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Beginnings, Blunders and Breakthroughs in Science
Just how the scientific discoveries that have changed our world come about? ‘Beginnings, Blunders and Breakthroughs in Science’ investigates the eureka moments, the serendipities and the plain errors that have peppered the science’s last 2,500 years.
Overflowing with wit, insight and information, the book offers chronological account that takes us from ancient Egypt and the earliest reference to ‘pi’ to the twenty-first century and the discovery that ended the search for the elusive God particle.
In 191 short, sharp and simple stories you’ll learn, with surprise and delight:
– How anaesthesia was discovered at a party
– Who, in the sixth century BC claimed that the earth is round
– Why the Riemann hypothesis remains mathematics’ greatest unsolved problem
– Who announced that because Great Britain had ‘plenty of messenger boys’, it had no need for the telephone
– How Vesalius, in 1543, scotched the idea that men have one rib fewer that women
– How a sewerage farm odour reducer benefitted medicine
This 63,000-word Kindle book is an updated version of the print edition of ‘The Cause of Mosquitoes’ Sorrow: Beginnings, Blunders and Breakthroughs in Science’ (2007) which was published in the US as ‘Beginnings, Blunders and Breakthroughs in Science’.
Surendra Verma is a journalist and author based in Melbourne, Australia. He has published numerous popular science books internationally, which have been translated into twelve languages.
Overflowing with wit, insight and information, the book offers chronological account that takes us from ancient Egypt and the earliest reference to ‘pi’ to the twenty-first century and the discovery that ended the search for the elusive God particle.
In 191 short, sharp and simple stories you’ll learn, with surprise and delight:
– How anaesthesia was discovered at a party
– Who, in the sixth century BC claimed that the earth is round
– Why the Riemann hypothesis remains mathematics’ greatest unsolved problem
– Who announced that because Great Britain had ‘plenty of messenger boys’, it had no need for the telephone
– How Vesalius, in 1543, scotched the idea that men have one rib fewer that women
– How a sewerage farm odour reducer benefitted medicine
This 63,000-word Kindle book is an updated version of the print edition of ‘The Cause of Mosquitoes’ Sorrow: Beginnings, Blunders and Breakthroughs in Science’ (2007) which was published in the US as ‘Beginnings, Blunders and Breakthroughs in Science’.
Surendra Verma is a journalist and author based in Melbourne, Australia. He has published numerous popular science books internationally, which have been translated into twelve languages.
- GenresScienceNonfiction
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
15 people want to read
About the author
Surendra Verma
89 books28 followersशिक्षा: भाषाविज्ञान में एम.ए.।
प्रकाशित कृतियाँ:
उपन्यास: अँधेरे से परे, मुझे चाँद चाहिए, दो मुर्दांे के लिए गुलदस्ता।
कहानी-संग्रह: प्यार की बातें, कितना सुन्दर जोड़ा।
व्यंग्य-संग्रह: जहाँ बारिश नहीं।
नाटक: तीन नाटक, सूर्य की अन्तिम किरण से सूर्य की पहली किरण तक, आठवाँ सर्ग, छोटे सैयद बड़े सैयद, शकुन्तला की अँगूठी, एक दूनी एक, कश्ैद-ए-हयात तथा नींद क्यों रात-भर नहीं आती।
सम्मान: केन्द्रीय संगीत नाटक अकादेमी, साहित्य अकादेमी तथा भारतीय भाषा परिषद द्वारा।
सम्प्रति: स्वतंत्र लेखन।
सम्पर्क: 631, शान्तिवन, न्यू लिंक रोड, अँधेरी (प.), मुम्बई-400088
प्रकाशित कृतियाँ:
उपन्यास: अँधेरे से परे, मुझे चाँद चाहिए, दो मुर्दांे के लिए गुलदस्ता।
कहानी-संग्रह: प्यार की बातें, कितना सुन्दर जोड़ा।
व्यंग्य-संग्रह: जहाँ बारिश नहीं।
नाटक: तीन नाटक, सूर्य की अन्तिम किरण से सूर्य की पहली किरण तक, आठवाँ सर्ग, छोटे सैयद बड़े सैयद, शकुन्तला की अँगूठी, एक दूनी एक, कश्ैद-ए-हयात तथा नींद क्यों रात-भर नहीं आती।
सम्मान: केन्द्रीय संगीत नाटक अकादेमी, साहित्य अकादेमी तथा भारतीय भाषा परिषद द्वारा।
सम्प्रति: स्वतंत्र लेखन।
सम्पर्क: 631, शान्तिवन, न्यू लिंक रोड, अँधेरी (प.), मुम्बई-400088
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 17, 2024
I think this book would be better for younger kids, but most of the discoveries discussed are taught in my chemistry and physics courses in college. Also it wasn't really grabbing my attention, the cover was more exciting than the contents within...
March 12, 2014
Great as coffee table material and not much else. A basic did you know that? compilation.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews