Mike Bruton Knihy

The discovery of the living coelacanth - one of the greatest biological finds of the twentieth century - will forever be linked with the name of JLB Smith. An intense, irascible, eccentric man, JLB (as he was widely known) and his wife Margaret were remarkable South African scientists whose extraordinary contributions changed the course of the biological sciences. This, the first biography of JLB and Margaret Smith, traces their formative years and serendipitous meeting, leading up to the discovery of the coelacanth, and the tumultuous years that followed. Illustrated with images of their fascinating lives, as well as a 16-page color section, this lively account is essential reading for anyone interested in the excitement of science and its relevance to our everyday lives. · Traces their formative years and serendipitous meeting, leading up to the discovery of the coelacanth, and the tumultuous years that followed. · Details their punitive work ethic, eccentric and rugged lifestyle, and their astonishingly productive lives · A story awash with adventure, travel, discovery, risk-taking, near-death experiences - and their extraordinary contribution to science.

Designed for early education in South Africa, this reading program supports literacy development during the crucial first seven years of schooling. It offers a structured approach to reading, tailored to the needs of young learners, fostering essential skills and a love for reading through engaging materials and activities.

Designed for early education in South Africa, this reading program supports literacy development during the crucial first seven years of schooling. It offers a structured approach to reading, incorporating engaging materials and resources tailored to young learners. The program emphasizes foundational skills, fostering a love for reading through diverse stories and interactive activities that cater to various learning styles.

Designed specifically for the early years of education in South Africa, this reading program aims to enhance literacy skills among young learners. It provides structured reading materials that align with the curriculum, fostering a love for reading and comprehension through engaging stories and activities. By focusing on the first seven years of schooling, it supports educators in nurturing foundational reading abilities essential for academic success.

Did you know that the machineused to drill tunnels for the first underground railway in England was invented by a South African, or that the first computers in South Africa were women calculators working at the Royal Observatory in Cape Town? Everyone knows that the Kreepy Krawly, Pratley's Putty, Dolos, and CATscanner were invented in South Africa, but what about the Sheffel Bogie, Oil of Olay, Q20, Policansky fishing reels, Lodox low-dose X-ray machine, and Waste Shark? This authoritative volume is crammed with information on the awesome variety of new products and services that South Africans, at home and abroad, have invented from precolonial times to the present. Written in a highly accessible style and richly illustrated, the book spotlights Wadley's Loop, Louis Liebenberg's Cybertracker, the unique Africanis dog, the first computerized ticketing system in the world, the first ever digital laser, and more. Historic photographs, fascinating anecdotes, and illuminating case studies light up the text and make it read like a detective novel.

JLB Smith's famous Old Fourlegs (on the discovery of the first and second coelacanths) was a best-selling South African natural history classic that was translated into 16 languages and published in many editions. Mike Bruton's book offers the original publication, but now with extensive annotations in both margins, modelled on Martin Gardener's The Annotated Alice. The new book features insights and discussion about the personalitites behind the original discovery, and the era in which they operated, along with exciting finds and advances made in the field since the first book was published. With a new foreword, detailed introduction and conclusion, it brings the coelacanth story right up to date.

A handy, pocket-sized guide to freshwater fishes of the Okavango Delta and Chobe River. The book offers background information on the delta system, its origins and ecology as well as on traditional fishing methods in this region. Each of the 96 species entries describes the fish, giving its key ID points, and its habits, and is accompanied by a color illustration. The book concludes with information on fish habitats, feeding and breeding info, survival tactics and hints for anglers.

This colourful illustrated children's book is aimed at ages 9-14. It recounts the discovery of the first coelacanth in modern times - a fish that had been thought to be extinct for many millions of years, and was known only from its fossil record. In 1939, a specimen was hauled ashore in a fishing net off the South African coast near East London, and its identification as a coelacanth made world news. Chemistry professor JLB Smith identifed the fish and dedicated the rest of his life to searching for live specimens and researching the science surrounding this evolutionary phenomenon. This book, by ichthyologist Mike Bruton, uncovers: the mystery of the coelacanth and the thrilling story of its discovery, its strange appearance and lifestyle, what makes it so special, how it evolved - and what this has to do with human evolution, how and what it eats, and who eats it. These and many other details provide insight into this amazing fish and its marine companions