or close analysis of the position taken by the great master of philosophy on reasoning and understanding by a novice in the deep and vast ocean of philosophy would be particularly remarkable. In such an endeavour, in this study, a judicious presumption of the position of Aristotle on the question of akresia is arrived at in this paper through a scrupulous discussion of the possible conclusions of the Greek master. Therefore, asked about his position on akresia, provided with two statements, â€Å"akrasia is a familiar everyday phenomenon† and â€Å"akrasia is impossible - whenever we act we are doing what we think best in the circumstances, all things considered; doing what we personally think best, deep down, as distinct from what other people preach at us or nag us about,† Aristotle would hold the estimation that both the statements are true of fact. It is mainly because of the great master’s concern to maintain the firm denial of akre sia with common sense’s affirmation of its possibility and regularity as practiced by Socrates. To go beyond these possible conclusions of Aristotle, it may be maintained that an exploration of the question why people act wrongly even when they know they should not be, which is a relevant topic for discussion even in the current period, makes it clear that the account of Aristotle, at some moment when dealing with the idea of incontinence, is obscure. It is mainly due to the fact that the teachings of Aristotle are not preserved well enough, rather than in Spartan lecture notes. An example of such an inconsistency may be examined as follows. It can be safely stated that the position of akrasia gaudily exhibits what happens if an amalgamation of moral education is not accomplished. The match between appetite and correct behaviour, in an incontinent person, has not been

Julius Caesar Essay -- essays research papers

How Betrayal Led to Downfall in Julius Caesar   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the play, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare shows how friends often betray each other. Julius Caesar is about to be crowned king of Rome, when some well-known Romans decide that it is not a good idea for this to happen. They form a conspiracy and kill Caesar. Brutus, an honorable Roman and a very good friend of Caesar’s, betrays Caesar by killing him for the good of Rome. Antony, Caesar’s best friend and another honorable Roman, betrays Brutus by turning against the conspirators. Cassius, a respected Roman, and Brutus betray each other by arguing and destroying their friendship. All this betraying lead to many deaths in the play.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Brutus betrayed Caesar for the good of Rome by killing him, he had no idea that he would regret it later on in his life. Brutus wanted to kill Caesar because he thought that if Caesar became king, he would forget who his real friends are and he would not pay attention to them. He also thought that Caesar would become too powerful and therefore did not want him to be king. This is shown when Portia says, â€Å"†¦Brutus hath a suit / that Caesar will not grant†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (2.4.41-42). Although Brutus had a clear conscience, the people of Rome did not. This eventually led to Brutus being driven out of Rome by the citizens. Not being associated with Rome anymore made Brutus’ life worse and he eventually took his own life as the only way to...

A Short History of Nearly Everything Essay

A Short History of Nearly Everything is a popular science book by American author Bill Bryson that explains some areas of science, using a style of language which aims to be more accessible to the general public than many other books dedicated to the subject. It was one of the bestselling popular science books of 2005 in the UK, selling over 300,000 copies.[1] instead describing general sciences such as chemistry, paleontology, astronomy, and particle physics. In it, he explores time from the Big Bang to the discovery of quantum mechanics, via evolution and geology. Bryson tells the story of science through the stories of the people who made the discoveries, such as Edwin Hubble, Isaac Newton, and Albert Einstein. Background Bill Bryson wrote this book because he was dissatisfied with his scientific knowledge — that was, not much at all. He writes that science was a distant, unexplained subject at school. Textbooks and teachers alike did not ignite the passion for knowledge in him, mainly because they never delved in the whys, hows, and whens. â€Å"It was as if [the textbook writer] wanted to keep the good stuff secret by making all of it soberly unfathomable.† —Bryson, on the state of science books used within his school.