Chronology of Science

Presents a chronology of the history of science and notable scientists.

Knowledge of the sequence of scientific discoveries can be important for fostering a broad understanding of science. Written by a science writer, Chronology of Science provides information on scientific and technological milestones that have shaped scientific history. The 2,000 chronologically arranged entries are aimed at middle- and high-school students (but leaning more toward the high-school level) and offer the reader a concise description of the discovery, the problem it addressed, and the impact it had on the field. The book is organized into sections by time periods, such as antiquity, the Renaissance, and the information age. Each section includes an introductory and closing essay, a time line for scientific discoveries, and a few black-and-white photographs, charts, and illustrations. Supplemental essays are included on topics such as "Astronomy in the Renaissance," "Theories of Geological Change," and "Science of DNA."

The entries, which range in length from 50 to 150 words, have identifiers that categorize them into the core areas of biology, chemistry, earth science, marine science, mathematics, physics, space and astronomy, and weather and climate. Since most users will not know the exact date of an event, the index is of particular importance. Unfortunately, the 20-page index could use improvement; some entries have 30 or more undifferentiated page references. Appended material includes a section on units and measures, the periodic table of the elements, an eight-page glossary, a listing of print books and articles, and a 5-page selection of Internet resources.

Although the information presented in this volume is available elsewhere, the material is well organized and written at a level accessible to a student. In addition, the introductory and closing essays in each section could be of value to students in need of a broader perspective on the history of science. Chronology of Science is worthy of consideration for middle-school and high-school libraries as well as public libraries and undergraduate teacher-education libraries. Nancy Cannon
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