Knocking on heaven's door : how physics and scientific thinking illuminate the universe and the modern world Cover Image

Book

Knocking on heaven's door : how physics and scientific thinking illuminate the universe and the modern world

Summary: "From the one of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World"-- and bestselling author of Warped Passages--an exhilarating and readable overview of the latest ideas in physics and a rousing defense of the role of science in our lives"--Provided by publisher.

Record details

ISBN: 9780061723728 (hardback : acid free paper)
ISBN: 006172372X (hardback : acid free paper)
Physical Description: xxi, 442 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
print
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: New York : Ecco, c2011.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

pt. I. Scaling reality. What's so small to you is so large to me ; Unlocking secrets ; Living in a material world ; Looking for answers -- pt. II. Scaling matter. The magical mystery tour ; "Seeing" is believing ; The edge of the universe -- pt. III. Machinery, measurements, and probability. One ring to rule them all ; The return of the ring ; Black holes that will devour the world ; Risky business ; Measurement and uncertainty ; The CMS and ATLAS experiments ; Identifying particles -- pt. IV. Modeling, predicting, and anticipating results. Truth, beauty, and other scientific misconceptions ; The Higgs boson ; The world's next top model ; Bottom-up versus top-down -- pt. V. Scaling the universe. Inside out ; What's so large to you is so small to me ; Visitors from the dark side -- pt. VI. Roundup. Think globally and act locally ; Conclusion.