[2] [edit] Contents Bryson describes graphically and in layperson’s terms the size of the universe, and that of atoms and subatomic particles. He then explores the history of geology and biology, and traces life from its first appearance to today’s modern humans, placing emphasis on the development of the modern Homo sapiens. Furthermore, he discusses the possibility of the Earth’s being struck by a meteor, and reflects on human capabilities of spotting a meteor before it impacts the Earth, and the extensive damage that such an event would cause. He also focuses on some of the most recent destructive disasters of volcanic origin in the history of our planet, including Krakatoa and Yellowstone National Park. A large part of the book is devoted to relating humorous stories about the scientists behind the research and discoveries and their sometimes eccentric behaviours. Bryson also speaks about modern scientific views on human effects on the Earth’s climate and  livelihood of other species, and the magnitude of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and the mass extinctions caused by some of these events. The book does, however, contain a number of factual errors and inaccuracies.[3] An illustrated edition of the book was released in November 2005.[4] A few editions in Audiobook form are also available, including an abridged version read by the author, and at least three unabridged versions. [edit] Awards and reviews The book received generally favourable reviews, with reviewers citing the book as informative, well written and highly entertaining.[5][6][7] However, some feel that the contents might be uninteresting to an audience with prior knowledge of history or the sciences.[8] In 2004, this book won Bryson the prestigious Aventis Prize for best general science book.[9] Bryson later donated the GBP £10,000 prize to the Great Ormond Street Hospital children’s charity.[10] In 2005, the book won the EU Descartes Prize for science communication.[11] It was shortlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize for the same year. Unremitting scientific effort over the past 300 years has yielded an astonishing amount of information about the world we inhabit. By rights we ought to be very impressed and extremely interested. Unfortunately many of us simply aren’t. Far from attracting the best candidates, science is proving a less and less popular subject in schools. And, with a few notable exceptions, popular books on scientific topics are a rare bird in the bestseller lists. Bill Bryson, the travel-writing phenomenon, thinks he knows what has gone wrong. The anaemic, lifeless prose of standard science textbooks, he argues, smothers at birth our innate curiosity about the natural world. Reading them is a chore rather than a voyage of discovery. Even books written by leading scientists, he complains, are too often clogged up with impenetrable jargon. Just like the alchemists of old, scientists have a regrettable tendency to â€Å"vaile their secrets with mistie speech†. Science, John Keats sulked, â€Å"will clip an Angel’s wings, / Conquer all mysteries by rule and line.† Bryson turns this on its head by blaming the messenger rather than the message. Robbing nature of its mystery is what  he thinks most science books do best. But, unlike Keats, he doesn’t believe that this is at all necessary. We may be living in societies less ready to believe in magic, miracles or afterlives, but the sublime remains. Rather as Richard Dawkins has argued, Bryson insists that the results of scientific study can be wondrous and very often are so. The trick is to write about them in a way that makes them comprehensible without crushing nature’s mystique. Bryson provides a lesson in how it should be done. The prose is just as one would expect – energetic, quirky, familiar and humorous. Bryson’s great skill is that of lightly holding the reader’s hand throughout; building up such trust that topics as recondite as atomic weights, relativity and particle physics are shorn of their terrors. The amount of ground covered is truly impressive. From the furthest reaches of cosmology, we range through time and space until we are looking at the smallest particles. We explore our own planet and get to grips with the ideas, first of Newton and then of Einstein, that allow us to understand the laws that govern it. Then biology holds centre-stage, heralding the emergence of big-brained bipeds and Charles Darwin’s singular notion as to how it all came about. Crucially, this hugely varied terrain is not presented as a series of discrete packages. Bryson made his name writing travelogues and that is what this is. A single, coherent journey, woven together by a master craftsman. The book’s underlying strength lies in the fact that Bryson knows what it’s like to find science dull or inscrutable. Unlike scientists who turn their hand to popular writing, he can claim to have spent the vast majority of his life to date knowing very little about how the universe works. Tutored by many of the leading scientists in each of the dozens of fields he covers, he has brought to the book some of the latest insights together with an amusingly gossipy tone. His technique was to keep going back to the experts until each in turn was happy, in effect, to sign off the account of their work he had put together. In short, he’s done the hard work for us. Bryson enlivens his accounts of difficult concepts with entertaining historical vignettes. We learn, for example, of the Victorian naturalist whose scientific endeavours included serving up mole and spider to his guests; and of the Norwegian palaeontologist who miscounted the number of fingers and toes on one of the most important fossil finds of recent history and wouldn’t let anyone else have a look at  it for more than 48 years. Bryson has called his book a history, and he has the modern historian’s taste for telling it how it was. Scientists, like all tribes, have a predilection for foundation myths. But Bryson isn’t afraid to let the cat out of the bag. The nonsense of Darwin’s supposed â€Å"Eureka!