Philip Steele

As humans continue to shape the environment through urbanization and increased industrialization, it will become more difficult to feed everyone, with the U.N. estimating that food production will need to increase by 70 percent if, as projected, the world population is around nine billion in 2050. This book explains how climate change and lack of water affect crops, making it difficult to feed people, especially in impoverished areas. Also discussed...

Access to clean, fresh water is vital for all humans, but in many parts of the world, getting water is not as simple as turning on the tap. Contaminated water, especially in impoverished areas, kills millions of people a year, while warming oceans, Arctic melt, and disappearing rainforests are a threat to the environment. This book shows how humans use water and how we can help preserve it in the wake of these threats. Statistics and fact boxes help...

Iran is a country rich in culture, with a long, sometimes violent history. After the Shah was overthrown in 1979, the Ayatollah Khomeini ruled the government. They led the country into war with Iraq and created tension with many Western countries, including the United States. Readers explore the long history and culture of Iran-the rise of the Ayatollah, the election of current president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, diplomatic relations with countries in...

Beyond fueling vehicles used for all kinds of transportation, oil and gas resources affect many other aspects of people's lives, through their use in medicines, plastics, detergents, and fabrics. This book examines how oil is extracted and transported through pipelines, including discussion of controversial processes like fracking and drilling in the Arctic. The political and economic impact of controlling these resources is critiqued, allowing readers...

What causes different types of weather? What's the weirdest weather in the world? These are just some of the questions kids might have about weather, and the answers to many of their questions are found in this relatable and informative look at a popular science curriculum topic. The easy-to-read format presents questions and answers using clear and concise text, allowing even reluctant readers to explore this essential topic independently and enthusiastically....

Scientific evidence clearly shows that temperatures and the level of CO2 in the atmosphere have risen dramatically since the end of the nineteenth century, coinciding with the rise of industrialization. But what can be done to slow the effects of climate change on humans, plants and animals, and natural resources? This book explains the consequences of further climate change, from flooding of coastal areas to unhealthy pollution in urban areas, and...

The expanding American frontier in the late 1800s created a battleground on which white and Indian cultures inevitably clashed. Slowly and inexorably the Native Americans were pushed from their land and stripped of their birthright. This engrossing volume documents the lives of the last Cherokee warriors-Ned Christie and Ezekiel Proctor-two angry men who struggled against the tide of history and the power of the United States government in an effort...

Discusses when and where pirates typically lived and what their activities were.

Be an eyewitness to the exciting search for precious artifacts, hidden or lost through the centuries and rediscovered by archaeologists and treasure hunters.