{"title":"Books by Andrew May","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781785789915","title":"The Science of Music","description":"Music is shaped by the science of sound.  How can music - an artform - have anything to do with science? Yet there are myriad ways in which the two are intertwined, from the basics of music theory and the design of instruments to hi-fi systems and how the brain processes music.Science writer Andrew May traces the surprising connections between science and music, from the theory of sound waves to the way musicians use mathematical algorithms to create music.The most obvious impact of science on music can be seen in the way electronic technology has revolutionised how we create, record and listen to music. Technology has also provided new insights into the effects that different music has on the brain, to the extent that some algorithms can now predict our reactions with uncanny accuracy, which raises a worrying question: how long will it be before AI can create music on a par with humans?","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43128556322994,"sku":"9781785789915","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781785789915.jpg?v=1786025782"},{"product_id":"9781785789700","title":"Astrobiology","description":"A NEW, FULLY ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF ANDREW MAY'S ILLUMINATING GUIDE TO LIFE NOT ON EARTHThe possibility that alien life exists in the universe is among the most profound of human conjectures, which today is being investigated not just by science-fiction writers but by scientists.Astrobiology presents an expert guide to this compelling field of science. It shows how the tell- tale signatures of life on Earth might hold the key to detecting life beyond our planet; explores the many planets beyond our Solar System discovered by NASA's Kepler and TESS missions; and explains alien- hunting touchstones such as Fermi's Paradox, the Drake Equation, and the 'Wow' signal.As NASA's rovers burrow into Mars and its probes peer ever further into the cosmos, this illustrated edition combines deep space images with infographics to cast a scientific eye over the most significant of scientific treasure hunts.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43128556585138,"sku":"9781785789700","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781785789700.jpg?v=1786025775"},{"product_id":"9781036104580","title":"DD Sherman Tank Warriors","description":"When the amphibious Duplex Drive (DD) Sherman tanks of the 13th\/18th Royal Hussars (QMO) touched down on the sand of Sword Beach as the vanguard of the D-Day invasion, ahead of the infantry and Commandos, it was the culmination of an evolution spanning several years. Switching roles from a mounted regiment in India, into a mechanised, armoured cavalry regiment, they fought in France in 1940, then faced an uncertain future, after evacuating through Dunkirk.However, the 13th\/18th would subsequently be selected to spearhead the assault on Sword Beach in new, top secret amphibious tanks. Having successfully secured the beach on D-Day, the Regiment became heavily engaged in the battle for Normandy, earning themselves an excellent reputation with the infantry brigades which they supported, before pushing north into the Fatherland. Their casualties from D-Day onwards amounted to 142 Hussars lost, 236 wounded, with many gallantry awards received.In addition to recording the Regiment's achievements during World War II, the story includes the personal testimonies of many of the Regiment's soldiers and officers throughout the war, along with many previously unpublished photographs.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56296100430197,"sku":"9781036104580","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781036104580_7383e4f6-d5c6-4260-835b-530e96427560.jpg?v=1786016885"},{"product_id":"9781785787454","title":"The Space Business","description":"\u003cp\u003eDreams, schemes and opportunity as space opens for tourism and commerce.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwentieth century space exploration may have belonged to state-funded giants such as NASA, but there is a parallel history which has set the template for the future. Even before Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, private companies were exploiting space via communication satellites - a sector that is seeing exponential growth in the internet age.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn human spaceflight, too, commercialisation is making itself felt. Billionaire entrepreneurs Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson have long trumpeted plans to make space travel a possibility for ordinary people and those ideas are inching ever closer to reality. At the same time, other companies plan to mine the Moon for helium-3, or asteroids for precious metals.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eScience writer Andrew May takes an entertaining, in-depth look at the triumphs and heroic failures of our quixotic quest to commercialise the final frontier.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56305562878325,"sku":"9781785787454","price":8.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781785787454_56da5f74-4fb1-42a9-a9b0-cf496b0c897e.jpg?v=1786025712"},{"product_id":"9781837731275","title":"Eyes in the Sky","description":"Over 50 years ago, astronomers launched the world's first orbiting telescope. This allowed them to gaze further into outer space and examine anything that appears in the sky above our heads, from comets and planets to galaxy clusters and stars. Since then, almost 100 space telescopes have been launched from Earth and are orbiting our planet, with 26 still active and relaying information back to us. As a result of these space-based instruments, such as NASA's iconic Hubble Space Telescope, we know much more about the universe than we did half a century ago. But why is Hubble, orbiting just 540 kilometres above the Earth, so much more effective than a ground-based telescope? How can a glorified camera tell us not only what distant objects look like, but their detailed chemical composition and three-dimensional structure as well?  In Eyes in the Sky, science writer Andrew May takes us on a journey into space to answer these questions and more. Looking at the development of revolutionary instruments, such as Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope, May explores how such technology has helped us understand the evolution of the Universe.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56307687588213,"sku":"9781837731275","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781837731275_83f76c93-6abd-40d1-9c01-92e59197c63e.jpg?v=1786028100"},{"product_id":"9781851532070","title":"A Guide to the Identification of Deciduous Broad - Leaved Trees and Shrubs in Winter","description":"\u003cbr\u003eBinding: Paperback \/ softback","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56313085788533,"sku":"9781851532070","price":8.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781851532070_33645a33-1e80-4c09-9b88-19b51eb95341.jpg?v=1786029467"},{"product_id":"destination-mars","title":"Destination Mars","description":"\u003cp\u003eMars is back. Suddenly everyone - from Elon Musk to Ridley Scott to Donald Trump - is talking about going to the Red Planet.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the Apollo astronauts walked on the Moon in 1969, many people imagined Mars would be next. However NASA's Viking 1, which landed in 1976, was just a robot. The much-anticipated crewed mission failed to materialise, defeated by a combination of technological and political challenges. Four decades after Viking and almost half a century after Apollo technology has improved beyond recognition - as has politics. As private ventures like SpaceX seize centre stage from NASA, Mars has undergone a seismic shift - it's become the prime destination for future human expansion and colonisation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut what's it really like on Mars, and why should anyone want to go there? How do you get there and what are the risks? Astrophysicist and science writer Andrew May answers these questions and more, as he traces the history of our fascination with the Red Planet.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57487733981557,"sku":"9781785782251","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781785782251.jpg?v=1786354959"},{"product_id":"astrobiology","title":"Astrobiology","description":"Extraterrestrial life is a common theme inscience fiction, but is it a serious prospect in the real world? Astrobiologyis the emerging field of science that seeks to answer this question.The possibility of life elsewhere in the cosmosis one of the most profound subjects that human beings can ponder. AstrophysicistAndrew May gives an expert overview of our current state of knowledge, lookingat how life started on Earth, the tell-tale 'signatures' it produces, and howsuch signatures might be detected elsewhere in the Solar System or on the many 'exoplanets'now being discovered by the Kepler and TESS missions.Along the way the book addresses key questions such as the riddle of Fermi'sparadox ('Where is everybody?') and the crucial role of DNA and water - they'reessential to 'life as we know it', but is the same true of alien life? And the reallybig question: when we eventually find extraterrestrials, will they be friendlyor hostile?","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57487735554421,"sku":"9781785783425","price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781785783425.jpg?v=1786354961"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-andrew-may.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}