Andrew May Livres

Featuring a diverse cast of characters, this collection delves into the bizarre and uncanny. From Cambridge academics investigating a UFO crash to a scientist uncovering anti-gravity secrets, each tale explores themes of conspiracy, the supernatural, and the eccentricities of life. Readers will encounter a paranormal author entangled in a mystery, a student with prophetic visions, and a young woman facing unseen threats. With a mix of humor and intrigue, these twenty stories celebrate the strange and the surreal in everyday existence.

People are used to seeing “fake physics” in science fiction – concepts like faster-than-light travel, antigravity and time travel to name a few. The fiction label ought to be a giveaway, but some SF writers – especially those with a background in professional science – are so adept at “technobabble” that it can be difficult to work out what is fake and what is real. To confuse matters further, Isaac Asimov’s 1948 piece about the fictitious time-travelling substance thiotimoline was written, not as a short story, but in the form of a spoof research paper.The boundaries between fact and fiction can also be blurred by physicists themselves - sometimes unintentionally, sometimes with tongue-in-cheek, sometimes to satirize perceived weaknesses in research practices. Examples range from hoaxes aimed at exposing poor editorial standards in academic publications, through “thought experiments” that sound like the plot of a sci-fi movie to April Fools’ jokes. Even the latter may carry a serious message, whether about the sociology of science or poking fun at legitimate but far-out scientific hypotheses.This entertaining book is a joyous romp exploring the whole spectrum of fake physics – from science to fiction and back again.

This fully illustrated AIDGAP field guide is designed to enable non-specialists to identify many of the deciduous trees and shrubs that they encounter in winter.It includes over 70 species, which are common or familiar within Britain's major woodland habitats, including hedgerows and town parks. The identification key mainly uses buds, but also refers to bark, twigs and habitat wherever appropriate or helpful. This key is widely used for tree and shrub identification.

Astrophysicist and science writer Andrew May traces the history of mankind's fascination with the Red Planet. The first book in Icon's new Hot Science series, exploring the cutting edge topics in science and technology.

Dreams, schemes and opportunity as space opens for tourism and commerce. Twentieth century space exploration may have belonged to state-funded giants such as NASA, but there is a parallel history which has set the template for the future. Even before Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, private companies were exploiting space via communication satellites - a sector that is seeing exponential growth in the internet age. In human spaceflight, too, commercialisation is making itself felt. Billionaire entrepreneurs Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson have long trumpeted plans to make space travel a possibility for ordinary people and those ideas are inching ever closer to reality. At the same time, other companies plan to mine the Moon for helium-3, or asteroids for precious metals. Science writer Andrew May takes an entertaining, in-depth look at the triumphs and heroic failures of our quixotic quest to commercialise the final frontier.

The possibility that alien life exists in the universe is among the most profound of human conjectures, which today is being investigated not just by science-fiction writers but by scientists.

An investigation into the relationship between science and music - from Pythagoras to the Moog synthesizer. In this new title in Icon's Hot Science series, Andrew May traces how important science is in all aspects of music. After the basics of acoustic science and the history of sound waves, he explores how musicians have played with the scientific parameters of sound to apply algorithmic rules to create music. The role of science in music can be seen most obviously in the development of electronic technology, which has revolutionized how humans create, record and listen to music. The book also covers the complex world of brain science behind the creation of music, and the way we listen to and perceive it, and the frightening question of whether some form of AI would ever be able to create music on a par to that created by humans.

Exploring the rich tapestry of Southern England, the book delves into the Saxon kingdom of Wessex, highlighting its historical and mythical landmarks. From the enigmatic Stonehenge and the legends of King Arthur to modern phenomena like crop circles and UFO sightings, the narrative captures the region's enduring reputation for the bizarre. The blend of ancient history and contemporary mysticism paints a vivid picture of a land steeped in intrigue and wonder, where the past and present intertwine in fascinating ways.

Focusing on the practical application of refrigeration technology, this book offers comprehensive guidance for designing and constructing miniature refrigerators. It covers both single shot and continuous coolers operating at temperatures of 1 K, 300 mK, and 100 mK. Additionally, it includes instructions for writing the necessary design software, making it a valuable resource for both theoretical understanding and hands-on experimentation in cryogenics.