† moment in the Galapagos, when he spotted variations in the size of finch beaks on different islands, is swiftly dealt with. As is the fanciful notion of palaeontologist Charles Doolittle Walcott chancing on the fossil-rich Burgess Shales after his horse slipped on a wet track. So much for clarity and local colour. What about romance? For Bryson this clearly lies in nature’s infinitudes. The sheer improbability of life, the incomprehensible vastness of the cosmos, the ineffable smallness of elementary particles, and the imponderable counter-intuitiveness of quantum mechanics. He tells us, for example, that every living cell contains as many working parts as a Boeing 777, and that prehistoric dragonflies, as big as ravens, flew among giant trees whose roots and trunks were covered with mosses 40 metres in height. It sounds very impressive. Not all readers will consider it sublime, but it’s hard to imagine a better rough guide to science.  · John Waller is research fellow at the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine and author of Fabulous Science: Fact and Fiction in the History of Scientific Discovery (OUP) What has propelled this popular science book to the New York Time’s Best Seller List? The answer is simple. It is superbly written. Author Bill Bryson is not a scientist – far from it. He is a professional writer, and hitherto researching his book was quite ignorant of science by his own admission. â€Å"I didn’t know what a proton was, or a protein, didn’t know a quark from a quasar, didn’t understand how geologists could look at a layer of rock on a canyon wall and tell you how old it was, didn’t know anything really,† he tells us in the Introduction. But Bryson got curious about these and many other things: â€Å"Suddenly, I had a powerful, uncharacteristic urge to  know something about these matters and to understand how people figure them out.† All of us should be lucky to be so curious. Young children are. That’s why they’re called â€Å"little scientists.† New to the world and without inhibitions, they relentlessly ask questions about it. And Bill Bryson’s curiosity led him to some good questions too: â€Å"How does anybody know how much the Earth weighs or how old its rocks are or what really is way down there in the center? How can they [scientists] know how and when the Universe started and what it was like when it did? How do they know what goes on inside an atom?† The Introduction also tells us that the greatest amazements for Bryson are how scientists worked out such things. His book is a direct result of addressing these issues. It is superbly written. Popular science writers should study this book.| A Short History of Nearly Everything serves a great purpose for those who know little about science. The deep questions may not necessarily be explicitly presented but many of the answers are. The reader gets to journey along the paths that led scientists to some amazing discoveries – all this in an extremely simple and enjoyable book. The prose is extraordinarily well written with lively, entertaining thoughts and many clever and witty lines. Consider, for example, Chapter 23 on â€Å"The Richness of Being.† It begins: â€Å"Here and there in the Natural History Museum in London, built into recesses along the underlit corridors or standing between glass cases of minerals and ostrich eggs and a century or so of other productive clutter, are secret doors – at least secret in the sense that there is nothing about them to attract the visitor’s notice.† This opening sentence really captures the atmosphere of a natural history museum. It is full of vivid descriptions and contains the cleverly constructed, paradoxical phrase â€Å"productive clutter.† The next paragraph begins to make the point: â€Å"The Natural History Museum contains some seventy million objects from every realm of life and every corner of the planet, with another hundred thousand or so added to the collection each year, but it is really only behind the scenes that you get a sense of what a treasure house this is. In cupboards and cabinets and long rooms full of close-packed shelves are kept tens of thousands of pickled animals in bottles, millions of insects pinned to squares of card, drawers of shiny mollusks, bones of dinosaurs, skulls of early humans, endless folders of neatly pressed plants. It is a little like wandering through Darwin’s brain.