For more than four decades, the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of
Science & Technology has been an indispensable scientific reference
work for a broad range of readers, from students to professionals
and interested general readers. Found in many thousands
of libraries around the world, its 20 volumes authoritatively cover
every major field of science. However, the needs of many readers
will also be served by a concise work still covering the full
breadth of science and technology.
With this in mind, the editors conceived a shorter version of the
multivolume work that would retain the authoritativeness, accuracy,
clarity, timeliness, quality, and coverage in a convenient,
concise format. The result is the McGraw-Hill Concise Encyclopedia
of Science & Technology, Fifth Edition. To achieve this
convenient single volume, the editors extracted the essential text
from each article in the parent work while retaining the same
proportionality between subjects. The length of each article generally
suits the importance and complexity of the subject as well
as the current state of knowledge on this topic. The material
has been condensed so that it is appropriate to the likely requirements
of the reader seeking helpful information without
extensive detail. The articles retain the identity of the original
authors, all recognized experts, whose affiliations are included
in a complete alphabetical listing of Contributors.
The reader will find over 7300 alphabetically arranged entries,
many illustrated with images or diagrams. Most include cross
references to other articles for background reading or further
study. Dual measurement units (U.S. Customary and International
System) are used throughout. The Appendix includes
useful information complementing the articles. Finally, the Index
provides quick access to specific information the reader needs.
This concise reference will fill the need for accurate, current scientific
and technical information in a convenient, economical
format. It can serve as the starting point for research by anyone
seriously interested in science, even professionals seeking information
outside their own specialty. It should prove to be a much
used and much trusted addition to the reader’s bookshelf.