“This elegantly written, meticulously researched and
thought-provoking book provides a window into how science actually
works, and is sure to spur intense debate.” –New Scientist
“A boundless enthusiasm resounds through this homage to the
outstanding problems of science.”
–Seed Magazine
“You will be amazed and astonished you when you learn that
science has been unable to come up with a working definition of
life, why death should happen at all, why sex is necessary, or
whether cold fusi
內容簡介:
Spanning disciplines from biology to cosmology, chemistry to
psychology to physics, Michael Brooks thrillingly captures the
excitement of scientific discovery.Science’s best-kept secret is
this: even today, thereare experimental results that the most
brilliant scientists cannot explain. In the past, similar
“anomalies” have revolutionized our world. If history is any
precedent, we should look to today’s inexplicable results to
forecast the future of science. Michael Brooks heads to the
scientific frontier to confront thirteen modern-day anomalies and
what they might reveal about tomorrow’s breakthroughs.
關於作者:
Michael Brooks, who holds a PhD in quantum physics, is an
editor at New Scientist. His writing has appeared in the Guardian,
Independent, Observer, Times Higher Educational Supplement, and
even Playboy. He is a regular speaker and debate chair at the
Science Festival in Brighton, UK.
目錄:
Prologue
1 THE MISSING UNIVERSE
We can only account for 4 percent of the cosmos
2 THE PIONEER ANOMALY
Two spacecraft are flouting the laws of physics
3 VARYING CONSTANTS
Destabilizing our view of the universe
4 COLD FUSION
Nuclear energy without the drama
5 LIFE
Are you more than just a bag of chemicals?
6 VIKING
NASA scientists found evidence for life on Mars. Then they changed
their minds.
7 THE WOW! SIGNAL
Has ET already been in touch?
8 A GIANT VIRUS
It’s a freak that could rewrite the story of life
9 DEATH
Evolution’s problem with self-destruction
10 SEX
There are better ways to reproduce
11 FREE WILL
Your decisions are not your own
12 THE PLACEBO EFFECT
Who’s being deceived?
13 HOMEOPATHY
It’s patently absurd, so why won’t it go away?
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Notes And Sources
Index