† And later: â€Å"We wandered through a confusion of departments where people sat at large tables doing intent, investigative things with arthropods and palm fronds and boxes of yellowed bones. Everything there was an air of unhurried thoroughness, of people being engaged in a gigantic endeavor that could never be completed and mustn’t be rushed. In 1967, I had read, the museum issued its report on the John Murray Expedition, an Indian Ocean survey, forty-five years after the expedition had concluded. This is a world where things move at their own pace, including the tiny lift Fortey and I shared with a scholarly looking elderly man with whom Fortey chatted genially and familiarly as we proceeded upwards at about the rate that sediments are laid down.† Often Bryson ends a paragraph with an amusing line. You find very few popular science books so well written. With the exception of Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman, it is hard to think of even one that is witty. Popular science writers should study this book. â€Å"I [Bryson] didn’t know a quark from a quasar . . . â€Å"| Sometimes even quoting writers rather than scientists and original sources, Bryson draws extensively from other books. For example, most of Chapter 21, whose focus is largely on the Burgess Shale fossils and the Cambrian explosion, is taken from Stephen Jay Gould’s Wonderful Life. And much of the rest of Chapter 21 is based on works by Richard Fortey and Gould’s other books. The author does not hide this. Titles are cited in the text, chapter notes provide quotes from books, and there is a lengthy bibliography. Given that Bryson in not a scientist, it is surprising how few errors there are in A Short History of Nearly Everything. Here are a couple that the staff at Jupiter Scientific uncovered: On what would happen if an asteroid struck Earth, Bryson writes, â€Å"Radiating outward at almost the speed of light would be the initial shock wave, sweeping everything before it.† In reality, the shock wave would travel only at about 10 kilometers per second, which, alt hough very fast, is considerably less than the speed of light of 300,000 kilometers per second. Shortly thereafter, one reads â€Å"Within an hour, a cloud of blackness would cover the planet . . . â€Å" It would take a few weeks for this to occur. The book gives the number of cells in the human body as ten-thousand trillion, but the best estimates are considerably less – about  50 trillion. Here’s how one might determine the number. A typical man and a typical cell in the human body respectively weigh 80 kilograms and 4 Ãâ€"10-9 grams. So there are about (80,000 grams per human)/(4 Ãâ€"10-9 grams per cell) = 2 Ãâ€"1013 cells per human, or twenty-trillion cells. By the way, since the number of microbes in or on the human body has been estimated to be one-hundred trillion, people probably have more foreign living organisms in them then cells! In the Chapter â€Å"The Mighty Atom†, it is written, â€Å"They [atoms] are also fantastically durable. Because they are so long lived, atoms really get around. Every atom you possess has almost certainly passed through several stars and been part of millions of organisms on its way to becoming you. We are each so atomically numerous and so vigorously recycled at death that a significant number of our atoms – up to a billion for each us, it has been suggested – probably once belonged to Shakespeare.† Most of this paragraph is correct, but because atoms are stripped of there electrons in stars, Bryson should have said, â€Å". . . the nuclei of every atom you possess has most likely passed through several stars . . . † One might be shocked that each of the 6 trillion or so humans on Earth have so many of Shakespeare’s atoms in them. However, Jupiter Scientific has done an analysis of this problem and the figure in Bryon’s book is probably low: It is likely that each of us has about 200 billion atoms that were once in Shakespeare’s body. Bryson also exaggerates the portrayals of some scientists: Ernest Rutherford is said to be an overpowering force, Fred Hoyle a complete weirdo, Fritz Zwicky an utterly abrasive astronomer, and Newton a total paranoiac. Surely the descriptions of these and other scientists are distorted. From a scientific point of view, most topics are treated superficially. This renders the book of little interest to a scientist.| Here are some examples of witty lines that finish paragraphs: The concluding remarks on Big Bang Nucleosynthesis go: â€Å"In three minutes, 98 percent of all the matter there is or will ever be has been produced. We have a universe. It is a place of the most wondrous and gratifying possibility, and beautiful, too. And it was all done in about the time it takes to make a sandwich.† On the Superconducting Supercollider, the huge particle accelerator that was to be built in Texas, Bill Bryson notes, â€Å"In perhaps the finest example in history of pouring money into a hole in the ground, Congress spent $2 billion on the project, then canceled it in 1993  after fourteen miles of tunnel had been dug. So Texas now boasts the most expensive hole in the universe.† Chapter 16 discusses some of the health benefits of certain elements. For example, cobalt is necessary for the production of vitamin B12 and a minute amount of sodium is good for your nerves. Bryson ends one paragraph with â€Å"Zinc – bless it – oxidizes alcohol.