Furry Logic

October 3, 2016
Bridging physics and biology in an accessible, informative, and (mostly) humorous manner, science journalists Durrani and Kalaugher take readers on an eclectic tour of the natural world. In individual chapters focusing on the physics of heat, force, fluid dynamics, sound, electricity and magnetism, and light, they explain basic principles and describe how a range of animals make use of those principles, often in surprising ways, to increase their ability to survive and reproduce. The authors demonstrate why mosquitos aren’t killed when hit by raindrops weighing 50 times the mass of the insect, how bees manage to fly when simple equations suggest that they shouldn’t be able to generate enough lift to do so, and how loggerhead turtles use the Earth’s magnetic field to return to the beach upon which they hatched after swimming in the open ocean for five to 10 years. The examples are often fascinating, but Durrani and Kalaugher’s larger message about the need to integrate the sciences is far more important: “Dividing physicists and biologists—making them go to separate classes and learn different subjects—stifles progress.” Durrani and Kalaugher approach their captivating material in a lighthearted fashion, though the wordplay gets a bit stale by the end of the book.

November 15, 2016
How animals are designed to make the most efficient use of physical principles in their struggle to survive.Physics World magazine editor Durrani and Kalaugher, who has a doctorate in materials science, admit to "anthropomorphising" animal behavior in the interest of telling a good story, a smart decision that allows them to amply demonstrate how animals succeed in making physics work for them. Each of the chapters focuses on a specific area of physics--Heat, Forces, Fluids, Sound, Electricity and Magnetism, and Light--and the authors clearly explain the physical principles involved. Many of the examples they provide may seem counterintuitive. For example, a wet dog expends less energy removing moisture by shaking its fur than if it simply waited for the water to evaporate. This is because the cooling effect of evaporation requires the dog to expend energy to maintain its body temperature. As the authors write, "dog fur minimizes heat loss through conduction and convection. But if that fur is wet, the animal has to burn precious energy to stay warm enough for its body to work. No pooch is that daft, as you'll know to your soggy cost if you've stood next to a dog that's just bounded out of a river." Though readers likely don't frequently think about hornets, they will be surprised to learn that Oriental hornets have a natural solar cell that allows them to convert sunbeams into electricity. Durrani and Kalaugher also speculate about the multipurpose role of the peacock's tail in the mating ritual. The colorful plumage is a sign of vitality that attracts mate-seeking females. Furthermore, recordings reveal that by rustling their tails, they make "a quieter, and more pleasing, shivering noise," that accompanies their more raucous mating-related vocalizations. Another offbeat factoid--in a book full of them--is the way that elephants raise one foot from the ground in order to use their other three to triangulate vibrations. Light science reading that informs while it entertains--good for dipping into and out of.

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Starred review from November 1, 2016

Durrani (editor, Physics World) and Kalaugher (editor, environmentalresearchweb.org) combine physics with biology to explore how animals eat, keep warm, mate, and protect themselves in their natural environments. Arranged into sections such as "Heat," "Force," "Fluid," and "Sound and Light," the book illustrates how ants, cats, snakes, bees, eels, lobsters, and other creatures manage the world around them. Just as human beings don't have to know how an engine works to drive a car or understand the principles of flight to ride in a plane, animals are unaware of the laws and properties they manipulate to survive and flourish. The authors entertain and explain with cases such as the simple harmonic motion of a shaking dog or the quantum mechanics of the Oriental hornet. The tone is charming and conversational, and humorous examples are paired with detailed descriptions of physics at work. VERDICT Readers don't need a background in physics to enjoy this engaging, educational title. Recommended for fans of popular science, including YA audiences.--Catherine Lantz, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago Lib.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2016
Many readers will see the word physics in the subtitle and sheer away from this captivating work, but even the most phobic will be drawn in as scientists and science editors Durrani and Kalaugher demonstrate how animals use physics in their daily lives. To both survive and pass on their genes, animals have evolved to exploit the principles of physics. As they cover the six basicsheat, forces, fluids, sound, electricity and magnetism, and lightthe authors portray animals that are masters of each particular phenomenon. A dog shaking water from its fur is an example of heat convection (wet fur conducts heat from the body), while a gecko crossing a ceiling is exploiting the tiny attractive forces between molecules to make its feet stick. Cats master fluid dynamics when they drink, creating a column of water with their tongues. Durrani and Kalaugher reveal similarly intriguing details about bats, peafowl, and sound; electric eels, loggerhead turtles, and electricity and magnetism; and honeybees and octopus and light. All are equally fascinating and fun examples of the physics of biology.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)