Massive

In the early 1960s, three groups of physicists, working independently in different countries, stumbled upon an idea that would change physics and fuel the imagination of scientists for decades. That idea was the Higgs boson - to find it would be to finally understand the origins of mass - the last building block of life itself. Now, almost 50 years later, that particle has finally been discovered.Award-winning science writer Ian Sample weaves together the personal stories and intense rivalries of the teams of scientists behind the Higgs boson. Massive is a tale of grand ambition, trans-Atlantic competition, clashing egos and occasionally spectacular failures. From the giant particle colliders built to further the scientists' quest to the political fallout of budget blowouts, debates over whether the search might even destroy the universe, to the incredible discovery of the particle itself, this is an epic story of imagination, personal ambition, sub-atomic exploration and global significance.Whichever way you look at it, this story is massive.

Vorwort
Now fully updated - this is the dramatic and gripping account of the greatest scientific discovery of our time

Autorentext

Ian Sample is an award-winning science correspondent at the Guardian newspaper. He was named investigative journalist of the year in 2005 by the Association of British Science Writers and was previously a feature writer for New Scientist. He holds a PhD in biomedical science from Queen Mary, University of London. Born in Oxfordshire, he now lives in London.

Klappentext

'The discovery of the Higgs boson is the jewel in the crown of particle physics'
Observer

'The biggest scientific discovery of the twenty-first century. Period'
Forbes

'A compelling work of popular science, full of mind-boggling ideas and a real sense
of the excitement of scientific discovery'
Guardian

'Wondering what all the hype over the Higgs boson is about? Look no further ... A hundred anecdotes bring the towering figures of particle physics and their key discoveries to life'
New Scientist

Almost 50 years after its existence was first predicted, the Higgs boson the world's most-wanted particle has finally been discovered. This is the story of the hunt for that particle. In Massive, Ian Sample goes beyond the science to reveal the history, the theory and the people that have created
a new understanding of the universe's structure and brought about the greatest scientific discovery of our time.

Zusammenfassung
'Max knows more secrets of the rich and famous than anyone in the world'Piers MorganMax Clifford is the media guru everyone calls when they want to know about a celebrity story or a celebrity's relationship with the media. Starting out as a junior member of the press department at EMI, he has become one of the most influential figures in today's society, and a household name. What is less known is the other side to Max: the stories he keeps out of the papers; his stand against corruption; his mischievous sense of humour; his dedication to helping people from all walks of life;his love for his wife of nearly forty years who tragically died of cancer; and his devotion to his daughter Louise who, at six,was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and is permanently disabled. The essential memoir for those interested in both PR and celebrity.