Those who see geology as the dullest of sciences overlook the likes of McSween, who shows his style in this sprightly treatment of the origin of Earth. McSween (Geological Sciences/Univ. of Tennessee; Stardust to Planets, 1993) begins with a collection of creation stories from many cultures, to illustrate thinking on the subject before the Greeks began to look at the world in a new way. He then zeroes in on the foundations of modern geology in Victorian times, when the dimensions of the problem of Earth's origins became clear. Geologists and biologists needed huge stretches of time for rocks to be laid down and life to evolve; but physicists knew of no sufficiently long-lived energy source to power the sun—a problem that was only solved with the discovery of radioactivity. This leads to a discussion of the creation of the chemical elements, first in the Big Bang, then in successive generations of stars, until enough heavy elements have collected to allow the formation of planets. Astronomy reveals the sources of the different ingredients of Earth, from the nickel-iron core to air and water, in the primordial nebulae that collapsed to form the Sun and planets. The structure of Earth, with its molten center and thin skin of eternally drifting continents and liquid water, is unique in the solar system. Whether this uniqueness accounts for the presence of life is anyone's guess; McSween points out that many of the chemicals that life utilizes exist in interplanetary space. Finally, we get a quick but elegant summary of evolution. McSween effectively incorporates the history of scientific ideas into his narrative, adding quotes from poets and philosophers as well as scientists to illustrate his points. While nothing in science is ever the last word, this finely argued and well-written volume can be expected to stand as an excellent summary of what science knows about the Earth on the threshold of the 21st century.
Pub Date: March 1, 1997
ISBN: 0-312-14601-9
Page Count: 272
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1997
BOOK REVIEW
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
A magnificent account of a central reality of our times, incorporating deep scientific expertise, broad political and social knowledge, and ethical insight, and Idled with beautifully written biographical sketches of the men and women who created nuclear physics. Rhodes describes in detail the great scientific achievements that led up to the invention of the atomic bomb. Everything of importance is examined, from the discovery of the atomic nucleus and of nuclear fission to the emergence of quantum physics, the invention of the mass-spectroscope and of the cyclotron, the creation of such man-made elements as plutonium and tritium, and implementation of the nuclear chain reaction in uranium. Even more important, Rhodes shows how these achievements were thrust into the arms of the state, which culminated in the unfolding of the nuclear arms race. Often brilliantly, he records the rise of fascism and of anti-Semitism, and the intensification of nationalist ambitions. He traces the outbreak of WW II, which provoked a hysterical rivalry among nations to devise the bomb. This book contains a grim description of Japanese resistance, and of the horrible psychological numbing that caused an unparalleled tolerance for human suffering and destruction. Rhodes depicts the Faustian scale of the Manhattan Project. His account of the dropping of the bomb itself, and of the awful firebombing that prepared its way, is unforgettable. Although Rhodes' gallery of names and events is sometimes dizzying, his scientific discussions often daunting, he has written a book of great drama and sweep. A superb accomplishment.
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1986
ISBN: 0684813785
Page Count: 932
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 28, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 1986
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