Invitation to look,
to ask and to learn—
"What ... how ... why ...?" especially "why"!
Do countless questions, asked and unasked, occur to you about our amazing universe? Then this book is for you!
No, it isn't a book of answers. Many articles in it will cause you to ask more questions, and more and more—just as a scientist does.
In the pages ahead, scientists will share with you some of the secrets they have discovered about the earth, the sun, the stars. Through their trained eyes, you can look at nature's marvels, from a leaf to the largest of living things. With their help, you can begin to appreciate the wonders of energy and its control, from the tiny transistor to the mighty Titan. Read the Table of Contents and look again at the cover picture for clues to the exciting adventures in print that await you.
Enjoy reading the articles at home or at school. You may wish to read them one after the other, as they are given in four sec-
tions. Or you may wish to skip about from one section to another. By all means, have fun trying out suggested experiments and exploring the books listed for extra reading.
TO GET THE MOST FROM EACH SELECTION, TRY THIS PLAN:
—"Preview" the article before reading it. The title, subtitles (if any) and pictures will give you a general idea of the subject. Skim the pages for key words and phrases. Ask yourself what you already know about the subject and what you want to find out.
—As you read, think along with the writer. "Store up" important facts and ideas worth remembering.
—Try to get from the article the meaning of each word that puzzles you. Later, check your guess by looking in the Glossary, page 138.
—After reading the article, think about it and talk it over with others. Perhaps the questions you ask will lead you to the library.
This book can make your life richer by stimulating you to ask "What... How ... Why?" Curiosity is a valuable habit. It may lead to a lifetime of patiently searching for right answers. Let the scientists in these pages help you learn to look closely, to read widely, to question continually, to experiment carefully— and to find out for yourself!