Seven Pillars of Science: The Incredible Lightness of Ice, and Other Scientific Surprises

Hardback

Main Details

Title Seven Pillars of Science: The Incredible Lightness of Ice, and Other Scientific Surprises
Authors and Contributors      By (author) John Gribbin
Physical Properties
Format:Hardback
Pages:160
Dimensions(mm): Height 204,Width 138
Category/GenreGeneral
History of science
Popular science
ISBN/Barcode 9781785786563
ClassificationsDewey:500
Audience
General
Tertiary Education (US: College)
Professional & Vocational
Illustrations Illustrations, black & white

Publishing Details

Publisher Icon Books
Imprint Icon Books
Publication Date 24 September 2020
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

John Gribbin, author of Six Impossible Things, shortlisted for the Royal Society Insight Investment Science Book Prize, presents a tour of seven fundamental scientific truths that underpin our very existence. These 'pillars of science' also defy common sense. For example, solid things are mostly empty space, so how do they hold together? There appears to be no special 'life force', so how do we distinguish living things from inanimate objects? And why does ice float on water, when most solids don't? You might think that question hardly needs asking, and yet if ice didn't float, life on Earth would never have happened. The answers to all of these questions were sensational in their day, and some still are. Throughout history, science has been able to think the unthinkable - and Gribbin brilliantly shows the surprising secrets on which our understanding of life is based.

Author Biography

John Gribbin's numerous bestselling books include In Search of Schrodinger's Cat and Six Impossible Things, which was shortlisted for the 2019 Royal Society Science Book Prize. He has been described as 'one of the finest and most prolific writers of popular science around' by the Spectator.

Reviews

[In] the last couple of years we have seen a string of books that pack bags of science in a digestible form into a small space. John Gribbin has already proved himself a master of this approach with his Six Impossible Things, and he's done it again ... [Seven Pillars of Science is] light, to the point and hugely informative. ... It packs in the science, tells an intriguing story and is beautifully packaged. * Brian Clegg, popularscience.co.uk *