Webster's New World Book of Facts

676 Pages·1999·53.82 MB·English

by  Brian Hutchinson, Helicon Development

NEWW
*9*r
BOOK
of
FACTS
Worldwide Facts at your Fingertips
Easy-to-use reference of commonly needed
and
facts statistics
Thousands of concise, up-to-date entries
Hundreds of maps, diagrams, tables and
illustrations
THE NAME YOU TRUST

IkHUTCHINSON
FACTFINDER
FACTS FIGURES
•
DATES EVENTS
•

I^HUTCHINSON
FACTFINDER
FACTS FIGURES
•
DATES EVENTS
•
IDG
BOOKS
WORLDWIDE
Webster's New World Pocket Vocabulary
Published by IDG Books Worldwide, Inc.
An International Data Group Company
919 E.Hillsdale Blvd., Ste 400
Foster City, CA 94404
Copyright © 1999 Helicon Publishing Ltd. 1999. No part ofthis book,
including interior design or cover design may be reproduced or transmitted
in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording or other-
wise) without the prior written permission ofthe publisher.
ISBN: 0-02863485-3
Printed in the United States
987654321
Distributed in the United States ofAmerica.
For authorization to photocopy items for corporate, personal or
educational use, please contact Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood
MA
Drive, Danvers, 01923 or fax [phone]
LIMITOF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OFWARRANTY: AUTHOR AND PUBLISHER HAVE USED
THEIR BEST EFFORTS IN PREPARINGTHIS BOOK. AUTHOR AND PUBLISHER MAKE NO
REPRESENTATIONS ORWARRANTIESWITH RESPECTTOTHE ACCURACY OR COMPLETE-
NESS OFTHE CONTENTS OFTHIS BOOK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.THERE
ARE NOWARRANTIESWHICH EXTEND BEYONDTHE DESCRIPTIONS CONTAINED IN
THIS PARAGRAPH. NOWARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY SALES REPRE-
SENTATIVES OFWRITTEN SALES MATERIALS. THE ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS
OFTHE INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN ANDTHE OPINIONS STATED HEREIN ARE
NOTGUARANTEED OR WARRANTEDTO PRODUCE ANY PARTICULAR RESULTS, AND
THE ADVICE AND STRATEGIES CONTAINED HEREIN MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR EVERY
INDIVIDUAL. NEITHER IDG BOOKSWORLDWIDE, INC., NOR AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE
FOR ANY LOSS OF PROFIT OR ANY OTHER COMMERICAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITEDTO SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR OTHER DAMAGES.
Webster's New World is a registered trademark ofIDG Books Worldwide,
Inc. and may not be used without written permission.
® is a trademark under exclusive license to IDG Books Worldwide,
mr
Inc., from International Data Group in the United States and
5SSS other countries.
WORLDWIDE
Contents
ASTRONOMY
1
The solar system 2
Stars, galaxies, and the universe 15
Space exploration 23
Useful terms 32
PHYSICAL WORLD 49
Earth's interior 50
Earth's surface 58
Atmosphere and oceans 74
Rocks and minerals 88
LIFE ON EARTH 97
Evolution and genetics 98
Elements that sustain life 108
The life cycle 115
Plant life 128
Animal life 136
PHYSICAL SCIENCES 161
Physics 162
Physical and analytical chemistry 187
Inorganic chemistry 196
Organic chemistry 202
Biochemistry 208
81
TRANSPORTATION 219
220
Air
228
Rail
232
Road
241
Water
COMPUTING 249
250
Computer architecture
Computer programming 264
270
Internet
MEDICINE AND HEALTH 277
Human body 278
294
Psychology and psychiatry
299
Diseases and disorders
307
Drugs
312
Diet and nutrition
Medical terms 31
HISTORY 331
332
Ancient history
344
European history
American history 356
WARFARE AND THE MILITARY 363
Wars and battles 364
Weapons and equipment 381
Conferences and treaties 385
388
Military terms
SOCIETY 395
396
Society
Presidents and prime ministers 411
Economics 42
1
BELIEFS 433
Religions and religious movements 434
Holy books 45
Festivals 454
Holy places 458
Religious terms 459
ARTS
471
Architecture 472
Music 482
Painting and sculpture 493
LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE
505
Literary terms 506
Literary prizes 520
Grammar 523
SPORTS 527
Sports A-Z 528
COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD 547
CALENDAR AND MEASUREMENT
617
Calendar 618
Miscellaneous measurements 623
INDEX 631