The Ascent of ScienceFrom the revolutionary discoveries of Galileo and Newton to the mind-bending theories of Einstein and Heisenberg, from plate tectonics to particle physics, from the origin of life to universal entropy, and from biology to cosmology, here is a sweeping, readable, and dynamic account of the whole of Western science. In the approachable manner and method of Stephen Jay Gould and Carl Sagan, the late Brian L. Silver translates our most important, and often most obscure, scientific developments into a vernacular that is not only accessible and illuminating but also enjoyable. Silver makes his comprehensive case with much clarity and insight; his book aptly locates science as the apex of human reason, and reason as our best path to the truth. For all readers curious about--or else perhaps intimidated by--what Silver calls "the scientific campaign up to now" in his Preface, The Ascent of Science will be fresh, vivid, and fascinating reading. |
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Page xv
... problems , the theories of science work very well for a huge range of questions . But when it comes to fundamentals , we see through a glass darkly ; there is more faith involved in science than many scientists Introduction Introduction.
... problems , the theories of science work very well for a huge range of questions . But when it comes to fundamentals , we see through a glass darkly ; there is more faith involved in science than many scientists Introduction Introduction.
Page 6
... getting there , but the problem , as we will soon see , is that flies have a sense of smell and molecules don't . First , however , let's look at the speeds of molecules . How fast do molecules move in a gas ? That The Ascent of Science.
... getting there , but the problem , as we will soon see , is that flies have a sense of smell and molecules don't . First , however , let's look at the speeds of molecules . How fast do molecules move in a gas ? That The Ascent of Science.
Page 7
... problem , which is based on the fact that although solutions of alcohol , like beer , are liquid , the smell of alcohol can be easily detect- ed . This is because in all liquids , molecules escape into the surrounding air . If they didn ...
... problem , which is based on the fact that although solutions of alcohol , like beer , are liquid , the smell of alcohol can be easily detect- ed . This is because in all liquids , molecules escape into the surrounding air . If they didn ...
Page 8
... problem was published in a book by Claude - Gaspar Bachet de Meziriac ( 1581-1638 ) . A boat , crewed by 15 Turks and 15 Christians , runs into a storm . The boat can be prevented from sinking only if half the crew are thrown into the ...
... problem was published in a book by Claude - Gaspar Bachet de Meziriac ( 1581-1638 ) . A boat , crewed by 15 Turks and 15 Christians , runs into a storm . The boat can be prevented from sinking only if half the crew are thrown into the ...
Page 10
... problem with this idea is that as a theory it is useless . It qualitatively explains Boyle's observations , but you can't derive Boyle's law , or any other property of a gas , from Boyle's theory . The Curse of the Fat Sumo What ...
... problem with this idea is that as a theory it is useless . It qualitatively explains Boyle's observations , but you can't derive Boyle's law , or any other property of a gas , from Boyle's theory . The Curse of the Fat Sumo What ...
Contents
Part Two | 27 |
Part Three | 79 |
Part Four | 111 |
Part Five | 181 |
Part Six | 251 |
Part Seven | 355 |
Part Eight | 415 |
Part Nine | 477 |
Part Ten | 507 |
513 | |
519 | |
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acceleration amino acids appear atoms basic behavior believe Big Bang body carbon cells century chemical chemistry chromosomes completely concept contains crystal Darwin Descartes Earth effect Einstein electric electromagnetic electron elementary particles elements energy Enlightenment entropy enzyme equation evolution example existence experiments fact Faraday Figure frequencies galaxies Galilean invariance Galileo gases gene genetic give gravity heat helium Higgs boson human hydrogen hydrogen atom idea laws of motion living look mass material mathematical matter means measure metal million molecular molecules moving mutant nature neutron Newton Newtonian nucleus observed organism oxygen particles path philosopher photons physical physicist planets predict probability problem produced proteins Pythagoras quantum mechanics quarks radiation reason relativity result scientific scientists second law space special relativity species speed of light stars structure surface temperature theory tion universe velocity wave function
Popular passages
Page 12 - I now have before me a road which will lead us from the contemplation of the true God (in whom all the treasures of science and wisdom are contained) to the knowledge of the other objects of the universe. For, first of all, I recognise it to be impossible that He should ever deceive me...