Science Is Competitive, Aggressive, Demanding. It Is Also Imaginative, Inspiring, Uplifting.

Seen up close, the anatomy of a mosquito bite is terrifying. The most dangerous animal in the world uses six needle-like mouthparts to saw into our skin, tap a blood vessel and sometimes leave a dangerous parting gift. NEW from @kqedscience‘s Deep Look!

List of Free Science Books

Here’s an alphabetical list of all available free books. Note that many of the links will bring you to an external page, usually with more info about the book and the download links. Also, the links are updated as frequently as possible, however some of them might be broken. Broken links are constantly being fixed. In case you want to report a broken link, or a link that violates copyrights, use the contact form. 

A

A Beginner’s Guide to Mathematica

A Brief Introduction to Particle Physics

A First Course in General Relativity

A New Astronomy

A No-Nonsense Introduction to General Relativity

A Popular History of Astronomy During the Nineteenth Century, Fourth Edition

A Review of General Chemistry

A Simple Guide to Backyard Astronomy

A Text Book for High School Students Studying Physics

A Tour of Triangle Geometry

About Life: Concepts in Modern Biology

Acoustic Emission

Adaptive Control

Advanced Calculus

Advanced Learning

Advanced Mathematics for Engineers

Advanced Microwave Circuits and Systems

Advanced Technologies

Advances in Computer Science and IT

Advances in Evolutionary Algorithms

Advances in Geoscience and Remote Sensing

Advances in Haptics

Advances in Human Computer Interaction

Age of Einstein

Aging by Design

AMPL:  A Modeling Language for Mathematical Programming

An Introduction to Elementary Particles

An Introduction to Higher Mathematics

An Introduction to Many Worlds in Quantum Computation

An Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning

An Introduction to Mathematics

An Introduction to Proofs and the Mathematical Vernacular

An Introduction to Relativistic Quantum Mechanics

Analysis 1 (Tao T)

Analysis 2 (Tao T)

Analytic Functions

Astronomical Discovery

Astronomy for Amateurs

Astronomy Today

Astronomy with an Opera-Glass

Automation and Robotics

B

Basic Algebra, Topology and Differential Calculus

Basic Concepts of Mathematics

Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics

Basic Concepts of Thermodynamics Chapter 1

Basic Ideas in Chemistry

Basic Math: Quick Reference eBook

Basic Mathematics for Astronomy

Basic Physics

Basic Positional Astronomy

Basic Principles of Classical and Statistical Thermodynamics

Basic Principles of Physics

Basics of Physics

Beginner’s Botany

Biochemistry

Biochemistry (practice book)

Biology

Board Notes for Particle Physics

Book of Proof

C

Calculus

Calculus Based Physics

Celestial Navigation, Elementary Astronomy, Piloting

Circuit QED — Lecture Notes

Classical Dynamics

Classical Geometry

Classical Mechanics

Climate Models

Collaborative Statistics

College Algebra

Complex Analysis

Computational Geometry

Computational Introduction to Number Theory and Algebra

Computational Physics with Python

Conceptual Physics

Consistent Quantum Theory

Cook-Book Of Mathematics

College Physics

Crude Oil Emulsions- Composition Stability and Characterization

Curiosities of the Sky

D

Decoherence: Basic Concepts and Their Interpretation

Do We Really Understand Quantum Mechanics?

Differential Equations

Diophantine Analysis

Discover Physics

Dr. Donald Luttermoser’s Physics Notes

Dynamics and Relativity

E

Earthquake Research and Analysis

Earthquake-Resistant Structures – Design, Assessment and Rehabilitation

Einstein for Everyone

Electromagnetic Field Theory

Elementary Mathematical Astronomy

Elementary Linear Algebra

Elementary Particle Physics in a Nutshell

Elementary Particles in Physics

Elements of Astrophysics

Embedded Systems – Theory and Design Methodology

Encyclopaedia of Mathematics

Encyclopedia of Astrophysics

Engineering Mathematics 1

Engineering Mathematics with Tables

Essential Engineering Mathematics

Essential Physics

Exoplanet Observing for Amateurs

Experimental Particle Physics

F

Fields

Foundations of Nonstandard Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions about Calendars

Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics

Fundamentals of Analysis (Chen W.W.L)

