Dr Karl's Short Back & Science

by Karl Kruszelnicki

Lean back and settle in for cutting-edge scientific snippets from the trend-setting Dr Karl Kruszelnicki.

In Short Back & Science , Dr Karl combs through some of the greatest scientific conundrums of our age, such as what is killing half the bacteria on Earth every two days and why don't mole rats get cancer? Why would anyone pay $40 million for a cup of tea, and how did a toilet seat help to end the First World War?

Are bananas really slippery, radioactive and loaded with potassium? What do clouds weigh? And why are there scientists running around naked in the Antarctic?

Brushing aside any hype about coconuts and antioxidants, there is no one better to trim down to the facts than Australia's most trusted scientist, Dr Karl.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

384 pages, Paperback

Published July 26, 2016

About the author

Known popularly as Dr Karl.

Karl has degrees in Physics and Maths, Biomedical Engineering, Medicine and Surgery and has worked as a physicist, tutor, film-maker, car mechanic, labourer, and as a medical doctor at the Kids' Hospital in Sydney.

In 1995 he took up the position of the Julius Sumner Miller Fellow at Sydney University, spreading the good word about science and its benefits.

His enthusiasm for science is totally infectious and no one is better able to convey the excitement and wonder of it all than Dr Karl Kruszelnicki is.

Dr Karl's Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) site:
http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/

http://www.abc.net.au/profiles/conten...

Reviews

[Irene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think I was the target audience for this book.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Dr Karl, very entertaining & informative as usual. Hi Kenz

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I finally finished this book ... I love science so I don't know why it took me so long to get here but I did and now I am equip with some fabulous new fun facts to whip out

[Jake Crozier · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5)

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars

Like the other two of Kruszelnicki's works that I have read, Dr Karl's Short Back & Science is filled with puns, cliches, jokes, and interesting information regarding science, usually science relating to questions that most people wouldn't think to ask, or science related to popular culture. (And, yes, I'm referring to the chapter dedicated to February 2015's #TheDress with "the science related to popular culture".)

There isn't really anything particularly wrong with this novel; it is enjoyable and fulfills its purpose.

I do plan on continuing to read more of Kruszelnicki's books in the future.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Karl makes science fun, straightforward and very very interesting. This book is no different - taking such topics as radiation, antioxcidents, banana skins and phages.

Great book - well written and good illustrations.

Well worth the read - should have read it before I bought the Coconut oil!!!!

[Nancy Valentino]

Very amusing and full of cool science facts.