Furry Logic

November 1, 2016

Durrani (editor, Physics World) and Kalaugher (editor, environmentalresearchweb.org) combine physics with biology to explore how animals eat, keep warm, mate, and protect themselves in their natural environments. Arranged into sections such as "Heat," "Force," "Fluid," and "Sound and Light," the book illustrates how ants, cats, snakes, bees, eels, lobsters, and other creatures manage the world around them. Just as human beings don't have to know how an engine works to drive a car or understand the principles of flight to ride in a plane, animals are unaware of the laws and properties they manipulate to survive and flourish. The authors entertain and explain with cases such as the simple harmonic motion of a shaking dog or the quantum mechanics of the Oriental hornet. The tone is charming and conversational, and humorous examples are paired with detailed descriptions of physics at work. VERDICT Readers don't need a background in physics to enjoy this engaging, educational title. Recommended for fans of popular science, including YA audiences.--Catherine Lantz, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago Lib.

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