Science tells us grand things about the universe: how fast light travels, and why stones fall to earth. But scientific endeavour goes far beyond these obvious foundations. There are some fields we don't often hear about because they are so specialised, or turn out to be dead ends. Yet researchers have given hallucinogenic drugs to blind people (seriously), tried to weigh the soul as it departs the body and planned to blast a new Panama Canal with atomic weapons. Real scientific breakthroughs sometimes come out of the most surprising and unpromising work. How to Make a Tornado is about the margins of science - not the research down tried-and-tested routes, but some of its zanier and more brilliant by-ways. Investigating everything from what it's like to die, to exploding trousers and recycled urine, this book is a reminder that science is intensely creative and often very amusing - and when their minds run free, scientists can fire the imagination like nobody else.
How to Make a Tornado
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Review
`This playful collection...provides an absorbing commuter read...casting a light on the wackier side of science and invention' --Arifa Akbar, Independent
`Ideal for anyone fascinated by weird science' --Sunday Business Post
`witty anthology of oddities and oddballs' --Saga Magazine
'Fascinating, intelligent and funny' --Michael Jones, Independent
`fantastically dry humour... will satisfy anyone with a thirst for the excesses of scientific creativity' -- Rupert van den Broek, Independent on Sunday
`Ideal for anyone fascinated by weird science' --Sunday Business Post
`witty anthology of oddities and oddballs' --Saga Magazine
'Fascinating, intelligent and funny' --Michael Jones, Independent
`fantastically dry humour... will satisfy anyone with a thirst for the excesses of scientific creativity' -- Rupert van den Broek, Independent on Sunday
Book Description
The next title in the brilliant and bestselling New Scientist series
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book for my husband - and we spent so long reading it and laughing till we were crying - that Christmas dinner at midday was missed and we had the meal in the evening.
I thoroughly recommend this book, and it's predecessors, although NOT the extra for the next day delivery. After paying the added money, the book arrived four days later, alamost missing Christmas. An e-bay purchase at the same time from San Diego arrived in three days!!
Nicola and Peter (still giggling)
I thoroughly recommend this book, and it's predecessors, although NOT the extra for the next day delivery. After paying the added money, the book arrived four days later, alamost missing Christmas. An e-bay purchase at the same time from San Diego arrived in three days!!
Nicola and Peter (still giggling)
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Bath Reader
Format:Paperback
An entertaining collection of science trivia. I found this less fun than the older "Last word" style of book. The editorial comments interspersing each fact/story are pretty vacuous and reminiscent of the generally irritating presenters linking clips in home-movie blooper shows. Nevertheless a gratefully received and fun stocking filler.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Previous books in this series were brilliant quirky collections excerpted from New Scientist's Last Word column - readers asked the questions and other readers answered them with wit, expertise and imagination (early 'cloud sourcing' before the popularisation of the web). What a shame that NS is now living off its laurels and pointlessly throwing away a winning formula. 'How to make a tornado' is an inferior compendium of scientific articles, interspersed with unamusing and uninsightful editorial drivel. Buy the earlier books in the series instead!
By Nicola
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
good book, but not well layed out, so can be hard to get into and read for a person, and it doesnt grab you at the start
would recommend for science students at uni rather than school
would recommend for science students at uni rather than school
13 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The iseas people get when trying to do something is staggering.
crazy ideas, strange inventions and concepts, this book is full of.
the book is seperated into scetions such as strange ideas, weird inventions etc and this suits it well.
i would personally say that this is not a book to sit and read cover to cover, though that might just be me, i would see this book more as a reference article, to flick through on certain subjects, but this does not make it bad, that's just how i see it
each section has articles taken out of new scientist magazine, as they were originally done and shows scientists not following the usual protocols, some amazing and slightly disturbing results unfold.
a good book and worth the read.
crazy ideas, strange inventions and concepts, this book is full of.
the book is seperated into scetions such as strange ideas, weird inventions etc and this suits it well.
i would personally say that this is not a book to sit and read cover to cover, though that might just be me, i would see this book more as a reference article, to flick through on certain subjects, but this does not make it bad, that's just how i see it
each section has articles taken out of new scientist magazine, as they were originally done and shows scientists not following the usual protocols, some amazing and slightly disturbing results unfold.
a good book and worth the read.
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By R. Court
Format:Paperback
This book could almost be the Darwin Awards light, it's basically about people doing idiotic things in a scientific context, and usually surviving.
It is like one of those TV shows of people falling over on someone else's home video, and about as funny.
There's not really that much interesting science in it, few theories propounded, but a lot of painful and/or embarrassing experiments. Some of the experiments, particularly those from a long time ago, were worth doing. However, if the experiments weren't done to excess, or without sensible precautions, they weren't picked for this book.
It is like one of those TV shows of people falling over on someone else's home video, and about as funny.
There's not really that much interesting science in it, few theories propounded, but a lot of painful and/or embarrassing experiments. Some of the experiments, particularly those from a long time ago, were worth doing. However, if the experiments weren't done to excess, or without sensible precautions, they weren't picked for this book.
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Another very good book in the series. The topics selected are quite interesting and so much fun at the same time particularly for general readers without strong scientific background. Even with more than 200 pages, I find it's too short to last more than a few days of continous reading. Once you finish it, you'll start right away looking for the next title in this series. Highly recommended!!!
0 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Phil
Format:Paperback
.How to Make a Tornado: The strange and wonderful things that happen when scientists break free (New Scientist)
Another hit from The New Scientist. Filled with information that you're not really sure why you would want to know it but are glad that you now do......I think?
a great educational read
Another hit from The New Scientist. Filled with information that you're not really sure why you would want to know it but are glad that you now do......I think?
a great educational read
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not here yet?!
I've been waiting for a month now but this has not arrived?!? I know the weather is horrible and all but... a MONTH?
Published on 23 Dec 2010 by Jupiter
4.0 out of 5 stars
As crazy as it is interesting
This book is packed with wacky articles relating to the flawed genius of some of the most innovative researchers operating in the scientific world. Well worth a read
Published on 9 Jan 2010 by Dr. David Edwards
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