{"product_id":"2940185244616","title":"The Story of The Balloon: The Surprising History and Science of Balloons","description":"A simple object. An astonishing story.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYou've held a balloon at a birthday party. You've watched one drift into a summer sky. But behind that familiar shape lies one of the most surprising stories in the history of science and invention.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Story of The Balloon traces the balloon from humanity's earliest dreams of flight to the edge of space—and beyond. In 1783, paper-and-fabric balloons carried the first living passengers and human aeronauts into the air, opening an entirely new world of possibility. What followed is a sweeping, richly illustrated journey through history, science, engineering, culture, and imagination.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInside this full-color illustrated book, you'll discover:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e    How invisible air can lift an aircraft—and why a balloon can rise but cannot simply turn left or right\u003cbr\u003e    The Montgolfier brothers, daring early aeronauts, and the race between hot air and hydrogen\u003cbr\u003e    How modern balloons are designed, built, flown, and safely landed\u003cbr\u003e    Weather balloons, giant scientific balloons, and telescopes floating near the edge of space\u003cbr\u003e    Party balloons, parade giants, advertising airships, festivals, and extraordinary balloon art\u003cbr\u003e    Balloons in books and film, along with famous myths, unusual mishaps, cluster-balloon flights, and weather balloons mistaken for UFOs\u003cbr\u003e    What may come next: autonomous balloons, disaster communications, and missions to Venus, Titan, and Mars\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEvery chapter pairs clear storytelling with the science and engineering behind it, always returning to the question at the heart of the book:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHow does that actually work?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDidja Know? boxes reveal surprising facts throughout, while a hands-on Balloon Lab chapter offers safe, simple experiments for younger readers ages 8–13.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePart of the Learn...Wow! series from NuSpark Publishing, The Story of The Balloon is written for curious minds of every age—adults, families, students, educators, and anyone who has ever looked up and wondered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTurn the page, and you may never look at a balloon the same way again.","brand":"NuSpark Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48534040805617,"sku":"2940185244616","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0674\/5433\/7265\/files\/2940185244616_p0.jpg?v=1786329118","url":"https:\/\/shop.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940185244616","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble","version":"1.0","type":"link"}