This lavishly illustrated encyclopedia makes an ideal home reference, accessible to high school and college students as well as adults with a general interest in science. It is the perfect companion for avid readers of newspaper science pages. Here is indeed a wealth of information. The encyclopedia boasts 6,500 alphabetically arranged entries, each written by an expert in the field, covering virtually every aspect of science and technology, from the structure of atoms to the functioning of the cell. Readers will find briefinformative biographies of scientists and inventors as well as clear explanations of terms from all areas of science--including astronomy, chemistry, biology, botany, engineering, physics, and medicine, to name a few. In addition, dozens of major topics--such as the Solar System, the Computer, orthe Human Body--receive expanded, one- or two-page spreads for more in-depth coverage. The volume also has 700 special-feature boxes that explain key topics, inventions, and processes, ranging from air conditioners and aerosol cans to bicycles and binary stars. There is a 40-page time-line detailingsignificant moments in the history of science and technology, plus a ten-page ready reference section that covers everything from SI units and the elements to constellations and Nobel Prize winners. And the entire volume boasts marvelous illustrations--over a thousand color diagrams, tables, andphotographs--that do not merely decorate the page, but offer important visual information about the topics under discussion, with thoughtful captions that complement the text. Beautifully designed, highly informative, and easy to use, The Encyclopedia of Science and Technology is an essential addition to all home libraries.