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In that location is always a sense of wonder and marvel with respect to the universe we live in. The advances in explaining our universe have been many, and withal it is not easy to summarize it in a way most people can chronicle to. Brian Cox does well to include the right amount of information with detail to be satisfying. There are portions on the book where it moves slowly but generally regains the track after some slack. The coverage includes space, origin theories, central particles & forces.
Overal
At that place is e'er a sense of wonder and marvel with respect to the universe we alive in. The advances in explaining our universe accept been many, and nonetheless it is not like shooting fish in a barrel to summarize information technology in a way virtually people tin relate to. Brian Cox does well to include the right amount of information with detail to exist satisfying. There are portions on the volume where it moves slowly only generally regains the rail subsequently some slack. The coverage includes space, origin theories, key particles & forces.Overall, an interesting read.
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Jul 17, 2016 Andrew rated it really liked it
This is another sumptuous book in the series but if you have read any of Professor Brian Cox's previous books you would come up to expect nothing less - and this book does not disappoint.
However this book has quite a claiming ahead of information technology. You see his previous books accept been on rather direct forward and easily divers subjects - the solar system, the universe so on - how we have something a little more vague and as such something totally open to interpretation.
And this is where the challeng
This is some other sumptuous book in the serial merely if you have read any of Professor Brian Cox'south previous books you would come to look naught less - and this book does not disappoint.However this volume has quite a challenge ahead of information technology. You run into his previous books have been on rather straight forward and hands defined subjects - the solar system, the universe and then on - how we have something a lilliputian more vague and every bit such something totally open up to interpretation.
And this is where the challenge lies - what do you class as the force of nature - and this interpretation works both for and confronting this book. Do non get me wrong information technology is amazing with cute photography and amazing insights just that I would say that you practise have a rather whirlwind tour.
Now I maintain that these books though never definitive act as an appetiser drawing the reader in with the promise that it sparks some thirst for more knowledge and setting the reader off on a journeying of discovery - if the reader simply thinks "hmm that was interesting" and simply shuts the book and goes off else where then the book and I approximate Professor Cox take failed. Somehow reading this book I dont think they take anything to worry about, but yet.
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This exploration of scientific discipline is perhaps a petty scrap unfocused, but Brian Cox has such an infectious enthusiasm for the subject that it'southward hard not to be swept forth with him on this journey. All in all an interesting very book that I'1000 glad that I've read. This exploration of science is perhaps a little chip unfocused, but Brian Cox has such an infectious enthusiasm for the subject that it's hard not to be swept along with him on this journey. All in all an interesting very book that I'grand glad that I've read. ...more
This surprising volume exudes the author'south enduring sense of wonder and please at the natural world. Such qualities, when demonstrated by a leading academic, who is besides a well-loved and respected TV presenter, tin motivate and inspire. I hope many non-scientists read this book.
Not an 'easy' read, information technology demands attention and concentration. But it does explain, where possible in layman's terms, the fundamental forces that control how things are made in this extraordinary universe we occupy. Acknowled This surprising volume exudes the author's enduring sense of wonder and delight at the natural world. Such qualities, when demonstrated by a leading academic, who is also a well-loved and respected TV presenter, tin can motivate and inspire. I promise many non-scientists read this book.
Not an 'like shooting fish in a barrel' read, information technology demands attending and concentration. But it does explain, where possible in layman's terms, the fundamental forces that command how things are made in this extraordinary universe we occupy. Acknowledging the roles of early pioneers, and explaining the history of discovery, Professor Cox builds pictures of the way brilliant minds accept come up to understand the manner things work in nature.
If I take a negative comment, it's only that some early equations in the volume would benefit from a few more labels to identify the quantities and qualities described. Equally the volume progresses, all the same, these very issues, that I imagined were an assumption about readers' mathematical skills and knowledge, are made clearer: the later formulae are improve labelled. For someone like me, with all the mathematical aptitude of an artichoke, some of the workings might but too accept been written in Klingon. But that's my problem, not the book'due south.
It's refreshing to detect a scientist, a popular one at that, so willing to explicate at length that science is not a fixed or exact matter. Its methods, nevertheless, are subject to peer scrutiny and its theorems require proofs to accomplish that status. Science is an area of try where simple speculation coupled with a belief organization is no substitute for factual data and a serious effort to discover the realities. It's refreshing to observe this mind-fix in a scientist of Professor Cox's stature, since in that location are, unfortunately, scientists who care for their discipline in the same cavalier way that near religious regime treat their beliefs: as if somehow the very fact that they believe their myths should render them beyond question.
I read this volume as background research for a scientific discipline fiction novel I'1000 writing. I'grand very pleased I did! It'due south acquired me to reconsider sure elements of the futurity I'm portraying and prevented me appearing more foolish than I might otherwise seem: I've discovered that certain 'facts' in some fields are not quite what some proponents have alleged them to be.
This is a book almost the forces of nature. Four of them that form the basic 'building blocks' of how the universe, and everything in it, is structured. It's a truly fascinating read, peppered with amusing comments and presented in a very readable fashion. What could so hands have been a dry textbook, is really an entertaining and informative slice of accessible writing. I wish I'd had teachers with Professor Cox'southward power to explicate things in an engaging and inspiring fashion; my schoolhouse education would have taken an entirely different and more useful route!
Readers with little scientific background may find some of the explanations difficult to comprehend, and those, like me, with poor maths, may have problems understanding some of the proofs. But the Professor makes allowances for these holes in our education and finds ways to make clear what might otherwise be obscure. Information technology'south an intriguing and inspiring read and, having thoroughly enjoyed information technology, I fully recommend the volume.
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Not an 'easy' read, information technology demands attention and concentration. But it does explain, where possible in layman's terms, the fundamental forces that control how things are made in this extraordinary universe we occupy. Acknowled This surprising volume exudes the author's enduring sense of wonder and delight at the natural world. Such qualities, when demonstrated by a leading academic, who is also a well-loved and respected TV presenter, tin can motivate and inspire. I promise many non-scientists read this book.
Not an 'like shooting fish in a barrel' read, information technology demands attending and concentration. But it does explain, where possible in layman's terms, the fundamental forces that command how things are made in this extraordinary universe we occupy. Acknowledging the roles of early pioneers, and explaining the history of discovery, Professor Cox builds pictures of the way brilliant minds accept come up to understand the manner things work in nature.
If I take a negative comment, it's only that some early equations in the volume would benefit from a few more labels to identify the quantities and qualities described. Equally the volume progresses, all the same, these very issues, that I imagined were an assumption about readers' mathematical skills and knowledge, are made clearer: the later formulae are improve labelled. For someone like me, with all the mathematical aptitude of an artichoke, some of the workings might but too accept been written in Klingon. But that's my problem, not the book'due south.
It's refreshing to detect a scientist, a popular one at that, so willing to explicate at length that science is not a fixed or exact matter. Its methods, nevertheless, are subject to peer scrutiny and its theorems require proofs to accomplish that status. Science is an area of try where simple speculation coupled with a belief organization is no substitute for factual data and a serious effort to discover the realities. It's refreshing to observe this mind-fix in a scientist of Professor Cox's stature, since in that location are, unfortunately, scientists who care for their discipline in the same cavalier way that near religious regime treat their beliefs: as if somehow the very fact that they believe their myths should render them beyond question.
I read this volume as background research for a scientific discipline fiction novel I'1000 writing. I'grand very pleased I did! It'due south acquired me to reconsider sure elements of the futurity I'm portraying and prevented me appearing more foolish than I might otherwise seem: I've discovered that certain 'facts' in some fields are not quite what some proponents have alleged them to be.
This is a book almost the forces of nature. Four of them that form the basic 'building blocks' of how the universe, and everything in it, is structured. It's a truly fascinating read, peppered with amusing comments and presented in a very readable fashion. What could so hands have been a dry textbook, is really an entertaining and informative slice of accessible writing. I wish I'd had teachers with Professor Cox'southward power to explicate things in an engaging and inspiring fashion; my schoolhouse education would have taken an entirely different and more useful route!
Readers with little scientific background may find some of the explanations difficult to comprehend, and those, like me, with poor maths, may have problems understanding some of the proofs. But the Professor makes allowances for these holes in our education and finds ways to make clear what might otherwise be obscure. Information technology'south an intriguing and inspiring read and, having thoroughly enjoyed information technology, I fully recommend the volume.