† (Zinc plays an important role in allowing alcohol to be digested.) On Earth’s atmosphere, the author notes that the troposphere, that part of the lower atmosphere that contains the air we breathe, is between 6 and 10 miles thick. He concludes, â€Å"There really isn’t much between you and oblivion.† In talking about the possibility of a sizeable asteroid striking Earth, Bryson at one point writes, â€Å"As if to underline just un-novel the idea had become by this time, in 1979, a Hollywood studio actually produced a movie called Meteor (â€Å"It’s five miles wide . . . It’s coming at 30,000 m.p.h. – and there’s no place to hide!) starring Henry Fonda, Natalie Wood, Karl Malden, and a very large rock.† From a scientific point of view, most topics are treated superficially. This renders the book of little interest to a scientist, but has certain advantages for the layperson. In some cases, emphasis is not given to the most important issue. Bryson simply lacks the insight and judgement of a trained scientist. Chapter One on the Big Bang is particularly difficult for the author. There is too much discussion on inflation and on the many-universe theory. Inflation, which is the idea that the space underwent a tremendous stretching at a tiny fraction of a second after â€Å"the beginning†, is consistent with astronomical observations, is theoretically attractive but has no confirming evidence yet. The multi-universe theory, which proposes that our universe is only one of many and disconnected from the others, is complete speculation. On the other hand, Bryson neglects events that have been observationally established. Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, in which the nuclei of the three lightest elements were made, is glossed over in one paragraph. Recombination, the process of electrons combining with nuclei to form atoms, is not covered – an unfortunate omission because it is the source of the cosmic microwave background radiation (When nuclei capture electrons, radiation is given off). Bryson simply refers to the cosmic microwave background radiation as something â€Å"left over from the Big Bang†, a description lacking true insight. As another example of misplaced emphasis, much of the chapter entitled  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Welcome to the Solar System,† is on Pluto and its discovery and on how school charts poorly convey the vast distances between planets. Although the Sun is not even treated, Bryson ends the discussion with â€Å"So that’s your solar system.† Here is another example in which Bryson’s lack of scientific training hurts the content of the book. In Chapter 27 entitled â€Å"Ice Time, he discusses as through it happened with certainty the â€Å"Snowball Earth.† It, however, is a very controversial proposal in which the entire planet was engulfed in ice at the end of the Proterozoic Era. The book says, â€Å"Temperatures plunged by as much as 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The entire surface of the planet may have frozen solid, with ocean ice up to a half mile thick at high latitudes and tens of yards thick even in the tropics.† While it is true that this period was the most severe ice age ever to transpire on Earth, it is unlikely that the weather became so cold as to create the conditions described in the above quote. Then the chapter on hominid development does the opposite by presenting the situation as highly unknown and debatable. It is true that the fossil record for the transition from apes to Homo sapiens is quite fragmentary and that anthropologists are dividerd over certain important issues such as how to draw the lines between species to create the family tree, how Homo sapiens spread over the globe and what caused brain size to i ncrease. However, the overall pattern of homonid evolution is understood. The reader gets to journey along the paths that led scientists to some amazing discoveries – all this in an extremely simple and enjoyable book.| Bryson has a nice way of summarizing atoms: â€Å"The way it was explained to me is that protons give an atom its identity, electrons its personality.† The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, also known as the atomic number, determines the element type. Hydrogen has one proton, helium two, lithium three and so on. The electrons of an atom, or more precisely the outermost or valence electrons, determine how the atom binds to other atoms. The binding properties of an atom determines how it behaves chemically. Every important topic in A Short History of Nearly Everything can be found in Jupiter Scientific’s book The Bible According to Einstein, which presents science in the language and format of the Bible. Jupiter Scientific has made available onlin e many sections of this book. This review, which has been produced by Ian Johnston of Malaspina University-College, is in the public domain, and may be used by anyone, in whole or in part, without permission and without charge, provided the source is acknowledged–released October 2004. For comments or questions please contact Ian Johnston. A Short History of Nearly Everything The first thing one notices about a new Bill Bryson book in recent years is the disproportionately