Science in 100 Key Breakthroughs
Published on 1. September 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
416 pages
978-0-85738-500-0 (ISBN)
Description
Science in 100 Key Breakthroughs presents a series of clear and concise essays that explain the fundamentals of some of the most exciting and important science concepts you really need to know. Paul Parsons profiles the important, ground-breaking, and front-of-mind scientific discoveries that have had a profound influence on our way of life and will grow in importance with our advancing understanding. In 100 sections, this book provides an overview of the history of Western science, from astronomy and physics to geology, biology and psychology and everything in between. Starting with the origins of counting more than 35,000 years ago, Science in 100 Key Breakthroughs tells a rich and fascinating story of discovery, invention, gradual progress and inspired leaps of the imagination. Many key concepts and discoveries are defined and discussed including: The circumference of the Earth, Chaos theory, Algebra, Relativity, Newton's Principia, Brownian motion, Pi, Wave/particle duality, Germ theory, The computer, X-rays, The double helix, Viruses, The human genome.
Readable, informative and thought-provoking, this is the ideal introduction to cutting-edge science and the essential overview for anyone who wants to learn more about these often daunting but increasingly essential subjects.
Readable, informative and thought-provoking, this is the ideal introduction to cutting-edge science and the essential overview for anyone who wants to learn more about these often daunting but increasingly essential subjects.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 246 mm
Width: 187 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
1266 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-85738-500-0 (9780857385000)
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.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Paul Parsons
Science in 100 Key Breakthroughs
E-Book
09/2012
Quercus Publishing
€3.99
Available for download
Person
Dr Paul Parsons is a regular contributor to Nature, New Scientist and the Daily Telegraph. He frequently appears on BBC radio and his television credits include Richard & Judy and BBC Breakfast. He was formerly editor of the BBC's award-winning science and technology magazine Focus. The Science of Doctor Who (Icon Books), was longlisted for the Royal Society Prize for Science Books. His latest book is Science 1001 published by Quercus.
Content
Introduction. Counting. Geometry. Curvature of the Earth. Astrometry. Algebra. Aviation. Scientific method. Heliocentric solar system. Human anatomy. Kepler's laws. Astronomical telescope. Calculus. Newton's Principia. Linnaean taxonomy. Kinetic theory. Principle of least action. Galaxies. Bayes's theorem. Combustion. Photosynthesis. Deep time. Conservation laws. Vaccination. Electricity. Wave theory of light. Atomic theory. Molecules. Navier-Stokes equations. Greenhouse effect. Ice ages. Cell theory. Anaesthetics. Second law of thermodynamics. Foucault's pendulum. Natural selection. Spectroscopy. Maxwell's equations. Germ theory. Mendel's laws of inheritance. Antiseptics. Periodic table. Out of Africa. Nervous system. X-rays. Radioactivity. Vitamins. Viruses. Rocket science. Photons. Special relativity. Earth's core. Radiometric dating. The Burgess Shale. Superconductors. Continental drift. General relativity. Insulin. Wave-particle duality. Schrodiger's equation. Penicillin. Game theory. Hubble's law. Big Bang theory. Antimatter. Dark matter. Ecology. Radar. Computers. Splitting the atom. Black holes. DNA carries genes. Semiconductor electronics. Information theory. Quantum electrodynamics. The double helix. Miller-Urey experiment. Transplant surgery. Lasers. Parallel universes. Chaos theory. Quasars. Higgs boson. Cognitive psychology. String theory. Genetic engineering. Hawking radiation. Death of the dinosaurs. Scanning tunnelling microscope. Quantum entanglement. Fullerenes. Gene therapy. Functional MRI scanners. Evidence-based medicine. Extrasolar planets. Fermat's last theorem. Cloning. Deep Blue beats Kasparov. Human genome. Large Hadron Collider. Synthetic life. Glossary. Index. Picture credits.