365 Surprising Scientific Facts, Breakthroughs, and Discoveries (Wiley Popular Science) - Softcover

A highly entertaining non-trivial trivia book packed with fascinating, educational and often surprising answers to questions based upon quirky, novel and controversial scientific facts incorporating the latest theories and discoveries. Covers a wide range of scientific disciplines including computer science, medicine, health, earth sciences, biology, astronomy and technology. Each entry features a short list of recommended reading on two levels--one in popular literature, the other in accessible science journals.

The more recondite its trivia are, the more successful a book like McGrayne's will be. And although hers may not come out on top of the heap marked "most obscure," it's definitely part of the pile. How's this for obscure fact? Although you may think the planet's largest organism is the blue whale, you're wrong; it is instead a 106-acre, 6,000-ton grove of genetically identical aspens that are really all one plant. And try this: the world's oldest organism is one of those large sequoias in California, right? BUZZ! Wrong again. It's a 30-acre, 100-ton fungus in Michigan that is estimated to be 1,500 years old. OK, you knew that because you heard it on All Things Considered, but did you hear that the substance commonly used to prevent infection and promote healing in deep wounds is not one of modern medicine's wonder drugs--it's common table sugar? Too obscure for any normal person to know? That's the point. Jon Kartman