Edited by acclaimed science writer and physicist James Trefil, the Encyclopedia's 1000 entries combine in-depth coverage with a vivid graphic format to bring every facet of science, technology, and medicine into stunning focus. From absolute zero to the Mesozoic era to semiconductors to the twin paradox, Trefil and his co-authors have an uncanny ability to convey how the universe works and to show readers how to apply that knowledge to everyday problems.

Prolific science writer Trefil (physics, George Mason Univ.) is a committed advocate for scientific literacy, as evidenced by works he has coedited (e.g., Dictionary of Cultural Literacy) as well as this one-volume encyclopedia. Here he defines key concepts in nearly 1000 entries, arranged alphabetically and color-coded to indicate whether the topic is related to life science, physical science, or technology. Accessible to the general reader, the articles range widely from AIDS and artificial intelligence to welding and the Zeeman effect. The excellent cross references direct the reader to related articles that cover either more fundamental or more advanced information. Color is used to striking effect not only in the 750 high-quality illustrations but also in headings, highlighted definitions, and sidebars. Even the index mirrors the color scheme of the headings. Many articles have brief citations to further reading tucked in the margins. Although it does not have as many entries as The International Encyclopedia of Science and Technology (LJ 4/1/99), this work contains longer articles; and while the larger McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia of Science & Technology (LJ 8/89) provides more depth, it is geared more toward the academic user. With Trefil's focus on scientific literacy, this resource complements the two mentioned above by relating concepts to today's problems. A true pleasure to browse and to read; highly recommended for all libraries. Teresa Berry, Univ. of Tennessee Libs., Knoxville Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.