An entertaining investigation into the biology and psychology of why we sacrifice for other people Researchers are now applying the lens of science to study heroism for the first time. How do biology, upbringing, and outside influences intersect to produce altruistic and heroic behavior? And how can we encourage this behavior in corporations, classrooms, and individuals? Using dozens of fascinating real-life examples, Elizabeth Svoboda explains how our genes compel us to do good for others, how going through suffering is linked to altruism, and how acting heroic can greatly improve your mental health. She also reveals the concrete things we can do to encourage our most heroic selves to step forward. It’s a common misconception that heroes are heroic just because they’re innately predisposed to be that way. Svoboda shows why it’s not simply a matter of biological hardwiring and how anyone can be a hero if they're committed to developing their heroic potential.

Learn all about history's most incredible scientists in a graphic novel format! Here's the story of ten history-changing scientific discoveries and the people behind them.

In this book, see how things work with fun experiments and uncover the answers to questions such as How does Batman see in the Dark? Can science explain why Wonder Woman's plane is invisible? Or How can the Flash run on water?

A complete update to the hit book on the real physics at work in comic books, featuring more heroes, more villains, and more science Since 2001, James Kakalios has taught "Everything I Needed to Know About Physics I Learned from Reading Comic Books," a hugely popular university course that generated coast-to-coast media attention for its unique method of explaining complex physics concepts through comics. With The Physics of Superheroes, named one of the best science books of 2005 by Discover, he introduced his colorful approach to an even wider audience. Now Kakalios presents a totally updated, expanded edition that features even more superheroes and findings from the cutting edge of science. With three new chapters and completely revised throughout with a splashy, redesigned package, the book that explains why Spider-Man's webbing failed his girlfriend, the probable cause of Krypton's explosion, and the Newtonian physics at work in Gotham City is electrifying from cover to cover.

When her brother Hiroki disappears after a violent altercation with school bullies, Yuriko finds a magical book in his room. The book leads her to another world where she learns that Hiroki has been possessed by the evil King in Yellow, and that only she can save him...and solve the riddle of why the King is also called "Hero." -- VIZ Media

Superman is the World's Greatest Hero! With super-strength, lightning speed, laser vision, and the ability to fly, he keeps Earth safe. But what is the science behind strength, speed, sight, and flight? And does anything or anyone in our world have similar abilities to Superman? Superman Science explores how real-life science and engineering relates to the Man of Steel's famous powers†and the real-world connections may surprise you.

When are people willing to sacrifice for the common good? What are the benefits of friendship? How do communities deal with betrayal? And what are the costs and benefits of being in a diverse community? Using the life histories of more than forty thousand Civil War soldiers, Dora Costa and Matthew Kahn answer these questions and uncover the vivid stories, social influences, and crucial networks that influenced soldiers' lives both during and after the war. Drawing information from government documents, soldiers' journals, and one of the most extensive research projects about Union Army soldiers ever undertaken, Heroes and Cowards demonstrates the role that social capital plays in people's decisions. The makeup of various companies--whether soldiers were of the same ethnicity, age, and occupation--influenced whether soldiers remained loyal or whether they deserted. Costa and Kahn discuss how the soldiers benefited from friendships, what social factors allowed some to survive the POW camps while others died, and how punishments meted out for breaking codes of conduct affected men after the war. The book also examines the experience of African-American soldiers and makes important observations about how their comrades shaped their lives. Heroes and Cowards highlights the inherent tensions between the costs and benefits of community diversity, shedding light on how groups and societies behave and providing valuable lessons for the present day.

When you think about superheroes, what comes to mind? Muscle-bound men and women adorned in capes or hi-tech armor? Superhuman abilities like flying or x-ray vision? It's unlikely you thought of people in white lab coats looking through microscopes. But in real life, science is the most powerful superpower in the world. Think about it. Scientists have used their powers to make the once impossible happen: cure diseases, extend human life, feed the world, and bring us to outer space and beyond. They are, indeed, modern-day superheroes, saving and improving millions of lives. Dr. William Haseltine-or Dr. Bill as his friends call him-discovered the power of science at an early age. And now in his new book, Science as a Superpower: My Lifelong Fight Against Disease and the Heroes who Made it Possible, he shares his love of science with the hope of inspiring young people to pursue a life in science and someday make their own contributions to improve human life. Woven throughout are stories of his work with some of recent history's biggest scientific heroes, and of his many successes (and failures) as he learned how to harness the superpower that is science to build a successful-and deeply impactful-career of his own.

Learn all about the history of space exploration in a graphic novel format! Here's the story of the men and women who blasted into space.