The scientific status of VSL remains uncertain, but its creator’s account of his investigations is irresistible.
A brash young cosmologist describes his attempts to redefine one of the keystones of relativity.
Magueijo (Theoretical Physics/Imperial College, London) is no crackpot, although many of his colleagues thought so when he suggested a variable speed of light (VSL) as an answer to problems in the Big Bang theory of the origin of our universe. VSL verges on heresy; relativity, which states that the speed of light in a vacuum is constant, has been verified by numerous experiments since its postulation by Einstein in 1905. But while the Big Bang is a direct corollary of relativity, the uniformity of the visible universe is difficult to explain if the speed of light cannot be exceeded. Nor does relativity provide a bridge between the large-scale structure of the universe and the quantum-level structure of matter. Into this theoretical vacuum have flooded superstrings, loops, branes, and all the other hopeful doctrines of recent physics, each eagerly promoted by its advocates. The newest of the new is VSL, which now appears to have some observational support. Having overcome major hurdles on the way to getting his theories published, Magueijo makes clear his contempt for the scientific gatekeepers who determine whose work will appear in which prestigious journal, whose will be rewarded with grants and tenure, and whose cast beyond the pale of science. Thus the work reads like a battle report, with high praise for supporters and little sympathy wasted on opponents. Combined with his position as an outsider in the British science establishment (though educated at Cambridge, he was born in Portugal), Magueijo's obvious lack of interest in pretending to be polite to those he has identified as enemies makes this one of the more scathing scientific memoirs of recent years.
The scientific status of VSL remains uncertain, but its creator’s account of his investigations is irresistible.Pub Date: Feb. 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-7382-0525-7
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Perseus
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2002
An intriguing meditation on the nature of the universe and our attempts to understand it that should appeal to both...
Italian theoretical physicist Rovelli (General Relativity: The Most Beautiful of Theories, 2015, etc.) shares his thoughts on the broader scientific and philosophical implications of the great revolution that has taken place over the past century.
These seven lessons, which first appeared as articles in the Sunday supplement of the Italian newspaper Sole 24 Ore, are addressed to readers with little knowledge of physics. In less than 100 pages, the author, who teaches physics in both France and the United States, cogently covers the great accomplishments of the past and the open questions still baffling physicists today. In the first lesson, he focuses on Einstein's theory of general relativity. He describes Einstein's recognition that gravity "is not diffused through space [but] is that space itself" as "a stroke of pure genius." In the second lesson, Rovelli deals with the puzzling features of quantum physics that challenge our picture of reality. In the remaining sections, the author introduces the constant fluctuations of atoms, the granular nature of space, and more. "It is hardly surprising that there are more things in heaven and earth, dear reader, than have been dreamed of in our philosophy—or in our physics,” he writes. Rovelli also discusses the issues raised in loop quantum gravity, a theory that he co-developed. These issues lead to his extraordinary claim that the passage of time is not fundamental but rather derived from the granular nature of space. The author suggests that there have been two separate pathways throughout human history: mythology and the accumulation of knowledge through observation. He believes that scientists today share the same curiosity about nature exhibited by early man.
An intriguing meditation on the nature of the universe and our attempts to understand it that should appeal to both scientists and general readers.Pub Date: March 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-399-18441-3
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Riverhead
Review Posted Online: Dec. 7, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The Johnstown Flood was one of the greatest natural disasters of all time (actually manmade, since it was precipitated by a wealthy country club dam which had long been the source of justified misgivings). This then is a routine rundown of the catastrophe of May 31st, 1889, the biggest news story since Lincoln's murder in which thousands died. The most interesting incidental: a baby floated unharmed in its cradle for eighty miles.... Perhaps of local interest-but it lacks the Lord-ly touch.
Pub Date: March 18, 1968
ISBN: 0671207148
Page Count: 312
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1968
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