The National Institute of Mental Health reports that more than 5.2 million Americans suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in any given year. Traumatic stress disorders are most often asso
One aim of developmental biology is to learn how a healthy body arises from the genetic material of an organism, also known as a genome. Another goal is to understand why development sometimes goes w
Today's biology has an enormous impact on medicine, particularly in diagnosing disease and understanding how drugs work. Many of the possibilities for therapies or technologies foreseen by today's sc
Thanks to new technology, scientists are able to observe organic molecules as they work together in the cell and in “molecular machines,” as well as how they build tissues, organs, and wh
Scientists are learning to manipulate the genes of plants and animals, changing existing organisms and creating new ones. By taking control of the mechanisms that govern heredity in other species, hu
Every human being carries, within each of his or her cells, a long history of the species. The human genome is a record of evolution that stretches back to the first Homo sapiens and to the orig
Designed to meet the needs of high school and college students as well as members of the general public seeking clear explanations of basic government and political topics, Encyclopedia of American G
The theory of evolution can be observed anywhere—from exotic tropical rain forests to our own backyards—and is based on three main principles: heredity, variation, and selection. In the 1
Environmental engineering's future seems boundless because it is based in the myriad ways in which nature solves its own engineering challenges. People have yet to design a system that pumps water 20
The industrial might of the United States grew in the 1930s and flourished during the two world wars. As businesses large and small supplied the needs of the country, they discarded their wastes in l
Conservation refers to the careful and controlled use of natural resources for the purpose of extending the time they are available as well as retaining biodiversity. Conservation does not prevent th
A Brief History of the Caribbean is an overview of the historical events that have taken place and shaped the islands of the Caribbean Sea beginning with an account of the indigenous populations befo
Praise for the previous editions:"Clearly the best reference work on the subject now available." American Reference Books Annual"Highly recommended for public and academic libraries." Library Journal
Coal and oil are two of the world's most important sources of primary energy. A multi-trillion dollar infrastructure has been created to locate, produce, transport, process, and burn coal and oil. Th
The Vietnam War was one of the most controversial and divisive events in U.S. history since the Civil War. Stretching from approximately 1957 to 1973, this watershed event claimed the lives of thousa
Encyclopedia of Physical Science discusses concepts that unify the physical sciences with life, Earth, and space science. Examining topics such as natural hazards, global challenges, and the history
Praise for the previous edition:"...the entries provide vivid historical detail...No other work approaches this topic in such a brief, encyclopedic manner...a useful addition to any academic referenc
From the first incident of petty theft to modern media piracy, crime and punishment have been a part of every society. However, the structure and values of a particular society shape both the inciden
Toni Morrison, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993, is one of the most popular American authors in college and high school courses. Her novels, including Sula, Song of Solomon, Beloved, a
Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes, Third Edition is a fully updated reference discussing more than 200 American Indian tribes of North America, as well as prehistoric peoples and civilizations.
