Theodore Gray is the author of The Elements, Molecules, and Reactions, as well as Theodore Gray's Completely Mad Science, and How Things Work. He is the creator of the bestselling iPad apps Elements and Molecules, which have both been named App of the Week by Apple. Gray appeared on stage with Steve Jobs several times in his capacity as a software creator. He also co-founded Wolfram Research, Inc., makers of the widely-used software Mathematica and the Wolfram Alpha website. He lives in Urbana, Illinois.

Nick Mann is a photographer specializing in taking beautiful photos of inanimate objects on black backgrounds. His other work includes Molecules, Reactions and How Things Work. Originally of Urbana, IL, he now lives in Champaign, IL and North Liberty, IA, where he is working towards a geology degree at Cornell College.