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Jun 21, 2019 Ming Wei rated information technology it was amazing
Very stiff indepth educational book, learnt many thing from this, Brian Cox withal again makes topics very interesting, the book is well written, well presented, the book cover is OK, this volume actually expands your cognition, many people I believe would find this book interesting, if yous like the TV series, this volume is a great complement to the Television shows. The eudcational level is that the book would potentially be very useful to university students, study relevent topics. Reall enjoyed this book. Due north Very strong indepth educational book, learnt many thing from this, Brian Cox nevertheless again makes topics very interesting, the volume is well written, well presented, the book embrace is OK, this volume really expands your knowledge, many people I believe would find this book interesting, if you lot similar the TV series, this book is a great complement to the TV shows. The eudcational level is that the book would potentially be very useful to academy students, study relevent topics. Reall enjoyed this book. No editorial issues, no negatives at all from my indicate of view. ...more
This is such an interesting read! It forms book v of my Penguin Read the Yr Challenge likewise. Well written, interesting and thoroughly fascinating. It felt like my science lessons from schoolhouse all in i! But, this is a piddling more complicated. I'd highly recommend it.
Whenever I read books similar these, I'thou always awe-inspired by the sheer vastness and pure amazingness of our little home in a huge universe. The primal laws of nature, quantum mechanics, physics and the tenacity of biology never ceases to astonish me and this volume expertly communicated all of that.
Beautifully written and in a way that will help yous to slow down, cease and think and truly capeesh the intricacies of the world and the physics we live in and are leap past. Information technology lays down and explai
Whenever I read books like these, I'1000 always awe-inspired by the sheer vastness and pure amazingness of our little home in a huge universe. The cardinal laws of nature, quantum mechanics, physics and the tenacity of biology never ceases to amaze me and this volume expertly communicated all of that.Beautifully written and in a way that will help you to slow downward, stop and recollect and truly capeesh the intricacies of the world and the physics we live in and are bound by. It lays downwards and explains many of the fundamental laws and scientific discipline, in a manner that caters for both the scientific discipline novice and the scientist akin.
It does become deep into the maths and science in some instances which, fifty-fifty if you don't understand (which most wont claim to, me included!) it will yet piece of work to amaze and show the deep levels of understanding and human endeavour to explicate and work out the world around u.s.a.. It really helps to make you appreciate just how complex and amazing our world is- something that can get then easily overlooked in the wrappings of our everyday lives.
I'll always exist a fan of Brian's work and his easy way of communicating scientific discipline to all, and this volume similar many of his others, did a beautiful job of explaining and exploring the many forces of nature in a way that held your interest, kept you entertained, intrigued and in awe in the beautiful earth we get to telephone call home. I'll never tire almost learning more of our beautiful planet!
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Mar 10, 2018 Nilesh rated it it was ok
The short introductory volume on science is too short to serve a purpose. To commencement with, the tone is as if the author is trying to convince its readers that there is science/reason, rather than anything mystical, at the base of the reality around. The wonderment bending often leads to the author spending a considerable corporeality of time (compared to the size of the volume) making elementary arguments, discussing the history of scientists/discovery or raising questions that practise non fit. From the mundane or The brusk introductory volume on science is too short to serve a purpose. To start with, the tone is as if the author is trying to convince its readers that there is science/reason, rather than anything mystical, at the base of the reality around. The wonderment angle often leads to the writer spending a considerable amount of time (compared to the size of the book) making elementary arguments, discussing the history of scientists/discovery or raising questions that do not fit. From the mundane or the most comprehensible, the author would suddenly make almost quantum jumps to extremely complex arguments with little explanations. And in another wink, the readers would observe the book on a completely unlike topic as information technology covers multiple branches of biochemistry, evolutionary science, astronomy, electromagnetism, relativity and quantum physics apart from issues like the origin of life and even the Big Bang. ...more than
Exercise I now know physics? Nope. But I know somewhere betwixt 5 and 15% more on some topics of physics than I did before this volume. But that's non really why I liked Forces of Nature - I don't retrieve my life will be straight impacted by knowing or forgetting how many flavors of neutrinos in that location are. (Three. And yes, for some reason they're chosen "flavors".)
What I liked was that Cox and Cohen do a peachy job of linking things you might not have idea are linked, of weaving a chip of science history i Do I now know physics? Nope. But I know somewhere between five and 15% more than on some topics of physics than I did earlier this book. Merely that's non really why I liked Forces of Nature - I don't think my life will be direct impacted by knowing or forgetting how many flavors of neutrinos there are. (Three. And yep, for some reason they're called "flavors".)
