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Gravity's Ghost
Scientific Discovery in the Twenty-first Century
Harry Collins(Author)
University of Chicago Press
Will be published approx. on 1. December 2010
Book
Hardback
200 pages
978-0-226-11356-2 (ISBN)
Description
In theory, at least, gravitational waves do exist. We are constantly bathed in gravitational radiation, which is generated when stars explode or collide and a portion of their mass becomes energy that ripples out like a disturbance on the surface of a serene pond. But unfortunately no gravitational wave has ever been directly detected, even though the search has lasted more than forty years. As the leading chronicler of the search for gravitational waves, Harry Collins has been right there with the scientists since the start. The result of his unprecedented access to the front lines of physical science is "Gravity's Ghost", a thrilling chronicle of high-stakes research and cutting-edge discovery. Here, Collins reveals that scientific discovery and nondiscovery can turn on scientific traditions and rivalries, that ideal statistical analysis rests on impossible procedures and unattainable knowledge, and that fact in one place is baseless assumption in another. He also argues that sciences like gravitational wave detection, in exemplifying how the intractable is to be handled, can offer scientific leadership a moral beacon for the twenty-first century.
In the end, "Gravity's Ghost" shows that discoveries are the denouements of dramatic scientific mysteries.
In the end, "Gravity's Ghost" shows that discoveries are the denouements of dramatic scientific mysteries.
Reviews / Votes
"Gravity's Ghost reads like a good mystery novel, with an unexpected twist. A significant contribution to the study of scientific practice." - Allan Franklin, University of Colorado"More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Chicago
United States
Publishing group
The University of Chicago Press
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 24 mm
Width: 16 mm
Thickness: 2 mm
Weight
425 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-226-11356-2 (9780226113562)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
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E-Book
05/2024
1st Edition
University of Chicago Press
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Person
Harry Collins is distinguished research professor of sociology at Cardiff University; director of the Centre for the Study of Knowledge, Expertise, and Science; and author of many books, including Gravity's Shadow: The Search for Gravitational Waves, also published by the University of Chicago Press.