The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Science

This rather accurate and thorough book, apparently a revision of a volume with the same title published in 1988, is divided into three equal parts, treating physics, chemistry and biology. Astronomy and geology are not covered. It is very much a sequence of definitions, with little leavening. There is ample cross-referencing. The boundaries have been drawn sharply, so that, for example, Newton's law of gravitation is stated explicitly, but Kepler's laws of planetary motion, one of its prime applications, are not mentioned. When Newton's law was discovered, or by whom, is not apparent either. The chemistry section is better endowed with dates. There are some duplications: for example, atomic structure is treated under both chemistry and physics. And some omissions: from the text it appears that the gun-assembly (uranium) nuclear device is the only one; the implosion (plutonium) device is not mentioned. Nor is there any indication that these weapons have ever been used.