What I liked was that Cox and Cohen practice a great chore of linking things y'all might not have idea are linked, of weaving a bit of science history into simple but not dumbed-down explanations of physical and chemical mechanisms, and specially of transmitting how utterly brilliant they find the whole thing. Then fifty-fifty if you oasis't the slightest interest in the topic, even if you've never wondered why the sky is blue and why beex build hexagonal hives, simply read information technology to take part in a fancy university professor's joy most how the world works. How often practise y'all go to practise that?
What I liked was that Cox and Cohen do a peachy job of linking things you might not have idea are linked, of weaving a chip of science history i Do I now know physics? Nope. But I know somewhere between five and 15% more than on some topics of physics than I did earlier this book. Merely that's non really why I liked Forces of Nature - I don't think my life will be direct impacted by knowing or forgetting how many flavors of neutrinos there are. (Three. And yep, for some reason they're called "flavors".)
What I liked was that Cox and Cohen practice a great chore of linking things y'all might not have idea are linked, of weaving a bit of science history into simple but not dumbed-down explanations of physical and chemical mechanisms, and specially of transmitting how utterly brilliant they find the whole thing. Then fifty-fifty if you oasis't the slightest interest in the topic, even if you've never wondered why the sky is blue and why beex build hexagonal hives, simply read information technology to take part in a fancy university professor's joy most how the world works. How often practise y'all go to practise that?
(Did non fit into the PopSugar Reading Challenge 2020)
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And then enchanting and spellbinding that I couldn't drib information technology. Artful, elegant and beautifully written pop science book. The only one who could write ameliorate would exist tardily Carl Sagan. It'll be quite hard to find using Monet as a framework to explain Special Theory of Relativity elsewhere. So enchanting and spellbinding that I couldn't drop it. Artful, elegant and beautifully written popular science book. The only one who could write better would exist late Carl Sagan. Information technology'll be quite hard to discover using Monet every bit a framework to explicate Special Theory of Relativity elsewhere. ...more
Mar 15, 2019 Kris rated it information technology was astonishing
I don't know what it is nearly the manner he explains complicated topics simply I really connect with it. Fantastic volume. I don't know what it is most the style he explains complicated topics just I really connect with it. Fantastic book. ...more than
This is an interesting and informative volume. It'due south very approachable and written at entry level. It was adapted from a goggle box show and this fact is noticeable and peradventure a flake irritating. I listened to the audobook and the reader has a great vox.
Good introduction to the physics that surround usa. Pleasent listen/read for those interested in such topics. Nothing groundbreaking, but formulated in a relatively piece of cake-to-assimilate way.
May 25, 2021 Pilge rated it liked it
It is packed with amazing things and well written. (He just lost a star due to too many references to himself which I personally find a bit off putting - save them for your autobiography Bri.)
Professor Cox is the type of person who is optimistic with his physics: he lifts people up to the wonders of the universe rather than pulling the board from below and letting you fall into stark realism. This is possibly due to his English sentiment of not taking anything too serious, whilst also cartoon from his great dearest of the subject area and the hundreds of scientists who pioneered some office of information technology and transformed physics into what it is today.
Forces of Nature is a broad overview of the 4 fu
Professor Cox is the type of person who is optimistic with his physics: he lifts people up to the wonders of the universe rather than pulling the lath from below and letting you lot fall into stark realism. This is perhaps due to his English language sentiment of non taking annihilation too serious, whilst as well drawing from his slap-up love of the subject and the hundreds of scientists who pioneered some role of it and transformed physics into what it is today.Forces of Nature is a broad overview of the four fundamental forces of nature: the strong nuclear force, the weak nuclear strength, the electromagnetic force and the forcefulness of gravity. Professor Cox goes on to respond many of the questions that are intrinsic to our universe—a universe created with stock-still laws made manifest in a creative amalgamation of numbers. The book is based off of a BBC documentary and Cox makes use of this very visual explanation of things; he describes the physics of symmetry through manatees off the coast of Florida, and the wonders of colour through his diving into the mid-Atlantic ridge in Iceland.
