The storyand the scienceof nature's greatest engine. Whether we blink an eye, lift a finger, throw a spear or a ball, walk, run, or merely breathe, we are using muscle. Although muscles differ little in appearance and performance across the animal kingdom, they accomplish tasks as diverse as making flies fly, rattlesnakes rattle, and squid shoot their tentacles. Our everyday activities turn on the performance of nature's main engine: we may breathe harder going uphill, but we put more strain on our muscles walking downhill. Those of us who are right-handed can tighten screws and jar lids more forcibly than we can loosen them. Here we're treated to the story of how form and performance make these things happenhow nature does her work. Steven Vogel is a leader in the great new field of bioengineering, which is rapidly explaining the beauty and efficiency of nature. His talents as both scientist and writer shine in this fascinating narrative of biological ingenuity. 100 b/w line drawings.
- ISBN10 0393021262
- ISBN13 9780393021264
- Publish Date 17 March 2002
- Publish Status Inactive
- Out of Print 14 July 2005
- Publish Country US
- Imprint WW Norton & Co
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 384
- Language English