The textbook delves into the mechanical aspects of life, examining how animals and plants interact with their physical environment. It discusses the influence of available materials on form and function, exploring fluid dynamics, structural design, and organismal responses to environmental forces. The author, Steven Vogel, analyzes various modes of locomotion, circulatory systems, and the unique properties of biological materials, linking them to their mechanical roles. The book also includes introductory chapters on physical variables and problem sets for practical application.
The book explores the intersection of fluid mechanics and biology, providing insights into how fluid flow influences biological design. In this revised edition, the author updates key concepts and expands on topics like jet propulsion, swimming, and blood flow, while also introducing new sections on acceleration reactions and Murray's law. With a blend of humor and clarity, it serves as both a reference and a guide for biologists and general readers, complete with an extensive bibliography for those interested in conducting their own experiments.
Muscles play a crucial role in all forms of movement, from the simplest actions like breathing to complex tasks such as flying or striking. Despite their similar structure across various species, muscles enable an astonishing range of functions, showcasing the diversity of life in the animal kingdom. This exploration delves into how different muscles contribute to the unique abilities of creatures, highlighting the intricate relationship between anatomy and movement.
The book offers a captivating exploration of new ideas and interpretations, making complex material accessible to a broad audience. Its standout feature is the extensive collection of diverse examples, showcasing a lifetime of knowledge and insights. Vogel's engaging presentation invites readers to delve into a rich tapestry of information, making it both informative and enjoyable.
Whether plant or person, every organism must contend with its immediate
physical environment, a world that both limits what organisms can do and
offers innumerable opportunities for evolving ways of challenging those
limits. This title explains these interactions, examining through the example
of the leaf the extraordinary designs.
The book explores the shortcomings of critical theory in addressing the concept of nature, emphasizing the need to recognize nature as a socially constructed phenomenon. It critiques traditional approaches and suggests that a deeper understanding of this relationship is essential for resolving ongoing theoretical challenges. Through this lens, the author advocates for a re-evaluation of how nature is perceived within critical discourse, aiming to bridge gaps between social constructs and environmental realities.
Over the past fifteen years, the United States, Western Europe, and Japan have
transformed the relationship between governments and corporations. The changes
are complex and the terms used to describe them often obscure the reality. In
Freer...
A provocative argument that environmental thinking would be better off if it
dropped the concept of nature altogether and spoke instead of the built
environment.
"Full of ideas and well-explained principles that will bring new understanding of everyday things to both scientists and non-scientists alike."―R. McNeill Alexander, Nature Nature and humans build their devices with the same earthly materials and use them in the same air and water, pulled by the same gravity. Why, then, do their designs diverge so sharply? Humans, for instance, love right angles, while nature's angles are rarely right and usually rounded. Our technology goes around on wheels―and on rotating pulleys, gears, shafts, and cams―yet in nature only the tiny propellers of bacteria spin as true wheels. Our hinges turn because hard parts slide around each other, whereas nature's hinges (a rabbit's ear, for example) more often swing by bending flexible materials. In this marvelously surprising, witty book, Steven Vogel compares these two mechanical worlds, introduces the reader to his field of biomechanics, and explains how the nexus of physical law, size, and convenience of construction determine the designs of both people and nature. "This elegant comparison of human and biological technology will forever change the way you look at each."―Michael LaBarbera, American Scientist Illustrated