I would be lying if I said that textbooks do not provide the information with the aforementioned enthusiasm every bit Cox does, merely Professor Cox's prose is noticeably beautiful, romantic and kind; he is pleasantly droll, enthusiastic, pocket-sized and not at all pejorative. You can tell he has an appreciation for simply about every sub-field of physics and not just that, he seems to be profoundly appreciative of the arts; Claude Monet and George Orwell appear amongst his quotes and visualisations. People often frown at me when I tell them that Physics and Literature are incredibly similar to 1 some other, but they shouldn't exist shocked at the thought that a lot of physicists turn into writers and communicators; it is not a coincidence that scientists oftentimes convey the secrets of the universe in poetic prose. After all, every creation story needs a linguistic communication—Professor Cox has found a kind and intelligent one.
Original Review posted at: https://suspectnarglesblog.wordpress....
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Oct 07, 2018 Lorrie rated it did not like it
I tried with this 1, I really did. I don't take any science background, and math was never my strongest subject in school, just I know when someone is a good teacher. The biggest factor is existence able to take really abstract or difficult concepts and eddy them down into something someone who doesn't accept a physics degree can understand them. Neil deGrasse-Tyson can do information technology wonderfully. Carl Sagan could practice information technology too. Brian Cox? Nope. Not fifty-fifty a trivial. Later on a third chapter if scratching my head, rere I tried with this one, I really did. I don't have any science groundwork, and math was never my strongest subject area in school, simply I know when someone is a good teacher. The biggest factor is being able to take really abstract or difficult concepts and boil them down into something someone who doesn't have a physics degree can understand them. Neil deGrasse-Tyson can do it wonderfully. Carl Sagan could do it also. Brian Cox? Nope. Not even a little. After a third chapter if scratching my head, rereading the section to see if I missed something, and then giving up and moving on to the next concept, I eventually fabricated the decision to DNF this volume. Nil in this book was boiled downwardly so the lay person (ie. me) could become more than the bones gist of the concept.
As much as this stuff interests me, I don't want to take to go and get a physics degree just to empathize what this author is trying to say.
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This is great-Brian Cox talking through the physical forces that shape the globe/universe - electromagnetism, gravity, & strong & weak nuclear forces, and how they create patterns and certain structures in the universe - spherical planets, tidal oceans, snowflakes, bilateral symmetry in many fauna species, etc. It's physics well explained for the layperson (experts might find it besides basic- but then, it's then nicely articulated they might bask information technology). I LOVED information technology, especially the discussions around t This is great-Brian Cox talking through the physical forces that shape the world/universe - electromagnetism, gravity, & strong & weak nuclear forces, and how they create patterns and certain structures in the universe - spherical planets, tidal oceans, snowflakes, bilateral symmetry in many creature species, etc. It's physics well explained for the layperson (experts might find it too basic- but so, it'south so nicely articulated they might enjoy it). I LOVED information technology, peculiarly the discussions around the physical origins of life on earth. A lot of the book is quite abstruse (as physics often is) and beyond it all is the sheer joy and delight Cox takes in the pursuit and value of knowledge, which as an academic meant a lot to me. At that place'due south still quite a lot of maths and chemistry in hither then if they're not your thing this probably isn't for y'all. I listened to the audio which was narrated past Samuel West who of course was Splendid, think I'll now only heed to books narrated past him 😂 ...more
Some of the discussions are besides deep for a pop science book. But the "Ionian enchantments" I had from some of the information provided by the volume make up for its shortcomings. Some of the discussions are too deep for a popular science book. But the "Ionian enchantments" I had from some of the information provided by the book make upward for its shortcomings. ...more than
This is such a great book! Prof. Brian Cox is a chief of describing complex science in enchanting storytelling. I wish I had this book in high schoolhouse!
I'll not make this an overly long review as I'm no scientist and, therefor, not qualified to delve into this into as well much detail.
As I said, I am no scientist, simply this book does non require you to be i. It but requires that you lot have a curious listen as to how everything works and an urge to dive a tad deeper than simply being curious. The science in this book is accessible to anyone. There are, plain, times when information technology does advance a tad, but for the most part information technology's kept at a level where whatever
I'll non make this an overly long review as I'k no scientist and, therefor, not qualified to delve into this into too much item.As I said, I am no scientist, merely this book does not crave you to be ane. It but requires that you take a curious mind as to how everything works and an urge to dive a tad deeper than simply being curious. The science in this book is attainable to anyone. There are, obviously, times when it does advance a tad, merely for the most part it's kept at a level where anyone can selection it upwards and feel similar they're along for the ride rather than simply nodding, smiling and waiting for the smart men with the big words to go abroad and leave you in peace.