large size of the author’s name on the cover—bigger  than the title by a few orders of magnitude. That’s appropriate, I suppose, for an author who has emerged as North America’s most popular writer of non-fiction, with legions of fans around the world, perhaps even something of a cult figure, who can sell anything on the strength of his name alone. Bryson’s recently published book, A Short History of Nearly Everything, is certainly a departure from what he has written so far. It’s a bold and ambitious attempt to tell the story of our earth and of everything on it. Initially motivated by the most admirable of scientific feelings, intense curiosity about something he admits he knew virtually nothing about, Bryson spent three years immersing himself in scientific literature, talking to working scientists, and travelling to places where science is carried on, so that he might â€Å"know a little about these matters and . . . understand how people figured them out† and then produce a book which makes it â€Å"possible to understand and appreciate—marvel at, enjoy even—the wonder and accomplishments of science at a level that isn’t too technical or demanding, but isn’t entirely superficial either.† The result is a big volume recapitulating the greatest story ever told, from the beginnings of the universe, to the physical history of the Earth, to the development and evolution of life here—an attempt to provide, as the title indicates, an all-encompassing and continuous narrative, crammed with information on everything from particle physics to plate tectonics, from cloud formations to bacteria. For all the obvious natural clarity and organization within science, writing well about the subject is not as easy as it may appear. It demands that the writer select an audience and then deliver what he or she has to say in a style appropriate to that readership, in the process risking the loss of other potential readers. Bryson has clearly thought about this point and introduces into writing about science a style very different from, say, the brisk omniscience of Isaac Asimov, the trenchant polemics of Richard Dawson, the engaged contextual scholarship of Stephen Jay Gould, or the leisured and fascinating historical excursions of Simon Winchester (to cite some recent masters of the genre). He brings to bear on science his impressive talents as a folksy, amusing, self-deprecating spinner of yarns, assuming considerable ignorance in his readers and inviting them to share his newly discovered excitement at all the things he has learned, obviously trying with an atmosphere of cozy intimacy and friendship to ease any fears  they may bring to a book about so many unfamiliar things. This feature will almost certainly irritate a great many people who already know a good deal about science (who may feel they are being patronized) and charm many of those who do not. The information is presented here in an often off-beat and amusing and certainly non-intimidating way. Bryson sticks to his resolve not to confront the reader with numbers and equations and much complex terminology. So he relies heavily on familiar analogies to illustrate scientific theories, and these are extremely effective—inventive and illuminating. There is a wealth of interesting and frequently surprising facts about everything from mites to meteorites, conveyed with a continuing sense of wonder and enjoyment. Bryson delivers well on his promise to provide an account of what we know and (equally important to him) of the enormous amount we still do not know. Bryson is not all that interested, however, in the second part of his announced intention, to explore how we know what we know. He pays little to no attention to science as a developing system of knowledge, to its philosophical underpinnings (hence, perhaps, the omission of any treatment of mathematics) or to the way in which certain achievements in science are important not merely for the â€Å"facts† they confirm or reveal but for the way in which they transform our understanding of what science is and how it should be carried out. So for him â€Å"how we know† is simply a matter of accounting for those who came up something that turned out to be of lasting value (no wonder he is somewhat baffled by Darwin’s delay in publishing his theory of natural selection—the notion that Darwin’s theory may have presented some important methodological difficulties of which Darwin was painfully aware does not seem nearly as important as Darwin’s mysterious illness). Bryson is at his very best when he can anchor what he has to say on a particular place and on conversations with particular working scientists there. Here his considerable talents as a travel writer and story teller take over, and the result is an often amusing, surprising, insightful, and always informative glimpse into science as a particular activity carried on by interesting individuals in all sorts of different places. The sections on Yellowstone Park, the Burgess Shale, and the Natural History Museum in London, for example, are exceptionally fine, mainly because we are put in imaginative touch with science in action, we hear directly from the