A General Science Refresher

Discussion in 'Science and Technology' started by Amaris, Jan 6, 2011.

  1. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2002
    Location:
    United States
    After more than 12 years being outside of a science class, and realizing my information may be sorely out of date or erroneous over time, I'm looking for a general science refresher, something that lays everything out to be easily read and assimilated, but is still on an adult level. I'd prefer book format, but if you know of a website that does this, it would be greatly appreciated!
     
  2. RoJoHen

    RoJoHen Awesome Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2000
    Location:
    QC, IL, USA
    I think you should just ask us questions and see what answers we come up with!
     
  3. kes7

    kes7 Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2008
    Location:
    Sector 001
    Honestly, surf around Amazon.com on various topics. You'll find what you're looking for.
     
  4. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2002
    Location:
    United States
    That might not end well. :lol:

    Sure, I could search on Amazon or Google, but what I want are the suggestions of people I'm more familiar with. TBBS is filled with scientists, teachers, professors, and researchers of all types, and I'd like to draw on that experience and knowledge.
     
  5. kes7

    kes7 Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2008
    Location:
    Sector 001
    This post is very contradictory.

    That said, what are you interested in? Science is HUGE. Computers? Communication? Astronomy? Quantum Physics? Genetics? Nanotech? There are so many different fields I'm not sure you're going to find a good and handy resource for all of them.
     
  6. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2002
    Location:
    United States
    In what way?

    This is why I said General Science. We're talking something that touches on a variety of subjects. Astronomy, Biology, Geology, Climatology, etc. It doesn't have to dive too deep into each subject, but a good grasp on each would be optimal.
     
  7. RoJoHen

    RoJoHen Awesome Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2000
    Location:
    QC, IL, USA
    So you basically want an elementary school Science book...for grown-ups...
     
  8. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2002
    Location:
    United States
    No. I want a general science refresher for adults, with a layman's reading.
     
  9. RoJoHen

    RoJoHen Awesome Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2000
    Location:
    QC, IL, USA
    I don't understand the difference.
     
  10. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2002
    Location:
    United States
    I don't want something on the elementary school level, I want something that is more informative. It just doesn't have to be comprehensive, as it needs to cover the general science spectrum. Closer to, say, the college level.
     
  11. RoJoHen

    RoJoHen Awesome Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2000
    Location:
    QC, IL, USA
    Yep.
     
  12. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2002
    Location:
    United States
    On the college level. I mean, it doesn't need to talk down to me like an elementary school science book. If that's what you mean, then yes.
     
  13. sojourner

    sojourner Admiral In Memoriam

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2008
    Location:
    Just around the bend.
    Maybe there is a "for dummies" or "idiots guide" that will work?
     
  14. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2002
    Location:
    United States
    I was thinking about that, but I don't know how reliable they are when it comes to science. Plus, I can't seem to find a general version, although they have several individual fields of study.

    Edited to add: I did find an "Idiot's Guide to the Science of Everything". While it seems okay, I'm more interested in another book I saw while I was searching B&N by an author named Bill Bryson, entitled, "A Short History of Nearly Everything".
     
  15. Asbo Zaprudder

    Asbo Zaprudder Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2004
    Location:
    Rishi's Sad Madhouse
  16. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2002
    Location:
    United States
    That looks good. It's pricey for me right now, but something I can bookmark and check out later. I don't really discount other media, but a reason I like books is that I can put them in a backpack and carry them with me. You can sort of do this with DVD and Blu-ray, and that does look like something I would enjoy. I guess it's just nice to have that book in your hands. You know what I mean? Again, though, thank you Great Mambo Chicken, that does look interesting, and I've bookmarked it. :D
     
  17. Jadzia

    Jadzia on holiday Premium Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2008
    Location:
    England
    What about an Encyclopedia of Science?

    It would cover most areas, and there will be some with an adult reading level.


    Here's an internet version:

    http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/ETEmain.html

    It looks quite comprehensive. The three articles I've just clicked though only introduce the basics of the topics, but do read at an adult level. :)
     
  18. Asbo Zaprudder

    Asbo Zaprudder Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2004
    Location:
    Rishi's Sad Madhouse
    Yeah, $70 is too expensive for the Blu-ray -- although another seller lists it for $30. It doesn't look like the DVD is available in the US. There's also The Ascent of Man by Jacob Bronowski, but it's about 36-years old now and so doesn't include a lot of recent discoveries. I would suggest picking a few areas of interest, such as Genetics, Cosmology, High Energy Physics, or Quantum Theory, and finding popular introductory books in these fields. Science nowadays is probably too vast for a generalist tome to cover in anything but the sketchiest of detail.
     
  19. Amaris

    Amaris Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2002
    Location:
    United States
    Oh, that is awesome! Thanks Jadzia! I can use this, and it's the perfect price: free. :D

    You're right on that one. I started browsing around and suddenly realized that science has apparently made massive leaps since my high school days! It's just this past decade+ has been so busy, I failed to notice the changes in how it's presented.
     
  20. cheeseyfatmonkey

    cheeseyfatmonkey Commander Red Shirt

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2004
    Location:
    Greater London