Ordinary Geniuses

A fascinating tribute to the forefathers of two of today’s most exciting scientific fields Thanks to Max Delbruck and George Gamow, today we have mapped the human genome and understand the ramifications of the Big Bang. In his characteristically inviting and elegant style, Gino Segre brings to life the story of these two great scientists and their long friendship and offers an accessible inside look the people behind the scenes of science—the collaboration and competition, the quirks and failures, the role of intuition and luck, and the sense of wonder and curiosity that keeps these extraordinary minds going.

A collection of short fiction by an O. Henry Award-winning author explores the transcendent and magical qualities that transform even the most mundane life in Midwestern Kansas, capturing the unique and extraordinary world of a young boy hunting for a runaway hourse, a couple ostracized in their small town, a grieving high school basketball star, and other colorful characters.

Recounts the life of the scientist whose theories of relativity revolutionized the way we look at space and time.

Shows how the most creative minds in science used tools that can help us improve our creative abilities. Geniuses are not omnipotent. They are just very skilled at employing the creativity toolbox highlighted in this book, including finding the right question, observation, analogy, changing point of view, dissection, reorganization, the power of groups, and frame shifting.

Genius. With hints of madness and mystery, moral license and visionary force, the word suggests an almost otherworldly power: the power to create, to divine the secrets of the universe, even to destroy. Yet the notion of genius has been diluted in recent times. Today, rock stars, football coaches, and entrepreneurs are labeled 'geniuses,' and the word is applied so widely that it has obscured the sense of special election and superhuman authority that long accompanied it. As acclaimed historian Darrin M. McMahon explains, the concept of genius has roots in antiquity, when men of prodigious insight were thought to possess -- or to be possessed by -- demons and gods. Adapted in the centuries that followed and applied to a variety of religious figures, including prophets, apostles, sorcerers, and saints, abiding notions of transcendent human power were invoked at the time of the Renaissance to explain the miraculous creativity of men like Leonardo and Michelangelo. Yet it was only in the eighteenth century that the genius was truly born, idolized as a new model of the highest human type. Assuming prominence in figures as varied as Newton and Napoleon, the modern genius emerged in tension with a growing belief in human equality. Contesting the notion that all are created equal, geniuses served to dramatize the exception of extraordinary individuals not governed by ordinary laws. The phenomenon of genius drew scientific scrutiny and extensive public commentary into the 20th century, but it also drew religious and political longings that could be abused. In the genius cult of the Nazis and the outpouring of reverence for the redemptive figure of Einstein, genius achieved both its apotheosis and its Armageddon. The first comprehensive history of this elusive concept, Divine Fury follows the fortunes of genius and geniuses through the ages down to the present day, showing how -- despite its many permutations and recent democratization -- genius remains a potent force in our lives, reflecting modern needs, hopes, and fears.

A contest to find a better way to create clean drinking water turns into a mystery when one of the scientists goes missing. Luckily, Jack and his genius siblings are on the case in Jack and the Geniuses: At the Bottom of the World, first in the New York Times bestselling series from Bill Nye and Gregory Mone—featuring illustrations by Nick Iluzada. Jack and his foster siblings, Ava and Matt, are not your typical kids—they’re geniuses. Well, Ava and Matt are. Ava speaks multiple languages and builds robots for fun, and Matt is an expert astronomer and math whiz. As for Jack, it’s hard to stand out when surrounded by geniuses all the time. Things get more complicated when the trio starts working for Dr. Hank Witherspoon, one of the world’s leading scientists. They travel to Antarctica with Hank for a prestigious award ceremony—but they quickly find that not all is as it seems: A scientist has gone missing. It’s up to Jack, Ava, and Matt to find her . . . and discover who’s behind it all. In the Jack and the Geniuses series, readers join Jack, Ava, and Matt on adventures around the world to tackle some of science’s biggest challenges, including new ways to create clean drinking water, to generate clean and renewable energy, and to extend information access to the entire planet. Each book in the series includes cool facts about the real-life science found in the story and a fun DIY project. Jack and the Geniuses series: Jack and the Geniuses: At the Bottom of the World (#1) Jack and the Geniuses: In the Deep Blue Sea (#2) Jack and the Geniuses: Lost in the Jungle (#3)

A very small number of people with IQs of over 1,000 secretly live among us, concealing their extraordinary intelligence and mental powers. They call themselves Geniuses, and have - for millennia - influenced our world. Over the centuries evil Geniuses have tried to control ordinary people, who they refer to as Ordinaries, and dominate the world. Good Geniuses have opposed them defending the rights of Ordinaries to control their own destinies and live in freedom. A major confrontation between good and evil Geniuses is about to begin. The fate of the world hangs in the balance.

Idiot Genius: Willa Snap and the Clockwerk Boy is the first book in a new sci-fi polypunk series by Richard Due, author of the award-winning Moon Realm series. What¿s it about? Here¿s Willa (she's eleven):Ever wonder why some crazy scientist hasn¿t blown up the world? I used to wonder about it all the time. Actually, I was pretty sure my mom would be the one to do it.But now I know better. It turns out there¿s a force working hard to keep the world from going KABLOOEY.Who are these people? Wait for it:Idiots. Yep, you heard me right.How do I know? Well, apparently, I¿m an Idiot. At least, according to the Geniuses I am. Confused? I¿m not surprised. You¿re probably an Idiot too. It all began on a Thursday at precisely 8 a.m. I was standing in the family room of our lovely two-story house, directly across the street from Squirrel Brand Park in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The same family room that, in a few minutes, I would never ever, ever see again¿ever.