When the International Astronomical Union (the IAU) removed Pluto from the list of planets, it was controversial for a good reason. The definition they approved had little to do with planetary science. It was the result of a purely political maneuver within the organization.

The vote was not intended to end the way it did. A definition was created that kept Pluto a planet, confirmed Eris as a new planet, and restored Ceres to planethood now that we know its true nature. The original announcement makes this crystal clear:

"The world's astronomers, under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), have concluded two years of work defining the difference between 'planets' and the smaller 'solar system bodies' such as comets and asteroids. If the definition is approved by the astronomers gathered 14-25 August 2006 at the IAU General Assembly in Prague, our Solar System will include 12 planets, with more to come"
-- https://www.iau.org/news/pressreleases/detail/iau0601/

Twelve planets! Humanity was gaining new territory to spark our imaginations. As you can see, this wasn't a haphazard move. It took two years of effort. A lot of work had gone into it. All it needed was a simple vote of approval to make it official.

Never underestimate the ability of a small group of committed individuals to change the world.
-- Margaret Mead

And that's what happened, but not for the betterment of humanity. What was supposed to be a mere formality got hijacked. A small group of astronomers fought a petty power struggle over what they thought should be important in our Solar System, and what should not. They seized the process and forced their opinions on the rest of us. Afterwards, more scientists signed a petition to reject the definition than voted for it. But it had no effect. The internal politics of the IAU appear to be driving their decisions more than science does.

This book only briefly discusses the politics of the IAU. It also shows how their authority on the matter is not as far-reaching as they claim. It looks at how other scientific definitions work and exposes how the IAU got it wrong. It is also about the science of astronomy, the interplay of objects in the Solar System, and the tangle of words and definitions we use to describe it all. Lastly, it includes an honest, scientific analysis of the planet-worthiness of all the largest objects in our Solar System and beyond.

The conclusion is simple and inescapable; it is legitimate and accurate to call Pluto, Ceres, and Eris planets. It always has been, and it matters.

If you love science, astronomy and space exploration, you should be calling Pluto a planet too. But don't take my word for it. As the venerable Neal deGrasse Tyson said, "If the world is something you accept rather than interpret, then you're susceptible to the influence of charismatic idiots."

We agree. This book contains multiple scientific guidelines for determining planethood from a variety of perspectives. Some include Pluto, Ceres, Eris and more, and some do not. These are far more than just arbitrary or vague requirements. They are based on actual data. Take a look and interpret them for yourself. I dare any "Pluto is not a planet" people to read this book and not have their faith shaken!

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A rumor is floating around the world's governments about a weapon that can destroy a whole continent, and someone is threatening to use it. James Deng is a special investigator from Africa sent to help solve the mystery and prevent that war. With only three days until the end of the world as we know it, his investigation takes him to the moon, where he is embedded in a society dominated by topless women.

Warning: For entertainment purposes only. Not to be used for world domination.

Converting a car to electric is a pretty big project, but if you have a good set of tools and mechanical aptitude, you can do it. This book will help you calculate the range and acceleration you'll get with your conversion. It includes a complete detailed schematic diagram, photos, illustrations and an overview of the whole project including a walk through the decisions process, what components are necessary and why you need them, some of the different types of components and how to choose. A page full of useful links for chargers, controllers, battery managers, batteries, motors and other items is included at the end. You will gain the benefit of all my experience working with electrical and mechanical systems, plus many days worth of searching on-line resources and analyzing countless youtube videos. Everything it took to do an actual conversion is distilled into this one comprehensive volume.

This book is a compilation of step-by-step instructions for how to build nine different types of catapults and trebuchets, including plans for: A PVC Pipe Trebuchet, A Tabletop Trebuchet, The World Famous Floating Arm Trebuchet, The Historical WarWolf Trebuchet, A Rat-Trap Catapult, The Mangonel (or Onager), The Greek Ballista, a Petraria Arcatinus And the Scorpion II. Each set of instructions include dimensional drawings of all wooden parts, lists of required hardware and sources, an abundance of photos, diagrams and detailed descriptions of the assembly process. Additional sections include historical notes for the different types of machines, warnings and safety suggestions, tuning tips, notes on scaling, tools and techniques and additional notes on even more kinds of catapults.

And Then We All Just Died is a random assortment of fifteen short stories including hard sci-fi, mild comedy, historical fiction and one truly horrific tale of bloody torture. The basic gist: Things don't always turn out the way they should.

In the twenty-third century all factories are fully automated, agriculture has been replaced by chemically engineered fibers and nutrients, and money is based on fundamental units of energy. Most people live on a guaranteed basic income, and gambling on Moongame is the most popular pastime in the history of humanity.

Moongame is a brutal mix of basketball, polo and X-games played on the moon. Riders on electric bikes perform impossible stunts in the low lunar gravity while fighting to score goals and earn favors. The more brutal and dramatic they are in the game, the more favors they earn.

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