The Little Book of Big Explorations

This is a book about expedition, adventure, our thirst for knowledge, and pushing the limits of human endurance. From the navigational instruments that have led us through unknown lands, to the advanced engineering that carried us into the depths of the ocean, to the rocket science that propelled us into space, science and adventure have always been inextricably linked. Both are at the heart of everything we now know about the complex universe we find ourselves in. From the groundbreaking sea voyage in 1735 that settled the debate raging between Descartes and Newton about the shape of the earth to the balloon ride that led to the discovery of cosmic rays, we have pushed the limits of what’s possible, both on our planet and beyond the clouds. The Little Book of Big Explorations is a collection of some of the most daring and eye-opening adventures in history that have changed the way we view the world, as well as a look at what’s still to be discovered. Our insatiable curiosity has driven our survival as a species and can be charted through the centuries by these incredible voyages of discovery.

"With a delicate touch and deep understanding of the topic, Osman makes a compelling case to show how our great leaps into the unknown have consistently contributed to scientific discoveries that continue to change the way we interact with the world . . . does a wonderful job of showing both how far we’ve come and how much more there is to discover." —Leon McCarron

"A thoughtful smorgasbord of scientific expeditions made bite-sized. Perfect for the curious adventurers in your life." —Pip Stewart

Jheni Osman is a science presenter, journalist, and author. Her books include 100 Ideas That Changed the World and The World’s Great Wonders. She writes for BBC Focus magazine, and presents for BBC Radio 4’s Costing the Earth and SciTech Voyager for TRT World. She is former Editor of BBC Focus magazine. Before that she played tennis professionally, representing Great Britain, playing at junior Wimbledon, and modelling for Nike.