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"Prothero, Donald R., author"
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Weird Earth
Aliens. Ley lines. Water dowsing. Conspiracies and myths
captivate imaginations and promise mystery and magic. Whether it's
arguing about the moon landing hoax or a Frisbee-like Earth
drifting through space, when held up to science and critical
thinking, these ideas fall flat. In Weird Earth: Debunking
Strange Ideas About Our Planet , Donald R. Prothero demystifies
these conspiracies and offers answers to some of humanity's most
outlandish questions. Applying his extensive scientific knowledge,
Prothero corrects misinformation that con artists and quacks use to
hoodwink others about geology-hollow earth, expanding earth, and
bizarre earthquakes-and mystical and paranormal happenings-healing
crystals, alien landings, and the gates of hell. By deconstructing
wild claims such as prophesies of imminent natural disasters,
Prothero provides a way for everyone to recognize dubious
assertions. Prothero answers these claims with facts, offering
historical and scientific context in a light-hearted manner that is
accessible to everyone, no matter their background. With a careful
layering of evidence in geology, archaeology, and biblical and
historical records, Prothero's Weird Earth examines each
conspiracy and myth and leaves no question unanswered.
eBook
When humans nearly vanished : the catastrophic explosion of the Toba volcano
\"The true story of the explosion of the Mount Toba supervolcano, the largest eruption in the past 28 million years, and its lasting impact on Earth and human evolution.\"-- Provided by publisher.
Book
UFOs, Chemtrails, and Aliens
UFOs. Aliens. Strange crop circles. Giant figures scratched in the desert surface along the coast of Peru. The amazing alignment of the pyramids. Strange lines of clouds in the sky. The paranormal is alive and well in the American cultural landscape. InUFOs, Chemtrails, and Aliens, Donald R. Prothero and Tim Callahan explore why such demonstrably false beliefs thrive despite decades of education and scientific debunking. Employing the ground rules of science and the standards of scientific evidence, Prothero and Callahan discuss a wide range of topics including the reliability of eyewitness testimony, psychological research into why people want to believe in aliens and UFOs, and the role conspiratorial thinking plays in UFO culture. They examine a variety of UFO sightings and describe the standards of evidence used to determine whether UFOs are actual alien spacecraft. Finally, they consider our views of aliens and the strong cultural signals that provide the shapes and behaviors of these beings. While their approach is firmly based in science, Prothero and Callahan also share their personal experiences of Area 51, Roswell, and other legendary sites, creating a narrative that is sure to engross both skeptics and believers.
eBook
Giants of the Lost world : dinosaurs and other extinct monsters of South America
The evolution, biology, and discovery of the dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals that lived in South America. Inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Lost world.
Book
Abominable science
Throughout our history, humans have been captivated by mythic beasts and legendary creatures. Tales of Bigfoot, the Yeti, and the Loch Ness monster are part of our collective experience. Now comes a book from two dedicated investigators that explores and elucidates the fascinating world of cryptozoology. Daniel Loxton and Donald R. Prothero have written an entertaining, educational, and definitive text on cryptids, presenting the arguments both for and against their existence and systematically challenging the pseudoscience that perpetuates their myths. After examining the nature of science and pseudoscience and their relation to cryptozoology, Loxton and Prothero take on Bigfoot; the Yeti, or Abominable Snowman, and its cross-cultural incarnations; the Loch Ness monster and its highly publicized sightings; the evolution of the Great Sea Serpent; and Mokele Mbembe, or the Congo dinosaur. They conclude with an analysis of the psychology behind the persistent belief in paranormal phenomena, identifying the major players in cryptozoology, discussing the character of its subculture, and considering the challenge it poses to clear and critical thinking in our increasingly complex world.
eBook
The Story of Life in 25 Fossils
Every fossil tells a story. Best-selling paleontology author Donald R. Prothero describes twenty-five famous, beautifully preserved fossils in a gripping scientific history of life on Earth. Recounting the adventures behind the discovery of these objects and fully interpreting their significance within the larger fossil record, Prothero creates a riveting history of life on our planet.
The twenty-five fossils portrayed in this book catch animals in their evolutionary splendor as they transition from one kind of organism to another. We witness extinct plants and animals of microscopic and immense size and thrilling diversity. We learn about fantastic land and sea creatures that have no match in nature today. Along the way, we encounter such fascinating fossils as the earliest trilobite,Olenellus; the giant sharkCarcharocles; the \"fishibian\"Tiktaalik; the \"Frogamander\" and the \"Turtle on the Half-Shell\"; enormous marine reptiles and the biggest dinosaurs known; the first bird, Archaeopteryx; the walking whaleAmbulocetus; the gigantic hornless rhinocerosParaceratherium, the largest land mammal that ever lived; and the Australopithecus nicknamed \"Lucy,\" the oldest human skeleton. We meet the scientists and adventurers who pioneered paleontology and learn about the larger intellectual and social contexts in which their discoveries were made. Finally, we find out where to see these splendid fossils in the world's great museums.
Ideal for all who love prehistoric landscapes and delight in the history of science, this book makes a treasured addition to any bookshelf, stoking curiosity in the evolution of life on Earth.
eBook
Catastrophes! : earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, and other earth-shattering disasters
Devastating natural disasters have profoundly shaped human history, leaving us with a respect for the mighty power of the earth—and a humbling view of our future. Paleontologist and geologist Donald R. Prothero tells the harrowing human stories behind these catastrophic events. Prothero describes in gripping detail some of the most important natural disasters in history: • the New Madrid, Missouri, earthquakes of 1811–1812 that caused church bells to ring in Boston • the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people • the massive volcanic eruptions of Krakatau, Mount Tambora, Mount Vesuvius, Mount St. Helens, and Nevado del Ruiz His clear and straightforward explanations of the forces that caused these disasters accompany gut-wrenching accounts of terrifying human experiences and a staggering loss of human life. Floods that wash out whole regions, earthquakes that level a single country, hurricanes that destroy everything in their path—all are here to remind us of how little control we have over the natural world. Dramatic photographs and eyewitness accounts recall the devastation wrought by these events, and the people—both heroes and fools—that are caught up in the earth's relentless forces. Eerie, fascinating, and often moving, these tales of geologic history and human fortitude and folly will stay with you long after you put the book down.
eBook