Why are most plants green? Why doesn t stomach acid dissolve the stomach itself? Why are there more tornados in the Midwest than on the coast? This volume answers these questions and over 200 more, shedding light on the science behind them. As informative as it is entertaining, it addresses every major branch of science, including physics, chemistry, biology, geology, meteorology, astronomy, and cosmology. It highlights some of the big ideas that helped shape science as we know it, and discusses the future of science with regards to nanotechnology, genetic modification, molecular medicine, and string theory. Complete Idiot s Guides " have a proven track record of simplifying science with great success, as with volumes on physics and chemistry Entertaining scientific overviews of this kind also successful, including such titles as "The Pocket Idiot s Guide to Not-So-Useless Facts" and "The Complete Idiot s Guide to Understanding Einstein"