Pioneers of Science

Marie Curie is the only woman in history to win the Nobel Prize in two fields-physics and chemistry. Her amazing story and groundbreaking work are the subjects of this essential volume, notable for incorporating personal documents, photographs, and other primary sources to support the details of Curie's life. Readers will recognize the heroism of Curie in the face of great challenges. For example, women in Poland during Curie's school years could not obtain a university degree-she had to travel to France to study. They will also appreciate how Curie's work in X-ray technology was applied to medicine, saving the lives of millions.

Physicist Stephen Hawking was a scientist for the modern age. He is as renowned for his theories on time and space as he is for his unique life story. Undeterred by a debilitating illness, he trained his mind to work in a new way to become the leading light in modern science. This carefully researched biography tells Hawking's story, highlighting his scientific breakthroughs and how, despite his struggle with a degenerative condition, he became the most celebrated and inspiring scientist of his generation. A beautiful design includes striking photographs, illuminating documents, and helpful sidebars that cast light on Hawking's intellectual achievements.

Charles Darwin revolutionized our understanding of life on Earth and our place within it. His theory of evolution by natural selection-controversial at the time-has remained the foundation of the life sciences for more than 150 years. This volume, featuring remarkable images, reveals the scientist's life in compelling detail, including his expedition aboard the Beagle and research on the Galapagos Islands. This beneficial book stands apart from other biographies for its inclusion of rare archival material as well as its accessible text, which explains how Darwin crafted his theory and his importance to the scientific world then and now.

Neurologist Sigmund Freud, known as the father of psychoanalysis, helped many dive into their subconscious and better understand themselves. Less known is that Freud struggled with neuroses too. In fact, he used some of his famed techniques on himself. This extraordinary book is a compelling chronological account of Freud's life, both personal and professional. Of particular focus is the examination of how he developed his theories. Primary sources from the London Freud Museum, such as diary extracts, rare photographs, and personal notes, give insight into the mind of the man, who helped unravel the mystery of our own minds.

As a scientist, inventor, and engineer, Nikola Tesla was devoted to discovery, registering over 700 patents in his lifetime. Today, he is mostly celebrated as the father of modern electricity, shaping technology that came after. Tesla's fascinating life story is the focus of this accessible volume, which includes beautifully reproduced documents from Tesla's personal archives. Readers will be especially interested in original diagrams and drawings of his ingenious machines, which-along with comprehensible explanations-will familiarize them with the essential curricular concepts of X-ray, radar, and electricity.

Even the youngest science enthusiasts know the name "Einstein." To them, it represents intelligence and ingenuity. But they may not know much about Albert Einstein as a man and why his fame reached such great heights. In this comprehensive biography, which draws on new research and personal documents, accessible text tells the fascinating story of Einstein's life, including his early years in Germany, his achievements that led to the Nobel Prize, and his role in the development of the atomic bomb. Plentiful photographs, explanatory diagrams, and illuminating sidebars add to the reader's experience, helping to reveal the person and the genius behind the name.