Where can you find the best science reporting around? Discover the future of science today with Scientific American , one of the world's top science periodicals.

Your annual subscription to SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN , the exciting magazine about the latest in science and technology, includes12 monthly issues with in-depth Special Reports.

Call 1-800-333-1199, or visit www.sciam.com, or mail to SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, 415 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

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SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN Explorations offers a wonderful opportunity for children to broaden their science education through independent and family activities. Your annual subscription to SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN Explorations , the exciting and inspiring family magazine, includes 4 quarterly issues.

Call 1-800-285-5264, or visit www.explorations.org, or mail to SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, 415 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

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In the first book based on Scientific American 's "Working Knowledge" column, Scientific American reveals exactly how wonders from Velcro to the space shuttle to the artificial heart really work. Did you know that every time you use a credit card, the clerk is bouncing a signal off a satellite to okay your purchase? Have you ever wondered what keeps a jumbo jet in the air? Do you know where all those stairs on the escalator go when they get to the top? We tell you--and show you how--in Scientific American: How Things Work Today. Detailed three-dimensional illustrations and up-to-the-minute photographs, each annotated in language even a grown-up can understand, reveal the hidden workings of subways, sewers, steroids, the human genome, electron microscopes, spy satellites, and many other systems and devices that make our world what it is, and us who we are. Divided into easily recognizable categories--the home, the office, transportation, medical technology, communication, and more-this book reveals that there may not be a perfectly simple explanation for everything, but there is a perfectly understandable one.

Finally, the entire body of our scientific knowledge of the universe is available in one definitive volume.

Under the direction of renowned astronomer, David H. Levy, this spectacular book assembles the best minds in science to give clear and accessible explanations to the nature of the cosmos. Newly commissioned essays by working scientists at the top of their fields and classic writings by such luminaries as Albert Einstein, Francis Crick, and Carl Sagan take us to the frontiers of space and time-from subatomic particles to the edge of the universe.

Both thoughtful and provocative, this book asks-and answers-the big questions, such as:

· How did our solar system evolve?
· What forces lie at the center of the atom?
· What is the size of the universe?
· What is dark matter?
· What is the possibility of extraterrestrial life?
· What is the importance of superstrings?
· How do galaxies form?

Dazzling full-color and black-and-white photographs aid in articulating the latest theories about the size, age, nature, and expansion of the universe, and make this book a delight to behold. Essays are grouped by topic, from the largest phenomena, such as the formation of the universe, down to the smallest detail, such as the makeup of an atom. In addition, each section contains an illuminating introduction by David H. Levy that binds the essays together and creates the whole picture. The Scientific American Book of the Cosmos is a valuable addition to the bookshelf of both professional astronomers and science enthusiasts alike.

Discover how dinosaurs evolved, how they looked, where they lived, how they behaved, and why they died. Explore the current state of knowledge about the Monsters of the Mesozoic, complete in one volume.

Acclaimed dinosaur paleontologist and paleo-artist Gregory S. Paul conducts this definitive tour through the 140-million-year existence of the most exotic and interesting group of animals ever to walk the Earth, assisted by the world's leading dinosaur experts.

Here you'll find fascinating stories about the first discoveries of dinosaur fossils, the beginnings of dinosaur paleontology, how the field has changed with modern technology, the most sensational discoveries, and the latest theories. You'll also explore the answers to such questions as:

· Did dinosaurs have feathers?
· Did dinosaurs fly?
· Were dinosaurs sluggish, cold-blooded reptilians, or something radically different?
· What are the different dinosaur families, how were they named, and how are they related?
· What was the world like when dinosaurs lived, and how did it change during their reign?
· Are the birds of today the living descendents of predatory dinosaurs?
· How and why did the major dinosaur families become extinct?

Illustrated with spectacular full-color illustrations of dinosaurs in action, plus black-and-white art and graphics, The Scientific American Book of Dinosaurs features the latest information from the field of dinosaur paleontology, presented in a fascinating and accessible format.

You'll never think about dinosaurs the same way again!

There's a little bit of outer space everywhere on Earth, from the paint on the Golden Gate Bridge (originally developed by NASA to withstand high temperatures on the space shuttle launch pad) to today's high-tech sneakers (which use technology first developed for space suits).

These items, plus keyboards used by disabled workers, Dustbuster vacuums, CAT scans, and home water filters, are only some of the world's most familiar consumer products that trace their origins to NASA's space program. This fascinating book, fully illustrated with color photographs and diagrams, describes over 60 inventions, and outlines how the space technology was first developed and is used today here on Earth.

A sampling of inventions:

· Silicon ribbing used on aircraft gives swimsuits a competitive advantage.
· Anti-fog spray for astronaut faceplates is used for car windows.
· Space Shuttle insulation keeps hands warm in thermal gloves.
· Infrared sensors used in space, help map ancient civilizations on Earth.
· Astronaut's pressure suit design is used for deep-sea diving suits.
· Satellites that monitor weather from space are put to use for search-and-rescue on Earth.

Explore the wonders of science with the very best of guides! This is an excellent book for both children and adults to have fun with science.

Have you ever wished that you could observe underwater creatures undetected? Or watch the very moment a caterpillar becomes a butterfly? Or create your own rain? Well, with Scientific American Great Science Fair Projects , you can! Learn how to build an underwater periscope, photograph a lunar eclipse, grow hydroponic plants, and much, much more! From creating your own non-newtonian fluids (slime, putty, and goop!) to teaching a sow bug how to run through a maze, you'll be astounded at the number of incredible things you can do with Scientific American Great Science Fair Projects . Based on the long-standing and well-respected "Amateur Scientist" column from Scientific American , each experiment can be done with ordinary materials found around the house or that are easily available at low cost. Whether you're looking for a great idea for your next science fair project, want to astonish your friends and family with your discoveries, or are just intrigued by the world around you, you'll find endless hours of scientific fun in this one-of-a-kind project book!

Scientific American's Amateur Astronomer

From the longest running column in Scientific American 's history comes this collection of fascinating projects for amateur astronomers. For over seventy years, "The Amateur Scientist" column in Scientific American has helped people explore their world and make original discoveries. This collection of both classic and recent articles presents projects for amateur astronomers at all levels. Hands-on astronomy fans will find how to build inexpensive astronomical instruments using ordinary shop-tools. From making a telescope to predicting satellite orbits to detecting the chemical composition of faraway stars, this book has something for everyone interested in practical astronomy. Includes 30 classic astronomy experiments, glossary, and supplier list.

The Internet revolution has allowed scientific knowledge to come to the door of every web-connected household. The Scientific American Guide to Science on the Internet lets readers conquer information overload by pre-surfing thousands of sites to find the most useful, most consistently accurate sources of information on hundreds of scientific subjects. Whether it's DNA or star maps, human anatomy or paleontology, this book takes readers right to the best sites, complete with a wealth of screen shots to help you decide if it's what you need.