The ten most beautiful experiments / by George Johnson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Johnson, George, 1952 January 20-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Science--Experiments.

Science.

Science--History.

History.

Physical Description:

xiv, 192 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Other Title:

10 most beautiful experiments

Place of Publication:

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2008.

Summary:

The ten most fascinating experiments in the history of science--moments when a curious soul posed a particularly eloquent question to nature and received a crisp, unambiguous reply. Johnson takes us to those times when the world seemed filled with mysterious forces, when scientists were dazzled by light, by electricity, and by the beating of the hearts they laid bare on the dissecting table. For all of them, diligence was rewarded. In an instant, confusion was swept aside and something new about nature leaped into view. In bringing us these stories, Johnson restores some of the romance to science, reminding us of the existential excitement of a single soul staring down the unknown.--From publisher description.

Contents:

Galileo : the way things really move

William Harvey : mysteries of the heart

Isaac Newton : what a color is

Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier : the farmer's daughter

Luigi Galvani : animal electricity

Michael Faraday : something deeply hidden

James Joule : how the world works

A.A. Michelson : lost in space

Ivan Pavlov : measuring the immeasurable

Robert Millikan : in the borderland

Epilogue : the eleventh most beautiful experiment.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781400041015

1400041015

OCLC:

153598733