Discover Bionics (Searchlight Books ™ ― What's Cool about Science?)

Perhaps you’ve seen the “Six Million Dollar Man” and think you know all about bionics, the “science of combining machines with living things.” Steve Austin had all kinds of bionic parts, a rather sci-fi idea at the time the movie was filmed. Present-day science has made bionics a reality for some people. There are all kinds of bionic devices that are real life-savers for some people. For example, “artificial hearts and kidneys can keep patients alive.” Historically, bionic body parts are nothing new. In fact, “archaeologists found a wooden toe on an Egyptian mummy.” Amazing, but true!Years ago when someone received a prosthetic lime they were heavy and “difficult to use.” Advances have made them much “smaller and smarter.” There are a wide variety of bionic devices in use as well as futuristic ones to look forward to. These “devices help fix or replace damaged body parts.” For example, Jesse Sullivan, a man who lost both arms in an accident, received bionic arms when his were amputated. Jesse is fully capable of doing many things he did before with his “thought-controlled” bionic arms.Many returning servicemen have suffered the loss of limbs. Research has advanced so far that there are even “thought-controlled legs.” Zac Vawter has benefited from the new technology and even climbed the “stairs to the 103rd story of Willis Tower in Chicago!” In this book you’ll get a glimpse at thought-controlled limbs, but also at some other astounding bionics. You’ll learn about cochlear implants, bionic eye implants, artificial hearts, bionic kidneys, and you’ll learn many more interesting facts about the world of bionics.This is a fabulously fun look at the here and now world of bionics young readers will love. There once was a time when bionics was a total sci-fi invention, but in this book students will get a chance to read about “real” bionics. The layout pops with pictures of bionic devices, including that mummy’s toe, as well as people who are using them. There are some full-page sidebars that give an overview of fascinating bionic technology. For example one discusses artificial blood that researchers at Sheffield University have invented. In the back of the book is an index, a glossary, and additional recommended book and website resources to explore. There are free downloadable, complementary resources on the publisher’s website.ScienceGrades 3 to 5SEARCHLIGHT BOOKSWHAT’S COOL ABOUT SCIENCE? Discover Bionics Discover Cryobiology Discover Cutting-Edge Medicine Discover Drones Discover Forensic Science Discover Nanotechnology Discover Robotics Discover Space Exploration This book courtesy of the publisher.