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30-Second Biology: The 50 most thought-provoking theories of life, each explained in half a minute
The 50 most thought-provoking theories of life, each explained in half
a minute.
30-Second Biology tackles the vital science of life, dissecting the 50 most thought-provoking theories of our ecosystem and ourselves. At a time when discoveries in DNA allow us to feel more connected than ever to the natural world, this is the fastest route to an understanding of the tree of life. Whether you're dipping into the gene pool, unlocking cells, or conversing on biodiversity, this is all the knowledge you need to bring life to the dinner-party debate.
An internationally bestselling series presents essential concepts in a mere 30 seconds, 300 words, and one image;
The 50 most important ideas and innovations in biology dissected and explained clearly without the clutter;
The fastest way to learn about cells, reproduction, animals, plants, evolution and ecosystems.
a minute.
30-Second Biology tackles the vital science of life, dissecting the 50 most thought-provoking theories of our ecosystem and ourselves. At a time when discoveries in DNA allow us to feel more connected than ever to the natural world, this is the fastest route to an understanding of the tree of life. Whether you're dipping into the gene pool, unlocking cells, or conversing on biodiversity, this is all the knowledge you need to bring life to the dinner-party debate.
An internationally bestselling series presents essential concepts in a mere 30 seconds, 300 words, and one image;
The 50 most important ideas and innovations in biology dissected and explained clearly without the clutter;
The fastest way to learn about cells, reproduction, animals, plants, evolution and ecosystems.
- GenresScienceNonfictionBiology
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 8, 2017
Toujours un succès avec cette collection, j'ai par contre trouvé ce volume un peu plus confu que les autres, au niveau de l'organisation des idées entre autre. Le sujet est tellement large que parfois on tente de faire des regroupements, qui ne sont malheureusement pas optima... mais aurait-il été possible d'en trouver un qui l'aurait été? Je n'en suis pas certain. Comme toujours, on apprends, la base est solide et bien vulgarisé.
March 26, 2025
A relatively short book of bite sized extracts explaining some key ideas within biology.
The book packed a lot of information into a relatively tight format. The old pre-modern theory of Vitalism (the idea that a special life-force is present animating bodies) was introduced and dismissed in a single sentence.
Similarly there were interesting factoids occurring throughout the book. For example, under ‘bacteria’ we heard that for every cell in a human body there are ten bacteria, mostly in the gut and on skin (8%).
Occasionally issues seemed to be potentially over-simplified. For example, Eugenics was dismissed as a form of Pseudoscience invented by Francis Galton (17%). But is that really accurate? We usually think of pseudoscience as containing elements of falsity, like vaccine denial or snake oil cures. What was wrong in Eugenics was not always falsity per se, but rather, it often involved issues of unethical treatment of human beings. Part of what made Eugenics so popular in the 1920s and 1930s is that it could cite evidence in its favour, and where it was misused, that misuse was often related to ethics of the end justifying the means. So, rather than dismissing Eugenics as pseudoscience, wouldn’t it make more sense to identify it as immoral science, and then ensure readers are clear that there are moral and immoral ways of doing science?
Similarly, the discussion of Stem Cells, seemed a little unclear about the ethical issues. On the one hand the text made it clear that destroying embryos can be viewed by some people as immoral killing of humans (or killing of potential humans). Then the text noted that ‘pluripotent stem cells can now be obtained from adult cells, potentially avoiding embryo use and reducing the ethical problem’ (39%). Yet, surely ‘avoiding embryo use’ would entirely eradicate the ethical problem (at least in so far as it has been raised in the text), not simply ‘reduce it?’ Or is there some other ethical dimension of this issue which the book had in mind? There seemed to be something missing in the way the book summarised the issue, so it was not entirely clear what was meant.
Overall, this was an informative, fast paced overview of some important areas in biology. Personally, I think the ethical dimensions of issues could have been presented in a clearer and more focused way, but as a factual summary the book will clearly be useful to students looking to review, and to adults looking to refresh their memories of former studies of biology.
The book packed a lot of information into a relatively tight format. The old pre-modern theory of Vitalism (the idea that a special life-force is present animating bodies) was introduced and dismissed in a single sentence.
Similarly there were interesting factoids occurring throughout the book. For example, under ‘bacteria’ we heard that for every cell in a human body there are ten bacteria, mostly in the gut and on skin (8%).
Occasionally issues seemed to be potentially over-simplified. For example, Eugenics was dismissed as a form of Pseudoscience invented by Francis Galton (17%). But is that really accurate? We usually think of pseudoscience as containing elements of falsity, like vaccine denial or snake oil cures. What was wrong in Eugenics was not always falsity per se, but rather, it often involved issues of unethical treatment of human beings. Part of what made Eugenics so popular in the 1920s and 1930s is that it could cite evidence in its favour, and where it was misused, that misuse was often related to ethics of the end justifying the means. So, rather than dismissing Eugenics as pseudoscience, wouldn’t it make more sense to identify it as immoral science, and then ensure readers are clear that there are moral and immoral ways of doing science?
Similarly, the discussion of Stem Cells, seemed a little unclear about the ethical issues. On the one hand the text made it clear that destroying embryos can be viewed by some people as immoral killing of humans (or killing of potential humans). Then the text noted that ‘pluripotent stem cells can now be obtained from adult cells, potentially avoiding embryo use and reducing the ethical problem’ (39%). Yet, surely ‘avoiding embryo use’ would entirely eradicate the ethical problem (at least in so far as it has been raised in the text), not simply ‘reduce it?’ Or is there some other ethical dimension of this issue which the book had in mind? There seemed to be something missing in the way the book summarised the issue, so it was not entirely clear what was meant.
Overall, this was an informative, fast paced overview of some important areas in biology. Personally, I think the ethical dimensions of issues could have been presented in a clearer and more focused way, but as a factual summary the book will clearly be useful to students looking to review, and to adults looking to refresh their memories of former studies of biology.
January 23, 2022
Provides concise, accessible synopses of the main concepts. Convenient to pick up every once in a while to learn about the next topic in a matter of minutes. Might seem a little basic for people who are knowledgeable in the area, but there are still new and interesting facts in here!
June 27, 2023
solid + engaging but prob wouldn’t read it again
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews