Cold Light: Creatures, Discoveries, and Inventions That Glow [Hardcover]

Anita Sitarski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Luminescence sheds light on the adventure of science. Scientists and many others have explored the science and wonder of cold light--the chemistry of animals and things that make light but not heat. A 17th-century alchemist tried to turn a stone into gold. He failed, but the stone glowed in the dark instead. The alchemist began to mold the first luminescent objects.

A light also came on one night for the famous chemist Robert Boyle. After he saw a raw chicken glowing in his kitchen, he began his own research into luminescence.

These scientists and many others have explored the science and wonder of cold light--the chemistry of animals and things that make light but not heat. With light humor, Anita Sitarski brings the thrill of discovery to life as she recounts the stories of the alchemist, Boyle, the adventurers who first saw nightmarish creatures glowing in the depths of the sea, and others. Using easy-to-grasp applications of biochemistry, genetics, and electronics, today's scientists create amazing inventions and applications, from mice that glow to the burgeoning technology of LEDs. Awe-inspiring, full-color photographs accompany the compelling, fact-filled text in these scientific explorations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A deeper look at a topic that has fascinated every firefly-hunting youngster." -- School Library Journal, October 1, 2007

"The book is fun to read: The color photographs are fascinating, and it's full of quirky facts." -- American Scientist Online, November-December 2007

"This should be a first purchase for school and public libraries supporting science-fair participants." --Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2007

How do some animals and objects make light but not heat? In this handsome overview, first-time author Sitarski offers lucid explanations, aimed straight at elementary- and middle-school readers' interests. Early chapters highlight important discoveries in phosphorescence, including that of chemist Robert Boyle, who, in 1667, found a glowing chicken carcass in his kitchen and began experiments with the light-emitting bacteria-coated meat. Sitarski also discusses later experiments with glowing fungi, Jamaican fire beetles, jellyfish, and fireflies, explaining how such naturally occurring bioluminescent sources have informed current cold-light research into areas that include man-made inventions such as LEDs. Sitarski writes clearly and enthusiastically, and the book's format adds appeal, with uncluttered pages and abundant, eye-catching color images, featuring many sharp photos of glowing deep-sea life. The suggested reading list groups books as "easy" and "more challenging," and the one-page resource guide notes supply sources for science-fair projects on photoluminescence. Covering a topic of inherent interest to students, this accessible science title will inspire both personal reading and research. --Booklist

I have rarely read a science book that explains complex concepts so thoroughly and that is such a pleasure to read as this one. The introduction discusses the familiar light sticks and how they work. This introduces the reader to what cold light is and where they may have seen it. Interesting work by scientists, and their discoveries concerning cold light, is explained. The implications of cold light in our life and future are many, including medical research and the lighting of our homes. New vocabulary words are thoroughly explained within the text, and the meaning of unfamiliar words is repeated where necessary. Photographs provide details and highlighted blocks of text help clarify ideas. The book concludes with a page of resources, including books at this level, easy reading books, more challenging books, Web sites, and places to purchase materials for related experiments. When reading this book I felt that the author was speaking to me, telling me a story that she found interesting and wanted me to understand. It was a pleasure to read! --Library Media Connection

About the Author

Anna Sitarski has combined her loves of teaching and science in a career spanning more than twenty years. She has taught in the classroom and online and as education director of a historic house. This is her first book.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Pr (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590784685
• ISBN-13: 978-1590784686
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,192,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a unique book!, September 11, 2007

By 

D. Ulrich - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cold Light: Creatures, Discoveries, and Inventions That Glow (Hardcover)

Cold Light is a great book for kids but most adults would enjoy it, too. It's filled with scientific information that can be complex and confusing but is presented in a way that is easy for kids to read and understand. There are outstanding pictures throughout the book which help the reader (kids and adults) to better understand the different topics. Cold Light is a book about both the scientists and the science relating to the phenomenon that some objects and animals make light without making any heat, like the firefly. Fascinating. But it's more than that because it talks about the scientists and how they acted on their initial curiosities as a result of observing something in nature.

There should be one in every middle school/junior high school science classroom AND the library. The extensive bibliography and a glossary make this an even better book.

While there are pronunciation guides for the difficult scientific words, I wish the publisher had included the pronunciation guide for the words found in the glossary so the reader wouldn't have to go back into the book to remember how to pronounce the more complex scientific words.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a gem!, September 24, 2007

By 

Lois A. Maurer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cold Light: Creatures, Discoveries, and Inventions That Glow (Hardcover)

Having worked in a middle school for over seventeen years, I was particularly inspired to write a review for this fascinating book. The author captures the attention of several age levels, including adults, in the book, called Cold Light: Creatures, Discoveries, and Inventions That Glow. It is obvious the author understands kids and what they like. It is evident that she loves the subject of science and has a desire to share what she knows in a meaningful, and sometimes humorous, way for people of all ages. I tried putting the book down to no avail! This book is filled with interesting facts about cold light. From the creation of amazing toys and inventions to observations in nature, the author has captured it all! I hope all schools will take advantage of the opportunity to include this very educational, fun book in their classrooms and libraries. It's a gem!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative, but for an older audience than I expected, October 8, 2008

By 

Michele (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cold Light: Creatures, Discoveries, and Inventions That Glow (Hardcover)

As its title states, this book is about natural and manmade things that glow. Cold light is a type of light that gives off very little, if any, heat. The book goes through a history of how creatures that emit cold light, such as jellyfish and fireflies, were discovered and tested. It then moves into a discussion of how scientists have used this information to create fun inventions like glow sticks and useful inventions like LED bulbs. Scientists hope to create more electronics such as LEDs that will save energy in the future. This was a very unique and informative book with many engaging pictures. My only concern is that some of the vocabulary would be difficult for middle-school readers. I expected it to be much simpler to follow than it actually was.