Further Mathematical Methods

Fusion Physics

G

General Chemistry

General Relativity

General Relativity

Geometric Asymptotics

Geometry and Group Theory

Geometry and Topology

Geometry Formulas and Facts

Geometry Study Guide

Geometry, Topology and Physics

Geometry, Topology, Localization and Galois Symmetry

Great Astronomers

H

Handbook of Formulae and Physical Constants

High School Mathematics Extensions

Higher Mathematics for Engineers and Physicists

History of Astronomy

Homeomorphisms in Analysis

How to Use Experimental Data to Compute the Probability of Your Theory

I

Intelligent Systems

Intrinsic Geometry of Surfaces

Introduction to Astronomy and Cosmology

Introduction to Cancer Biology

Introduction to Chemistry

Introduction to Cosmology

Introduction to Elementary Particles

Introduction to General Relativity

Introduction To Finite Mathematics

Introduction to Particle Physics Notes

Introduction to PID Controllers

Introduction to Quantum Mechanics with Applications to Chemistry

Introduction to Quantum Noise, Measurement and Amplification

Introduction to Social Network Methods

Introduction to String Field Theory

Introduction to the Time Evolution of Open Quantum Systems

Introduction to Quantum Mechanics

Introductory Computational Physics

Introductory Physics 1

Introductory Physics 2

K

Kinetic Theory

L

Laboratory Manual for Introductory Physics

Laws of Physics

Learn Physics Today

Lecture Notes in Discrete Mathematics

Lecture Notes in Quantum Mechanics

Lecture Notes in Nuclear and Particle Physics

Lecture Notes in Particle Physics

Lecture Notes on General Relativity

Lectures on Astronomy, Astrophysics, and Cosmology

Lectures on Particle Physics

Lectures on Riemann Zeta-Function

Light and Matter

M

Mag 7 Star Atlas Project

Many Particle Physics

Math Alive

Mathematical Analysis I(Zakon E)

Mathematical Biology

Mathematical Methods

Mathematical Methods 1

Mathematical Methods for Physical Sciences

Mathematical Methods of Engineering Analysis

Mathematics, Basic Math and Algebra

Mathematics for Computer Science

Mathematics for Computer Science

Mathematics for Computer Scientists

Mathematics For Engineering Students

Mathematics Formulary

Motion Mountain

Music: A Mathematical Offering

Mysteries of the Sun

N

Natural Disasters

New Frontiers in Graph Theory

Noise Control, Reduction and Cancellation Solutions in Engineering

Nondestructive Testing Methods and New Applications

Nonlinear Optics

Notes on Coarse Geometry

Notes on Elementary Particle Physics

Notes on Quantum Mechanics

O

Observing the Sky from 30S

On Particle Physics

Operating Systems: Three Easy Pieces

P

Particle Physics Course Univ. Cape Town

Particle Physics Lecture Notes

People’s Physics Book

Perspectives in Quantum Physics: Epistemological, Ontological and Pedagogical

Photons, Schmotons

Physics Lectures

Physics Tutorials

Physics Study Guides

Pioneers of Science

Practical Astronomy

Practical Astronomy for Engineers

Preparing for College Physics

Primer Of Celestial Navigation

Principal Component Analysis – Multidisciplinary Applications

Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific Volume 1

Q

Quantum Dissipative Systems

Quantum Field Theory

Quantum Fluctuations

Quantum Information Theory

Quantum Magnetism

Quantum Mechanics

Quantum Mechanics

Quantum Mechanics: A Graduate Course

Quantum Mechanics: An Intermediate Level Course

Quantum Notes

Quantum Physics Notes

Quantum Theory of Many-Particle Systems

Quantum Transients

R

Recreations in Astronomy

Relativistic Quantum Dynamics

Relativity: The Special and General Theory

Review of Basic Mathematics

Riemann Surfaces, Dynamics and Geometry Course Notes

S

Short History of Astronomy

Sintering of Ceramics – New Emerging Techniques

Solitons

Some Basic Principles from Astronomy

Special Relativity

Spherical Astronomy

Star-Gazer’s Hand-Book

Statistical Physics

Street-Fighting Mathematics

String Theory

Structures of Life

Supernova Remnants: The X-ray Perspective

Superspace: One Thousand and One Lessons in Supersymmetry

System of Systems

T

The Astrobiology Primer: An Outline of General Knowledge

The Astronomy and the Bible

The Astronomy of the Bible: An Elementary Commentary on the Astronomical References of Holy Scripture

