Live Science Book Giveaway: 'Venomous' by Christie Wilcox

"Venomous" by Christie Wilcox explores the diverse animals that deliver toxic bites and stings. (Image credit: Scientific American / Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

Live Science is hosting a book giveaway!

On Thursday (Sept. 29) at 1:00 p.m. ET, author Christie Wilcox visits Live Science to talk about her new book, "Venomous: How Earth's Deadliest Creatures Mastered Biochemistry" (Scientific American/Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2016). Join us for a Facebook Live event, during which we'll be giving away a signed copy of her book to one lucky viewer. [Tune in on Live Science's Facebook page]

Wilcox is a biologist and writer who has contributed to the New York Times, Scientific American, the Washington Post, and Popular Science, to name a few. She is also co-editor of "Science Blogging: The Essential Guide" (Yale University Press, 2016), a how-to primer for communicating science online.

In "Venomous," Wilcox escorts readers on a harrowing journey of discovery that examines the biological weapons that animals use to subdue prey, compete for mates, or protect themselves from predators.

Her book investigates some of the deadliest animals on land and sea, and delves deep into the unique circumstances and evolutionary twists and turns that enabled them to evolve chemical cocktails that can incapacitate, paralyze or kill. But these harmful compounds can also be helpful; analysis of different types of venom is helping scientists to not only understand the components that make them so deadly, but is informing efforts to develop new medicines for treating a wide range of ailments.

Details about the giveaway are below. And don't forget to follow Live Science on Facebook and Twitter for updates on this contest and other live video events!

Venomous: How Earth's Deadliest Creatures Mastered Biochemistry Giveaway

Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of 50 U.S & DC, 18 or older. Employees, agents, officers & directors of Purch Group, Inc. ("Sponsor"), its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates & advertising & promotion agencies (collectively with Facebook, Inc., “Released Parties”) & members of their immediate family (spouse, parent, children, siblings & their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside) & persons living in the same household, whether or not related, are not eligible. Void where prohibited. Subject to all applicable federal, state & local laws. HOW TO ENTER:  Beginning at 1:00 pm on Thursday, September 29, 2016 (“Event”), visit the Live Science page on Facebook (“Event Page”), find the post about the giveaway and leave a comment via a comment to the post.  If, for whatever reason, the Event is cancelled or postponed, this giveaway will not occur.  Entries generated by script, macro or other automated means or by any means which subvert the entry process are void. Limit one (1) entry per person/Facebook ID.  Multiple entries will be void. Entries become the sole property of Sponsor. Entry must not be offensive or inappropriate, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.  Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entry and remove any comment that it determines, in its sole discretion, is not in compliance with these Official Rules or is otherwise not in keeping with Sponsor’s image. WINNER DETERMINATION: The first eligible individual to comment with the correct answer to the question posed, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, will be deemed potential winner.  If, by the end of the Event, no eligible answers are provided, the prize will not be awarded.  Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received and timing of response.  WINNER NOTIFICATION: Potential winners will be notified via a comment on his/her winning post and via Facebook Messenger & he/she will have 24 hours from notification to respond to Sponsor. The failure to respond to such notification or the potential winner’s noncompliance with these Official Rules may result in disqualification, & at Sponsor’s sole discretion, prize may be awarded to an alternate winner. Prize: Autographed copy of Venomous: How Earth's Deadliest Creatures Mastered Biochemistry.  Approximate Retail Value: $26.00. Total Prize is awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied.   Winner is responsible for all federal, state & local taxes. Winner may not substitute, assign or transfer prize, but Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to substitute prize (or portion thereof) with one of comparable or greater value. Prize cannot be redeemed for cash.  All prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion. GRANT OF RIGHTS:  By submitting an entry, each entrant grants to Sponsor and its licensees, successors and assigns an irrevocable, perpetual, unlimited, royalty-free, fully paid-up license to reproduce, distribute, display, exhibit, exploit, perform, edit, create derivatives of, & otherwise use the entry & all elements of such entry, together with any other material, and the name, user name, city & state of residence, voice, image and/or likeness of entrant, in any & all media now known or hereafter devised, in any manner, in whole or in part, worldwide, without compensation or notification to, or permission from, entrant or any third party, for any purpose whatsoever, including without limitation, for purposes of advertising or trade.  CONDITIONS:  By participating, each entrant agrees: (a) to abide by these Official Rules & decisions of Sponsor & judges, which shall be final & binding in all respects relating to this giveaway; and (b) to release, discharge & hold harmless Released Parties from any & all injuries, liability, losses & damages of any kind to persons, including death, or property resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from entrant’s participation in the Giveaway or the acceptance or use of prize.  Released Parties are not responsible for (i) lost, late, incomplete, damaged, inaccurate, stolen, delayed, misdirected, undelivered or garbled entries; or (ii) errors or difficulties of any kind, whether human, mechanical, electronic, computer, network, typographical, printing or otherwise, relating to or in connection with the giveaway, including, without limitation, errors or difficulties which may occur in connection with the administration of the giveaway, the processing of entries, the announcement of the prize or in any giveaway-related materials.  Persons who tamper with or abuse any aspect of the giveaway or the Event Page, who act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner or who are in violation of these Official Rules, as solely determined by Sponsor, will be disqualified & all associated entries will be void. Should any portion of the giveaway be, in Sponsor’s sole opinion, compromised by virus, worms, bugs, non-authorized human intervention or other causes which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play, or submission of entries, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to suspend, modify or terminate the giveaway & if terminated, at its discretion, select winner as deemed fair & appropriate by Sponsor. Information submitted in connection with this giveaway will be used in accordance with Sponsor’s Privacy Policy, available at http://purch.com/privacy-policy/WINNERS’ NAMES: Winners’ names will be posted on the Event Page following the end of the giveaway.  Sponsor: Purch Group, Inc., 150 Fifth Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, New York 10011. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You understand that you are providing your information to Sponsor & not to Facebook.

Mindy Weisberger
Live Science Contributor

Mindy Weisberger is an editor at Scholastic and a former Live Science channel editor and senior writer. She has reported on general science, covering climate change, paleontology, biology, and space. Mindy studied film at Columbia University; prior to Live Science she produced, wrote and directed media for the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Her videos about dinosaurs, astrophysics, biodiversity and evolution appear in museums and science centers worldwide, earning awards such as the CINE Golden Eagle and the Communicator Award of Excellence. Her writing has also appeared in Scientific American, The Washington Post and How It Works Magazine.