Many of the newest developments in solar energy science and technology are covered in this Second Edition. There is a thorough up-to-date review of solar energy principles and the functioning, design and economics of solar thermal processes. Convection and radiation, properties of materials, components, systems and applications to active space and water heating are discussed. Includes examples and problems of tabulated radiation data and conversion factors.

Behold, Dr. Michio Kaku's most ambitious plan yet — the construction of a new solar system. He meets Paul Butler of the Carnegie Institution who identifies 47 Ursae Majoris as our nearest suitable star. But with no Earth planets in orbit, it sure doesn't feel like our solar system. Gravity could be used to manipulate a moon into an Earth like position. But Kaku's thinking bigger than that. If he's building a whole new solar system for humanity, surely he should be able to harness the power of our new sun! So he comes up with an incredible plan to completely encircle the sun with a giant sphere, which will act as a huge energy collector. What's more, once it starts spinning we'll be able to settle on the inside and become a truly stellar civilization.

Global space strategy "Sunset Solar Empire" offers players lead one of three races and conquer the galaxy. First - earthlings, skillful traders and diplomats. Second - technocrats Vasari, who live at the expenditure of destroying other people's worlds. Still others - space wanderers, over the years traveling in space acquired psychic abilities.

Is our solar system unique? Since the first discovery of a planet orbiting another star, some 280 alien solar systems have been identified. It's only by looking at solar systems far beyond our own, that we can understand how remarkable our universe is.