nonfiction Archives - Page 576 of 611

windsolargeothermalpower
Wind, Solar, and Geothermal Power (Calling All Innovators: A Career for You)
by Steven Otfinoski (Author)

Booktalk: For decades, people around the world have relied mainly on the burning of fossil fuels to power machines and create electricity. However, as scientists uncover the destruction these fuels are doing to the environment, alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, and geothermal power are becoming more common. Readers will learn about the scientists, engineers, and other people working to bring us new energy options. They will also find out what it takes to make it in this growing career field.

Snippet:
SOLAR CARS
Since they were invented in the late 19th century, automobiles have run on many different types of fuel, including gasoline, steam, and electricity. However, a car powered by the sun’s energy seemed like a pipe dream until August 31, 1955, when William Cobb of General Motors (GM) unveiled his “Sunmobile” at an auto show in Chicago, Illinois. Just 15 inches (38 centimeters) long, the Sunmobile’s roof was equipped with 12 photoelectric cells that created an electric current to power the car’s tiny motor.

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

milestonesofflight
Milestones of Flight: From Hot-Air Balloons to SpaceShipOne
by Tim Grove (Author)

Booktalk: Profusely illustrated with objects from the Smithsonian’s collection, Milestones of Flight takes readers through the high points of American aviation: from the Wright brothers and their competitors to the military pilots who first circumnavigated the globe, from the initial space rocket to the moon walk, from the earliest manmade satellite to today’s spy drones. The book also describes what inventions—such as rocket propulsion, the wind tunnel, and the silicon chip—helped move flight upward and beyond.

Snippet: On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the Moon. He uttered the immortal words: “That’s one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” An estimated 500 million people around the world watched him on television.

BONUS! See the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum exhibits online.

It’s STEM Friday! (STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)