Black Bodies and Quantum Cats

Physics, once known as 'natural philosophy,' is the most basic science. This work traces key developments in the field, setting descriptions of the fundamentals of physics in their historical context as well as against a cultural backdrop. It shows that physics is not an arcane field of study but a profoundly human endeavor.

Auteur

Jennifer Ouellette is a former English major and self-confessed 'physics phobe'. She is associate editor of APS News, the monthly publication of The American Physical Society, and has written on topics as varied as the acoustics of Mayan pyramids and New York City subways and the precarious pitfalls of pseudoscience. Visit her Cocktail Party Physics blog at www.twistedphysics.typepad.com

Texte du rabat

Jennifer Ouellette skillfully blends science and popular culture to shed vibrant new light upon some of the most revolutionary scientific inventions in the history of mankind. Addams Family Values illustrate Newton s laws, Back to the Future demonstrates the finer points of special relativity, and Jeannette Winterson s novel Gut Symmetries provides an elegant metaphorical framework for string theory. By combining colourful historical details with literature, art,and music, this book proves that physics is not arcane or even very scary, but is instead an exciting and profoundly human endeavour and a fundamental part of our everyday world.

Résumé
Two parts physics to one part history and popular culture produces this delightful book, which makes the greatest advances in science accessible to all.