About this book ix
Acknowledgements xii
1 All Under Control 1
1.1 Overview 1
1.2 Systems keeping cells alive 3
1.3 Keeping things balanced 8
1.4 Detecting change 11
1.5 Fast control! 16
1.6 Brain power 22
1.7 Scientific research — spinal injuries 25
1.8 Slow control 32
1.9 Hormones and reproduction 34
1.10 Review 39
2 Medical Science 43
2.1 Overview 43
2.2 Catch us if you can 45
2.3 Healthy living 49
2.4 Putting up defences 55
2.5 Immunity 58
2.6 Increasing immunisation rates 63
2.7 Epidemic alert 66
2.8 Controlling fertility 71
2.9 Reproductive technology 77
2.10 Reproduction in the news 82
2.11 Review 85
3 Electricity at Work 90
3.1 Overview 90
3.2 Electric circuits 92
3.3 Electricity at home 106
3.4 Meeting our future electricity needs 117
3.5 Project: Go-Go Gadget online shop 128
3.6 Review 129
4 Invisible Waves 134
4.1 Overview 134
4.2 Waves — carriers of energy 136
4.3 Light 149
4.4 Colour vision 158
4.5 The communication revolution 169
4.6 Project: Did you hear that? 184
4.7 Review 185
5 Chemistry — the Inside Story 190
5.1 Overview 190
5.2 Chemical building blocks 192
5.3 All charged up! 195
5.4 Searching for patterns 200
5.5 Periodic patterns 204
5.6 Ionic compounds 208
5.7 Covalent compounds 212
5.8 Finding the right formula 215
5.9 Project: The mystery metal 219
5.10 Review 221
6 Radioactivity: A Two-Edged Sword 225
6.1 Overview 225
6.2 Pioneers of radiation 227
6.3 Radioactive isotopes 230
6.4 Radiation 235
6.5 Helpful radiation 239
6.6 Energy from the atom 243
6.7 The dark side of radiation 248
6.8 Review 254
7 Chemical Reactions 258
7.1 Overview 258
7.2 Describing chemical reactions 260
7.3 The language of chemical equations 263
7.4 Hot and cold changes 266
7.5 Acids and bases 271
7.6 Salty substances 277
7.7 Precipitation reactions 280
7.8 Metal displacement reactions 283
7.9 Reactions everywhere! 285
7.10 Seeing the light! 289
7.11 Taking care with chemicals 292
7.12 Project: ChemQuiz! 297
7.13 Review 298
8 The Dynamic Earth 302
8.1 Overview 302
8.2 Continents on the move 303
8.3 Plate tectonics 307
8.4 Rocks under pressure 313
8.5 Shake, rattle and roll! 317
8.6 Mountains of fire 324
8.7 Project: Disaster-proof 332
8.8 Review 334
9 On the Move 337
9.1 Overview 337
9.2 How far is it? 338
9.3 Ready, set, go! 342
9.4 Speed up, slow down 351
9.5 Inertia — Newton’s first law 353
9.6 Acceleration and Newton’s second law 357
9.7 Forces in pairs — Newton’s third law 360
9.8 Making cars safer 363
9.9 Project: Rock’n’roller-coaster 366
9.10 Review 368
10 The Mysterious Universe 372
10.1 Overview 372
10.2 Stars and constellations 374
10.3 The life cycle of stars 380
10.4 The Milky Way and beyond 385
10.5 Eyes on the skies 391
10.6 The evolving universe 396
10.7 Review 403
11 Genetics 406
11.1 Overview 406
11.2 It’s in the genes 408
11.3 Cell division 413
11.4 It all started with peas 419
11.5 Different in so many ways 422
11.6 DNA: the blueprint of life 428
11.7 Mutations 434
11.8 Genetics at work 438
11.9 Manipulating DNA 443
11.10 Send in the clones 448
11.11 Project: The gene lab 452
11.12 Review 453
12 Life Goes On 458
12.1 Overview 458
12.2 Life has changed 460
12.3 Tracks through time 464
12.4 Analysing the fossil record 469
12.5 The theory of evolution 473
12.6 Natural selection 477
12.7 Speciation 482
12.8 Where is the evidence? 488
12.9 It’s all about genes 492
12.10 Project: Natural Selection — the board game! 495
12.11 Review 497
13 Ecology 502
13.1 Overview 502
13.2 Features of the local ecosystem 504
13.3 How many are left? 508
13.4 Ecosystems are solar powered 514
13.5 The flow of energy in ecosystems 520
13.6 Cycling of materials in ecosystems 524
13.7 Keeping track of species 528
13.8 Inspired by traditional owners 532
13.9 It’s all about balance 538
13.10 Different perspectives 544
13.11 Review 546
14 Global Systems 551
14.1 Overview 551
14.2 Revisiting cycles and spheres 553
14.3 Patterns, order and organisation: climate patterns 559
14.4 Global warming 562
14.5 Heating up for Thermageddon? 568
14.6 Some cool solutions 573
14.7 Global warming — believe it or not? 577
14.8 Ozone alert 581
14.9 Biodiversity and climate change 586
14.10 Biosphere 2 591
14.11 Project: The fifty years after 596
14.12 Review 598
15 Student Research Project and Skills 602
15.1 Overview 602
15.2 Before you start: safety and ethics 604
15.3 Planning your investigation 609
15.4 Designing your investigation 613
15.5 Gathering and presenting first-hand data 617
15.6 Using technology: data loggers and data collection probes 622
15.7 Using technology: spreadsheets and databases 625
15.8 Writing your report 630
15.9 Sample SRP 633
Glossary 638
Index 652
