Collection: Adult Non Fiction - Science and Technology

A history of the steam train in Australia.

A delightfully warm exploration of a very British obsession. After the Beeching cuts of the 1960s, many railways were 'rationalised' and gradually shut down. Rural communities were isolated without ready access to the main lines and steam trains slowly gave way to diesel and electric traction. Bu...

Tea is the world's most popular beverage. Dive into a cup of tea with a chemist and discover the rich molecular brew that can be extracted from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. Tea contains over a hundred different chemical compounds which contribute to its colour, taste and scent - and...

A science writer explains the significance of Stephen Hawking's work--in terms all of us can understand.

With every step you take, air molecules cling to you and slow you down; the effect is harder to ignore in water. When you hit the road, whether powered by pedal or engine, you rely on grip to keep you safe. The Post-it note and glue in your desk drawer. The non-stick pan on your stove. The finger...

A physicist explains daily phenomena from the mundane to the magisterial. Take a look up at the stars on a clear night and you get a sense that the universe is vast and untouchable, full of mysteries beyond comprehension. But did you know that the key to unveiling the secrets of the cosmos is as ...

The story of an engineering marvel of the modern age, from Britain's leading writer on the railways and their history. The story of an engineering marvel of the twenty-first century, from Britain's bestselling railway writer. In autumn 2019, Europe's biggest infrastructure project - a state-of-th...

This is an exploration of the key aspects of life on Earth - now and in the future - through the study of 10 and a half species. If an alien visitor were to collect ten souvenir life forms to represent life on earth, which would they be? Each life form explains a key aspect about life on Earth. F...