scientists themselves, and our understanding of  science is transformed from the knowledge of facts into a much fuller and more satisfying appreciation for a wonderfully human enterprise taking place all around us. Here Bryson provides us with a refreshingly new style in writing about science. Indeed, these passages are so striking in co mparison with other parts of the book that one suspects that Bryson’s imagination is far more stimulated by scientists at work than by the results their work produces. This impression is reinforced by Bryson’s habit of plundering the history of science for amusing anecdotes about interesting characters, obviously something which he finds imaginatively exciting. He’s prepared to interrupt the flow of his main narrative in order to deliver a good story, and routinely moves into a new section with a narrative hook based on a memorable character, a dramatic clash of personalities, or an unexpected location. Many of these stories and characters will be familiar enough to people who know a bit about science already (e.g., the eccentricities of Henry Cavendish, William Buckland, or Robert FitzRoy, the arguments between Gould and Dawkins, the adventures of Watson and Crick, and so on), but Bryson handles these quick narrative passages so well that the familiar stories are still worth re-reading, and there are enough new nuggets to keep reminding the more knowledgeable readers just how fascinating the history of science can be. Not that Bryson is very much interested in linking developments in science to any continuing attention to historical context. He’s happy enough to refer repeatedly to the context if there’s a good yarn to be had—if not, he’s ready to skim over it or ignore it altogether. This gives his account of developments a distinctly Whiggish flavour, a characteristic which will no doubt upset historians of science. At times, too, this habit of frequent quick raids into the past encourages a tendency to flippant snap judgments for the sake of a jest or some human drama. But given the audience Bryson is writing for and his desire to keep the narrative full of brio, these criticisms are easy enough to overlook. And speaking from my own limited experience in writing about the history of science, I can attest to the fact that once one begins scratching away at the lives of the scientists themselves, the impulse to draw on the wonderful range of the extraordinary characters one discovers is almost irresistible. Bryson’s narrative gets into more serious difficulties, however, when he cannot write from his strengths, that is, when he cannot link what the  subject demands to particular people and places. Here the prose often tends to get bogged down in summaries of what he has been reading lately or inadequate condensations of subjects too complex for his rapid pace. Thus, for example, the parts where his prose has to cope with systems of classifications (for example, of clouds, or bacteria, or early forms of life) the sense of excitement disappears and we are left to wade through a dense array of facts, without much sense of purpose. At such times, Bryson seems to sense the problem and often cranks up the â€Å"golly gee† element in his style in an attempt to inject some energy into his account, but without much success. And not surprisingly, the world of particle physics defeats his best attempts to render it familiar and comfortable to the reader, as Bryson concedes in an unexpectedly limp and apologetic admission: â€Å"Almost certainly this is an area that will see further developments of thought, and almost certainly these thoughts will again be beyond most of us.† It’s very curious that Bryson makes no attempt to assist the reader through such passages with any illustrative material, which would certainly have enabled him to convey organized information in a much clearer, more succinct, and less tedious manner. Early on, he lays some of the blame for his ignorance about science on boring school text books, so perhaps his decision to eschew visual aids has something to do with his desire not to produce anything like a school text (although, as I recall, diagrams, charts, and photographs were often the most exciting things about such books). Or perhaps he’s simply supremely confident that his prose is more than enough to carry the load. Whatever the reason, the cost of that decision is unnecessarily high. I suspect reactions to this book will vary widely. Bryson fans will, no doubt, be delighted to hear the master’s voice again and will forgive the lapses in energy and imaginative excitement here and there in the story. By contrast, many scientists and historians of science will find the tone and the treatment of the past not particularly to their liking. I’ll value the book as a source of useful anecdotes and some excellent writing about scientists at work, but turn to less prolix and better organized accounts to enrich my understanding of our scientific knowledge of the world and its inhabitants. But then again, if my grandchildren in the next few years begin to display some real interest in learning about science, I’ll certainly put this book in front of them.