The Basic Paradoxes of Statistical Classical Physics and Quantum Mechanics

The Beginning and the End

The Beginning and the End of the Universe

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Sun

The Convenient Setting of Global Analysis

The Eightfold Way: The Beauty of Klein’s Quartic Curve

The General Theory of Relativity

The Geology of Terrestrial Planets

The Geometry of the Sphere

The Handbook of Essential Mathematics

The Moon: A Full Description and Map of its Principal Physical Features

The Open Agenda

The Origin of Mass in Particle Physics

The Particle Detector Brief Book

The Physics Hypertextbook

The Physics of Quantum Mechanics

The Planet Mars

The Small n Problem in High Energy Physics

The Story of Eclipses

The Story of the Heavens

The Structure of Life

The Wonder Book of Knowledge

The World According to the Hubble Space Telescope

The Zij as-Sanjari of Gregory Chioniades (June 27, 2009)

Three Dimensional Geometry

U

Understanding Physics

Unfolding the Labyrinth

Utility of Quaternions in Physics

Uses of Astronomy

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1. It Trivializes Violent Historical Oppression

2. It Lets People Show Love for the Culture, But Remain Prejudiced Against Its People

3. It Makes Things ‘Cool’ for White People – But ‘Too Ethnic’ for People of Color

4. It Lets Privileged People Profit from Oppressed People’s Labor

5. It Lets Some People Get Rewarded for Things the Creators Never Got Credit For

6. It Spreads Mass Lies About Marginalized Cultures

7. It Perpetuates Racist Stereotypes

8. White People Can Freely Do What People of Color Were Actively Punished for Doing

9. It Prioritizes the Feelings of Privileged People Over Justice for Marginalized People

“If you’re wondering what the big deal is about cultural appropriation, I’ve got you covered.

Read on for some perspective on why people might get upset if you borrow from another culture.”

Read the whole article on @evrydayfeminism at: http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/06/cultural-appropriation-wrong/

Teacher Draws Impressively Detailed Anatomical Illustrations on Classroom’s Chalkboard

Illustrator and anatomy instructor Chuan-Bin Chung composes stunning and highly detailed illustration of the human drawing. He creates the ephemeral drawings on chalkboards as a learning guide. He beautifully depicts the body’s muscles, bones and tendons.

Keep reading

Neil deGrasse Tyson lays down some rainbow facts in honor of Pride and Pulse. If you couldn’t love him enough already.

Chicago task force releases landmark report, calls on Police Chief to acknowledge racism in police force

Yesterday, Chicago’s Police Accountability Task Force released its final report. Historically, the report called on the newly appointed Chicago Police Superintendent to acknowledge the force’s “history of racial disparity and discrimination.” Many believe the report, which many believe forced Mayor Rahm Emanuel to publicly acknowledge the Chicago Police Department’s continued issues with racism and to consider dismantling the city’s widely criticized Internal Police Review Board.

The task force was established in response to the public outcry in the wake of the death of Laquan McDonald, who was shot 16 times while running away from a Chicago Police Officer. The task force “dug deeper into the complaints of so many about the callous and disrespectful way in which they had been treated by some officers” within the CPD, and recommended sweeping changes to what it described as “systemic problems in CPD.”

The source of the current state of mistrust and animosity between the public and the CPD, it found, was the result of 

racism

a mentality in CPD that the ends justify the means 

a failure to make accountability a core value and imperative within CPD

a significant underinvestment in human capital

Below are the recommendations of the task force:

How We Propose to Empower People.

Create a Community Safety Oversight Board, allowing the community to have a powerful platform and role in the police oversight system.

Implement a citywide Reconciliation Process beginning with the Superintendent publicly acknowledging CPD’s history of racial disparity and discrimination, and making a public commitment to cultural change.

Replace CAPS with localized Community Empowerment and Engagement Districts (CEED) for each of the city’s 22 police districts, and support them accordingly. Under CEED, district Commanders and other leadership would work with local stakeholders to develop tailored community policing strategies and partnerships.

Renew commitment to beat-based policing and expand community patrols so that officers learn about and get to know the communities they serve, and community members take an active role in partnering with the police.

Reinvigorate community policing as a core philosophy and approach that informs actions throughout the department.

Evaluate and improve the training officers receive with respect to youth so that they are prepared to engage in ways that are age-appropriate, trauma-informed and based in a restorative justice model.

Require CPD and the police oversight system to be more transparent and release to the public incident-level information on arrests, traffic and investigatory stops, officer weapon use and disciplinary cases.

Host citywide summits jointly sponsored by the Mayor and the President of the Cook County Board to develop and implement comprehensive criminal justice reform.

Encourage the Mayor and President of the Cook County Board to work together to develop and implement programs that address socioeconomic justice and equality, housing segregation, systemic racism, poverty, education, health and safety.

Adoption of a citywide protocol allowing arrestees to make phone calls to an attorney and/or family member(s) within one hour of arrest.

