ABC's of Science

Science is an inexhaustible mine of great stories, and this book collects twenty-six of them, one for each letter of the alphabet. The characters are scientists of the highest caliber, most of whom are unknown to the general public. The stories range from Abel's elliptic thriller about a fundamental theorem of mathematics to Absolute Zero, the ultimate and lowest temperature limit. The book is a harmonious polyphony of several voices, and the reader can invent their own order for the chapters.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 248 pages
\n Publication date: 06 November 2020
\n Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG
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Science, with its inherent tension between the known and the unknown, is an inexhaustible mine of great stories. Collected here are twenty-six among the most enchanting tales, one for each letter of the alphabet: the main characters are scientists of the highest caliber, most of whom are unknown to the general public. This book goes from A to Z.

The letter A stands for Abel, the great Norwegian mathematician, here involved in an elliptic thriller about a fundamental theorem of mathematics, while the letter Z refers to Absolute Zero, the ultimate and lowest temperature limit, -273,15 degrees Celsius, a value that is tremendously cooler than the most remote corner of the Universe: the race to reach this final outpost of coldness is not yet complete, but, similarly to the history books of polar explorations at the beginning of the 20th century, its pages record successes, failures, fierce rivalries, and tragic desperations.

In between the A and the Z, the other letters of the alphabet are similar to the various stages of a very fascinating journey along the paths of science, a journey in the company of a very unique set of characters as eccentric and peculiar as those in Ulysses by James Joyce: the French astronomer who lost everything, even his mind, to chase the transits of Venus; the caustic Austrian scientist who, perfectly at ease with both the laws of psychoanalysis and quantum mechanics, revealed the hidden secrets of dreams and the periodic table of chemical elements; the young Indian astrophysicist who was the first to understand how a star dies, suffering the ferocious opposition of his mentor for this discovery. Or the Hungarian physicist who struggled with his melancholy in the shadows of the desert of Los Alamos; or the French scholar who was forced to hide in the depths of the Amazon rainforest to avoid the persecution of the Inquisition; or the German chemist who discovered the secret of the atomic bomb, only to be executed by the ***** for his heresy.

These are just a few of the incredible stories that populate the pages of this book, which showcases the remarkable achievements and tragedies of the scientists who have pushed the boundaries of knowledge and discovery throughout history. From the ancient Greeks to the modern day, science has been a driving force behind human progress and innovation, and these tales remind us of the incredible sacrifices and risks that have been made in the name of scientific inquiry.

Whether you are a seasoned scientist or a curious reader, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to explore the fascinating world of science and the incredible individuals who have made it their life's work. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey from A to Z, as we uncover the secrets of the universe and the incredible stories of the scientists who have unlocked them.

\n Weight: 396g\n
Dimension: 155 x 233 x 20 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9783030551681\n
Edition number: 1st ed. 2020\n