1 option
The Book of scientific anecdotes / edited and introduced by Adrian Berry.
- Format:
- Book
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Science--Anecdotes.
- Science.
- Science--Humor.
- Science--History.
- History.
- Genre:
- Anecdotes.
- Humor.
- Physical Description:
- 239 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm
- Other Title:
- Scientific anecdotes.
- Place of Publication:
- Buffalo, N.Y. : Prometheus Books, 1993.
- Summary:
- What do the discovery of the coffee bean, the invention of the aqualung, the perception of the importance of the size of the moon, the conquest of smallpox, and supersonic flight all have in common? They are milestones in the history of science, a saga that began before the ancient Greeks and one that will continue for thousands of years to come. These and other fascinating stories about several of the world's most important inventions and discoveries are featured in The Book of Scientfic Anecdotes. This witty, informative, and highly readable collection includes more than sixty anecdotes chosen and edited by science writer Adrian Berry. Divided into eleven sections, the book covers topics ranging from man's exploration of the world - and space - to the revolution in communications, scientific martyrs, and "bogus science". It contains a wealth of fascinating, little-known facts and information, as well as anecdotes about people who have played crucial roles in the progress of science - Louis Pasteur, Einstein, and Galileo - along-side lesser-known individuals -" Lucy", the woman who lived more than three million years ago; Gilbert Vernam, the creator of the "one-time pad", the world's first unbreakable cipher; and J. S. Haldane, the only man to have tested safely in the mines by reciting Shakespeare. The scientific achievements of this century - relativity, quantum mechanics, nuclear power, genetic engineering, space travel, jet aircraft, desktop computers, and the beginnings of artificial intelligence - have swept away most of the predictions of the last. What do these breakthroughs augur for the twenty-first century? The Book of Scientific Anecdotes illuminates some of the inventionsand discoveries that have changed the world, and the people who made them.
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 226-230) and index.
- ISBN:
- 0879758066
- 0879758368
- OCLC:
- 27186924
The Penn Libraries is committed to describing library materials using current, accurate, and responsible language. If you discover outdated or inaccurate language, please fill out this feedback form to report it and suggest alternative language.