Introduction 1
Chapter 1 Universe 2
The Big Bang 4
Galaxies 6
The Milky Way 8
Stars 10
Nebulae 12
Constellations 14
Watching Space from Space 16
Black Holes 18
Exoplanets 20
Our Solar System 22
The Sun 24
Planetary Exploration 26
Rocky Planets 28
Gas Giants 30
Moons 32
Asteroids 34
Kuiper Belt 36
Rockets 38
Artificial Satellites 40
Crewed Spacecraft 42
Space Probes 44
End of the Universe 46
Ask the Experts! 48
The Quiz 49
Chapter 2 Earth 50
Earth is Born 52
Earth in Space 54
Measuring Earth 56
Inside Earth 58
The Earth 60
Plate Tectonics 62
Volcanoes 64
Earthquakes & Tsunamis 66
Mountains 68
Rocks & Minerals 70
Giant Crystals! 72
Earth's Riches 74
Fossils 76
Finding Dinosaurs 78
Fossil Fuels 80
Water World 82
Earth's Ice 84
The Atmosphere 86
Weather 88
Mega-storms 90
Climate 92
Natural Climate Change 94
Ask the Experts! 96
The Quiz 97
Chapter 3 Matter 98
The Atom 100
Elements 102
Radioactivity 104
Compounds 106
Combustion 108
Solids, Liquids & Gases 110
Plasma 112
Metals 114
Nonmetals 116
Plastics 118
Chemistry of Life 120
Energy 122
Sound 124
Electricity 126
Light 128
Speed Demons 130
Forces 132
Gravity 134
Pressure 136
Lighter than Air 138
Stretching & Squashing 140
Simple Machines 142
Ask the Experts! 144
The Quiz 145
Chapter 4 Life 146
The Origin of Life 148
Evolution in Action 150
Classifying Life 152
The Micro World 154
Plants 156
Forests of Fungi 158
Animals 160
Ecology 162
The Rain Forest 164
The Taiga & Temperate Forests 166
Grasslands 168
Mount Everest 170
Deserts 172
Life in Freshwater 174
The Seashore 176
Coral Reef Crisis 178
The Open Ocean 180
The Deep Sea 182
Ends of the Earth 184
Shrinking Ice 186
Urban Wildlife 188
Harnessing Nature 190
Ask the Experts! 192
The Quiz 193
Chapter 5 Humans 194
Becoming Human 196
Human Body 198
DNA & Genetics 200
The Brain 202
Emotions 204
The Senses 206
Food & Cooking 208
Dress & Decoration 210
Religious Belief 212
Conflict & War 214
Language & Storytelling 216
Reading & Writing 218
Creating Art 220
Performing Arts 222
Calendars 224
Money 226
Crime & Law 228
Education 230
Work 232
Games & Sports 234
Festivals 236
Death Rituals 238
Ask the Experts! 240
The Quiz 241
Chapter 6 Ancient & Medieval Times 242
The First Australians 244
The Fertile Crescent 246
Ancient Mesopotamia 248
Stonehenge 250
The First Chinese Dynasties 252
Ancient Egypt 254
Ancient Gods 256
Andean Civilizations 258
Settling the Pacific 260
The Minoans, Mycenaeans & Phoenicians 262
The Olmecs & the Maya 264
The Persian Empire 266
Ancient Greece 268
Alexander the Great 270
The Mauryan Empire 272
The Terra-cotta Army 274
Ancient Rome 276
The Byzantine World 278
Ancient African Kingdoms 280
Tang China 282
The Golden Age of Islam 284
Medieval Europe 286
Ask the Experts! 288
The Quiz 289
Chapter 7 Modern Times 290
African Empires 292
The Renaissance 294
Aztecs & Incas 296
Age of Sea Voyages 298
The Mughal Empire 300
Japan's Great Peace 302
New Empires 304
British & French Colonies in North America 306
Slavery in the Americas 308
Age of Revolutions 310
Medical Milestones 312
The Industrial Revolution 314
World War I 316
Votes for Women 318
The Rise of Communism 320
Boom & Bust 322
World War II 324
The Cold War 326
Decolonization 328
Civil Rights 330
New Tensions, New Hopes 332
World Political Map 334
Ask the Experts! 336
The Quiz 337
Chapter 8 Today & Tomorrow 338
One World 340
Anything, Anywhere 342
Inequality 344
Feeding the World 346
Powering the Planet 348
Modern Warfare 350
The Mega-rich 352
Cities 354
The Internet 356
The Media 358
Artificial Materials 360
Med Tech 362
Smart Tech & AIi 364
Environmental Challenges 366
Extinction Event 368
Endangered 370
The Effects of Climate Change 372
Stopping Climate Change 374
Nuclear Power 376
Renewable Energy 378
Cities of Tomorrow 380
Future Humans 382
Ask the Experts! 384
The Quiz 385
Source Notes 386
Glossary 394
Index 402
Picture Credits 414