Frontiers of Science
"On the Brink of Tomorrow: Frontiers of Science" is one of many quality books published by the National Geographic Society. This book describes developments in the scientific fields of astronomy, geology, biology, and medicine as they were in the early 1980s when the book was printed. Each chapter is written by experts in their respective fields.
Though somewhat dated, this book still contains useful and interesting information. For example, there is a foreshadowing of Pluto's reduction to "dwarf planet" status with the following quote:
"The compostion of Pluto gives it properties we find more characteristic of a comet nucleus than a planet; yet its size surpasses that of typcial comets a thousandfold. Perhaps Pluto is some sort of transitional object between comets and planets."
The authors also admit the possibility of global warming, but also maintain that we do not yet completely understand the natural cycles of climate change.
I especially enjoyed the chapters on geology and the brain. If you are looking for a good book which introduces the many fields of science, then "Frontiers of Science" is for you. Includes numerous photographs and a bibliography for further reading.
