Mark Brake

How our planet was shaped by earth, air, fire and water. Planet Earth. Four elements. One incredible story. Get ready for a rollercoaster ride through history, geography, science and more. Take an amazing journey into the planet’s past and discover how four elements - earth, air, fire, and water - created the world and everything that exists today. Lonely Planet...

What's the difference between me, a planet and a star? Does the Universe follow a recipe? If a wardrobe has three dimensions, what is the fourth? These are some of life's biggest questions, and you are a daring thinker for even thinking about them! So open your mind and prepare to explore some of the biggest, boldest ideas about astrophysics,...

Discover the real science behind 2001, ET, Signs, and all your favourite fictional alien civilisations. As space telescopes continue to search for life in this unearthly Universe, the crucial questions remain unanswered. Are we awake to the revolutionary effects on human society and science that alien contact will bring? And how is it possible to imagine the unknown? The Science...

Harry Potter has brought the idea of magic and sorcery into mainstream fruition more than any other book series in history. Often perceived as a supernatural force, magic captivates and delights its audience because of its seeming ability to defy physics and logic. But did you ever wonder if science has any explanation for these fantastic feats? The Science of...

Boldly go where no man has gone before and discover the real science behind the cyborgs, starships, aliens, and antimatter of the Star Trek galaxy. Star Trek is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time. It has changed our cultural landscape in so many ways since it first aired in 1966. The franchise has generated billions of pounds...

Take a trip beyond this Earth to explore the myths of The Mandalorian and uncover the anatomy of the newest space western in the Star Wars Universe. Star Wars dominates the film world. The combined box office revenue of the Star Wars movies equates to over $10 billion, making it the second highest-grossing film franchise of all time. But this...

Age range 9 to 12Discover the scientific secrets of Harry, Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore, and more in J. K. Rowling's universeMovie-goers and young readers the world over have been spellbound by the tales of The Boy Who Lived. J. K. Rowling's stories have conjured ideas of magic and sorcery into our minds like no other book series before. But nature is...

Celebrate the rise of superwomen and discover the science behind the abilities of Wonder Woman, Scarlet Witch,Black Widow, Catwoman, and more! Superhero fiction has been with us for almost a century;high-octane tales crammed with concepts and contrasting themes, from superpowers and the post-human,to masked vigilantes and immortality. In that time, superwomen have evolved from comic book caricatures (created by men,...

An In-Depth Analysis of The Beatles' Music and the Theory, Techniques, and Technology That Made It Possible When people look back in two hundred years' time at our culture, whose music will have survived from today? Who will be our equivalent of Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven? The big story of contemporary popular music has been The Beatles. They were the...

Age range 9 to 12 Learn about the science used by Luke Skywalker, Kylo Ren, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia, and more in the Star Wars galaxyStar Wars has captured the hearts and imaginations of sci-fi fans worldwide. We all marvel at its dazzling variety of aliens, spaceships, and planets. That's because there's something revolutionary about the actual science in Star...

Discover the science behind the most popular sci-fi franchise of all time Capturing the imagination and hearts of crowds worldwide, Star Wars is a fantastic feat of science fiction and fantasy. We marvel at the variety of creatures and technology and the mystery behind the Force. But how much of the Star Wars world is rooted in reality? Could we...

From Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, James Bond is the highest-grossing movie franchise of all time. Out-grossing Star Wars, Harry Potter, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the world's most iconic and international secret agent has a shelf life of almost six decades, from Dr. No to Spectre. As nuclear missile threats are replaced by a series of subtler threats in...

Geek out over the TARDIS, aliens, alternate timelines, parallel worlds, and all your favourite characters from the Doctor Who Universe! Doctor Who arrived with the Space Age, when the Doctor first began exploring the universe in a time-travelling spaceship. Over half a century since, the Doctor has gone global. Millions of people across this planet enjoy Doctor Who in worldwide...

Everything young explorers need to know to travel in space, covering what life in zero gravity is like, how to find your way around the solar system, and the all-important question of how to pee in a spacesuit! Unique illustrations take kids to the heart of the action, and amazing photos show what the universe is really like. Incredible stories...