The unity of science : exploring our universe, from the big bang to the twenty-first century / Irwin Shapiro.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shapiro, Irwin I.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cosmology.

Evolution (Biology).

Earth (Planet).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xi, 359 pages) : illustrations

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New Haven : Yale University Press, 2023.

Summary:

A journey guided by science that explores the universe, the earth, and the story of life For Irwin Shapiro, science starts with questions. This book provides a broad and entertaining survey of major scientific discoveries that have changed our views of nature and, in turn, spawned further questions. Shapiro, an award-winning scientist and beloved teacher, separates his inquiry into three parts: looking up at the universe; looking down at the earth and its fossils; and looking in at the story of life. His framework encourages readers to view science as a detective story-to observe and question nature and natural phenomena, and to base all conclusions on scientific evidence. With his knowledgeable yet conversational approach, Shapiro offers an enjoyable way for the curious to learn about the foundations of a range of scientific topics: the motions of bodies in the cosmos, the history and structure of the earth, the evolution of organisms, and the search for extraterrestrial life and intelligence.

Contents:

Preface

Introduction: Why Should We Care about the Unity of Science?

Unveiling the Universe. 1: Motions Seen in the Sky ; 2: Modeling the Motion of Celestial Bodies ; 3: The Telescope and the Speed of Light ; 4: The Law of Gravitation, the Discovery of Planets, and Special and General Theories of Relativity ; 5: The Cosmic Distance Ladder ; 6: The Cosmic Microwave Background ; 7: Dark Matter and Dark Energy

The Earth and Its Fossils. 8: The Origin, Shape, and Size of the Earth ; 9: The Earth's Innards ; 10: The Evolution of the Earth's Surface ; 11: The Structure of Matter ; 12: The Age of the Earth ; 13: Fossils ; 14: Sauropods : A Comprehensive, yet Superficial, Look ; 15: The Demise of the Dinosaurs

The Story of Life. 16: Story of Life : Darwin's, Wallace's, and Mendel's Contributions ; 17: The Molecular Basis of Heredity ; 18: DNA : The Hereditary Molecule and Its Structure ; 19: Properties and Functions of DNA ; 20: The Origin of Life, the Tree of Life, and Samples of Evolution ; 21: Tardigrades, the Applications of DNA, and the Human Spread across the Globe ; 22: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9780300274745

OCLC:

1402736291