Infinity Knowledge Book | Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet
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Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet

  • Writen by Johan Rockström , Owen Gaffney
  • Publisher Dorling Kindersley
  • ISBN 9780241466759
  • Publication Date 2021

On the brink of a critical moment in human history, this book presents a vision of “planetary stewardship” – a rethinking of our relationship with our planet – and plots a new course for our future.

The authors, whose work is the subject of a new Netflix documentary released in summer 2021 and narrated by Sir David Attenborough, reveal the full scale of the planetary emergency we face – but also how we can stabilize Earth’s life support system.

The necessary change is within our power if we act now.

In 2009, scientists identified nine planetary boundaries that keep Earth stable, ranging from biodiversity to ozone. Beyond these boundaries lurk tipping points. To stop short of these tipping points, the 2020s must see the fastest economic transition in history.

This book demonstrates how societies are reaching positive tipping points that make this transition possible: Activism groups such as Extinction Rebellion, or schoolchildren inspired by Greta Thunberg demand political action; countries are committing to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions; and one tipping point has even already passed – the price of clean energy has dropped below that of fossil fuels.

Inside the pages of this scientifically-led publication, world-leading climate-change experts explain the greatest crisis humanity has ever faced.

  • Expert-authored text in an accessible style for both adults, and children ages 14+
  • A breakdown of the 9 planetary boundaries for relative stability on Earth, ranging from biodiversity to the ozone layer
  • An exploration of climate “tipping points” - good and bad
  • Stunning infographics and images visualising the problems and solutions to climate change
  • Contains detailed and unique images of Earth produced by Globaïa, the world’s leading visualisers of human impact

Suggested Books

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With foil on the cover, gilded edges, and a ribbon for keeping your place, this book makes an attractive gift for any child who is fascinated by our planet. With engaging information and absorbing images, this book is perfect for children to explore by themselves or for bedtime stories.

Racking your brain? Drawing a blank? Maybe it’s not such a bad thing…

Until recently, it was largely believed that forgetting served no purpose. Besides causing slight frustration, the odd slip of the mind was thought of as an inevitable but harmless defect in the brain’s functionality.

But new research in psychology, neurobiology, and computer science tells a different story. Forgetting is not a failure of our minds, nor is it a benign glitch – it is, in fact, good for us, and is a required function for our minds to work best. As annoying as a lapse can be, it’s precisely this that opens up our minds to making better decisions, experiencing joy, and flourishing artistically.

Through case studies, personal anecdotes, and scientific explanations, Professor Scott A. Small challenges the conventional wisdom that memory retention is always beneficial. He provides a comprehensive look at the benefits that forgetting can bring to our cognitive and creative abilities, emotional well-being, and even our wider societal health.

So the next time you forget where you left your keys, remember that a little forgetting does a lot of good.

Are you feeling it too? The genuine urge to bunker in, a growing need for rest, a deep desire to seek comfort? As the days become shorter and the cold descends, hibernation mode sets in. While seasonal change is a normal part of the natural world, many of us expect to have the same levels of energy all year round. The result is that our incessant drive to grow and out-perform can often leave us feeling frustrated and disheartened with our lower levels of energy and reduced productivity.

But what if there was a better way to approach the winter season?

Self-care expert Suzy Reading has devised 7 steps to not only survive the winter months but to thrive in them. By embracing the lessons from the natural world - from regulating light activity to warming body movements - you will learn how to alter your daily rhythms so that you can embrace winter. Through honouring lower energy levels and listening to what your body needs in the colder months, this can be an opportunity to rekindle joy and find fulfilment in every season of life.

Approaching winter doesn't have to be full of dread - so snuggle in and learn the key to thriving in the colder months.

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Have you ever wondered why some planets have rings? Or whether galaxies can collide? Or how humans are able to explore the vastness of space? Amazing Space allows kids aged 7+ to step on to the surface of other planets in our Solar System, discover the distant but exciting exoplanets, and learn the dramatic lifecycle of a star. This is the ultimate space book for kids with a passion for space, physics and science.