books tagged “Physics” (physics)

This hefty novel returns to the universe of Vernor Vinge's 1993 Hugo winner A Fire Upon the Deep--but 30,000 years earlier. The story has the same sense of epic vastness despite happening mostly in one isolated solar system. Here there's a world of intelligent spider creatures who traditionally hibernate through the "Deepest Darkness" of their strange variable sun's long "off" periods, when even the atmosphere freezes. Now, science offers them an alternative... Meanwhile, attracted by spider radio transmissions, two human starfleets come exploring--merchants hoping for customers and tyrants who want slaves. Their inevitable clash leaves both fleets crippled, with the power in the wrong hands, which leads to a long wait in space until the spiders develop exploitable technology. Over the years Vinge builds palpable tension through multiple storylines and characters. In the sky, hopes of rebellion against tyranny continue despite soothing lies, brutal repression, and a mental bondage that can convert people into literal tools. Down below, the engagingly sympathetic spiders have their own problems. In flashback, we see the grandiose ideals and ultimate betrayal of the merchant culture's founder, now among the human contingent and pretending to be a senile buffoon while plotting, plotting... Major revelations, ironies, and payoffs follow. A powerful story in the grandest SF tradition. --David Langford, Amazon.co.uk [via]

Fantastic idea to present a history of the mystical equation by looking at the key discoveries around each parameter. Will be extremely interesting to historians, students of science and/or any Einstein fans. I very much appreciated Bodanis' personal perception of the personalities of key scientists (eg how Newton's religious belief convinced him that energy could be lost as this proved that there was a god). The book provides stories ranging from the discovery that the speed of light is finite through to the contribution of the equation to the second world war. [via]

Long the standard by which other such dictionaries have been measured, this work defines a wealth of key terms and concepts in the field. This third edition now contains over 3,500 entries with hundreds of new entries to reflecting the latest discoveries and developments in space technology and research. 10 charts; 100 line drawings. Appendix. [via]

Every day brings new discoveries in physics, from the designs of home audio equipment to the capabilities of the newest generation of computers. Geared specifically to the needs of high school students and keyed to school syllabuses, The Facts On File Dictionary of Physics defines terms and concepts relating to all aspects of physical science. [via]

This is a gripping account, full of surprises, of one of the greatest adventures in human thought, and at the same time a user-friendly introduction to many vital mathematical concepts. It is a global survey of the history of mathematics, suitable for people with no background in mathematics, as well as for the more informed reader or teacher. "From Five Fingers to Infinity" tells the story of the history of mathematics in the form of 114 articles, organised in a chronological and thematic manner. Together the articles cover all the most important areas, and can be read as a consistent narrative history. The articles are best by writers such as Carl Boyer, Howard Eves, Morris Kline, and Dirk Struik. Among the distinctive features of this volume are a multicultural treatment, with consideration of the mathematical accomplishments of traditional peoples, native Americans and others, not usually discussed in histories of mathematics; actual translations from early groundbreaking mathematical texts; a comprehensive review of Babylonian mathematical achievements; a sensitivity to the social and cultural context of mathematical endeavours; over 300 illustrations, and 18 "historical exhibits"; and informative introductions and pointers and extensive bibliographical information. Each article is short and self-contained. "From Five Fingers to Infinity" has been conceived and designed for three uses: enjoyable personal reading; as a general reference on the history of mathematics; and as a classroom text. [via]

A collection of essays on "Twin Peaks" and the postmodern mediascape. [via]

Gödel's incompleteness theorem--which showed that any robust mathematical system contains statements that are true yet unprovable within the system--is an anomaly in 20th-century mathematics. Its conclusions are as strange as they are profound, but, unlike other recent theorems of comparable importance, grasping the main steps of the proof requires little more than high school algebra and a bit of patience. Ernest Nagel and James Newman's original text was one of the first (and best) to bring Gödel's ideas to a mass audience. With brevity and clarity, the volume described the historical context that made Gödel's theorem so paradigm-shattering. Where the first edition fell down, however, was in the guts of the proof itself; the brevity that served so well in defining the problem made their rendering of Gödel's solution so dense as to be nearly indigestible.

This reissuance of Nagel and Newman's classic has been vastly improved by the deft editing of Douglas Hofstadter, a protégé of Nagel's and himself a popularizer of Gödel's work. In the second edition, Hofstadter reworks significant sections of the book, clarifying and correcting here, adding necessary detail there. In the few instances in which his writing diverges from the spirit of the original, it is to emphasize the interplay between formal mathematical deduction and meta-mathematical reasoning--a subject explored in greater depth in Hofstadter's other delightful writings. --Clark Williams-Derry [via]

Y. Perelman is one of the premier leaders in the field of physics. [via]

Published to coincide with the Manhattan Project's 50th anniversary, Picturing the Bomb presents compelling images--most never seen by the public before--that offer a fresh look at the U.S. government's effort to build the world's first atomic device. Introduction by Richard Rhodes, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Making of the Atomic Bomb. 283 photos, 19 in color. [via]

From black holes to holograms, from relativity theory to the discovery of quarks,an original exposition of quantum theory tht unravels profound theological questions. [via]

Growing up in suburban Detroit, David Hahn was fascinated by science. While he was working on his Atomic Energy badge for the Boy Scouts, Davids obsessive attention turned to nuclear energy. Throwing caution to the wind, he plunged into a new project: building a model nuclear reactor in his backyard garden shed.

Posing as a physics professor, David solicited information on reactor design from the U.S. government and from industry experts. Following blueprints he found in an outdated physics textbook, David cobbled together a crude device that threw off toxic levels of radiation. His wholly unsupervised project finally sparked an environmental emergency that put his towns forty thousand suburbanites at risk. The EPA ended up burying his lab at a radioactive dumpsite in Utah. This offbeat account of ambition and, ultimately, hubris has the narrative energy of a first-rate thriller. [via]

This tutorial summarizes optical lithography enhancement research and development over the past 20 years. Discusses theoretical and practical aspects of commonly used techniques, including optical imaging and resolution, modified illumination, optical proximity correction, alternating and attenuating phase-shifting masks, selecting RETs, and second-generation RETs. Useful for students and practicing lithographers.

Contents

- Foreword
- Preface
- List of symbols
- Introduction
- Optical imaging and resolution
- Modified illumination
- Optical proximity correction
- Alternating phase-shifting mask
- Attenuated phase-shift mask
- Selecting appropriate RETs
- Second-generation RETs
- Concluding remarks
- k1 conversion charts
- Bibliography
- Index [via]

This is a layman's guide to modern science which combines the off-beat humour of Ingram Pinn's illustrations with text by Timothy Ferris, whose other books include "Coming of Age in the Milky Way" and "The Mind's Sky". The subject matter ranges from chemistry to cosmology and from marine biology to scientific morals, and delves into matters which concern man's environment, economies, personal health and cosmic future. Pinn's work, which generally depicts mankind belittled or bewildered by the world around him, first appeared in "New Scientist" in 1976, and illuminates the theories, issues and discoveries that have occupied scientists in recent years. The 80 watercolours in this book include both published and new work. [via]