Implementation of citywide “Know Your Rights” training for youth.

How We Propose to Address the Inadequate Emphasis on Accountability

Create a dedicated Inspector General for Public Safety, which would independently audit and monitor CPD and the police oversight system, including for patterns of racial bias.

Replace the Independent Police Review Authority with a new and fully transparent and accountable Civilian Police Investigative Agency, which will enhance structural protections, powers and resources for investigating serious cases of police misconduct, even in the absence of sworn complaints. The new CPIA should ensure an accessible, professional and supportive complaint process.

Implement a data-driven, best-in-class Early Intervention System for CPD to identify officers with problems before they become problems for the community.

Fundamentally change provisions in the collective bargaining agreements that are impediments to accountability, such as allowing for anonymous complaints, eliminating the ability to change statements after reviewing video and removing the requirement to destroy complaint records.

Fully implement the first-in-the-nation written video release policy for officer-involved shootings.

Expand CPD’s body cam pilot program.

Require that all disciplinary information be provided online so that citizens can track complaints and discipline histories.

How We Propose to Address Other Systemic and Longstanding Problems

Establish for the first time in Chicago a Deputy Chief of Diversity and Inclusion in CPD.

Implement policies to dismantle the institutionalization of the police “code of silence,” including substantial changes to the collective bargaining agreements between the police and the City, ending command channel review, reforming the role of CPD supervisors and pattern and practice analysis.

Establish a smart 911 system for OEMC, allowing residents to pre-enter information on mental health or other issues that would be instantly available to OEMC operators.

Create a multi-layer co-responder system where mental health providers work with OEMC and CPD to link individuals to treatment.

Expand significantly the Crisis Intervention System for CPD and other first responders.

Create a “Mental Health Critical Response Unit” within CPD that is responsible for mental health crisis response functions, training, support, community outreach and engagement, cross-agency coordination and data collection.

Create a hotline for CPD members, whether civilian or sworn, to lodge complaints, and develop a third-party system for the processing and follow-up of all comments and complaints reported to the hotline.

10 Ways to Look After Your Mental Wellbeing (with added kitties)

1. Talk about your feelings

Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled.

2. Keep active

Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and can help you concentrate, sleep, and look and feel better. Exercise keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy, and is also a significant benefit towards improving your mental health.

3. Eat well

Your brain needs a mix of nutrients in order to stay healthy and function well, just like the other organs in your body. A diet that’s good for your physical health is also good for your mental health.

4. Drink sensibly

We often drink alcohol to change our mood. Some people drink to deal with fear or loneliness, but the effect is only temporary.

When the drink wears off, you feel worse because of the way the alcohol has affected your brain and the rest of your body. Drinking is not a good way to manage difficult feelings.

5. Keep in touch

There’s nothing better than catching up with someone face to face, but that’s not always possible. You can also give them a call, drop them a note, or chat to them online instead. Keep the lines of communication open: it’s good for you!

6. Ask for help

None of us are superhuman. We all sometimes get tired or overwhelmed by how we feel or when things don’t go to plan.

If things are getting too much for you and you feel you can’t cope, ask for help. Your family or friends may be able to offer practical help or a listening ear.

Local services are there to help you.

7. Take a break

A change of scene or a change of pace is good for your mental health.

It could be a five-minute pause from cleaning your kitchen, a half-hour lunch break at work, or a weekend exploring somewhere new. A few minutes can be enough to de-stress you. Give yourself some ‘me time’.

8. Do something you’re good at

What do you love doing? What activities can you lose yourself in? What did you love doing in the past?

Enjoying yourself can help beat stress. Doing an activity you enjoy probably means you’re good at it, and achieving something boosts your self-esteem.

9. Accept who you are

We’re all different. It’s much healthier to accept that you’re unique than to wish you were more like someone else. Feeling good about yourself boosts your confidence to learn new skills, visit new places and make new friends. Good self-esteem helps you cope when life takes a difficult turn.

10. Care for others

‘Friends are really important… We help each other whenever we can, so it’s a two-way street, and supporting them uplifts me.’

Caring for others is often an important part of keeping up relationships with people close to you. It can even bring you closer together.

(Source: mentalhealth.org.uk)

“Imagine if men were as disgusted with rape as they are with periods,” street art activist Elonë writes on one pad. This particular message embodies her project’s aim: On one hand, women’s bodies are vandalized, harassed and objectified. On the other, they are often erased when it comes to the reality of menstruation. This is the exact conversation we need to be having.

Solitude matters, and for some people, it’s the air they breathe

Susan Cain (via fyp-psychology)