The writing style is very witty and engaging, something that a lot of science books I've tried either attempt and don't practice very well, fail at all together, or simply do not attempt. In the case of the latter, it's hardly their fault. Most scientists write for other scientists so assume all the big words and equations are understood (thankfully Cox and Cohen aren't solely of that school of thought).
I enjoyed this from kickoff to stop and was thoroughly upset when it ended. I wanted there to be more, more, more. But, that's what these books are designed to do: requite yous a gustatory modality for the chief grade; a main course y'all need to rail downward and devour on your own, as opposed to existence spoon fed here.
If you lot've the slightest curiosity about the globe, solar system and universe around you, I'd highly recommend picking upwards this book (and others like information technology). Some of the things in hither opened my optics to different ways of seeing the world and I wait forward to diving into more of their work to continue that journey.
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Mar 25, 2018 Gabriella rated it actually liked it
This was a really interesting and informative book. I liked the fact that it explored science through request basic questions about the earth, such as 'Why practise snowflakes take six points?' or 'What makes things different colours?' etc. This made it feel like I was learning how the knowledge is applied to the world rather than that I was just learning random facts. I did struggle to understand some concepts and diagrams simply you can tell that he's done his best to explain things clearly. He as well thr This was a really interesting and informative volume. I liked the fact that it explored science through asking basic questions about the earth, such as 'Why do snowflakes accept vi points?' or 'What makes things different colours?' etc. This made information technology feel similar I was learning how the noesis is practical to the globe rather than that I was just learning random facts. I did struggle to sympathise some concepts and diagrams but you lot can tell that he'south done his best to explain things clearly. He also throws in the occasional chestnut or a fleck of dry out wit which fabricated it entertaining besides. ...more
If you await at the sky at night you volition encounter cute stars shining, have you ever asked yourself . How the universe began? Why the sun shines? Why the sky is blue? Why at that place is life on earth? Why nosotros can't explain scientifically why we tin't go back in fourth dimension? Why we can't go dorsum to the past? Scientists look for the answers to many questions, they won't want to be correct simply they want to know. This book inspired by BBC television. Brian Cox leads u.s.a. with his astonishing to discover the Forces of Natu If you look at the sky at night you will see beautiful stars shining, have you always asked yourself . How the universe began? Why the sun shines? Why the sky is blue? Why there is life on world? Why we tin't explain scientifically why nosotros can't become back in time? Why we tin't go back to the past? Scientists expect for the answers to many questions, they won't want to be right but they desire to know. This book inspired by BBC television. Brian Cox leads united states with his astonishing to discover the Forces of Nature ...more
Aug 04, 2017 Rob rated it actually liked it
As with most of the Television Shows and other stuff done by Brian, this book is a very good primer into the wonder of science and the natural world. The narrator of the Audiobook really does a expert task conveying that tone of wonder and amazement that is then often heard from Brian on his TV miniseries. I think this is definitely a expert book for anyone interested in the natural word.
i of the best nonfiction science books always period. somehow i feel similar i empathise physics so much more at present, espc fourth dimension dilation & other mindbending concepts. also that part about "why science? why research?" brian cox u have me 1 of the best nonfiction science books e'er period. somehow i feel like i sympathise physics then much more now, espc fourth dimension dilation & other mindbending concepts. also that part well-nigh "why science? why enquiry?" brian cox u have me ...more
Feb 21, 2021 Miguel Abreu rated it actually liked it
Very interesting book which shows how far we have reached in science and how much more there is to explore. It gives an insight of what we know as a fact and how to approach information technology from a scientific point of view and proceed always curious of our environment.
Fantastic book. If you are a layperson and you want to gain some noesis on the forces that rule our earth and the entire universe, this book volition really aid you.
Sep 09, 2018 Seán rated it really liked it
Pretty interesting, wish they went into a bit more detail on some things. It is inspired past the TV show and then some things weren't as piece of cake to understand without a visual. Pretty interesting, wish they went into a bit more detail on some things. It is inspired by the Boob tube show and then some things weren't as easy to understand without a visual. ...more
I don't retrieve ever watching the Idiot box serial but somewhere I came across this little book that was designed to back-trail the BBC Television series with Professor Brian Cox (and in smaller fonts ...Andrew Cohen who was manifestly the Executive producer of the BBC Science Unit..and so probably taking the credit hither for the toil of many underlings). I only realised after I had bought the paperback book that at that place is apparently a more than lavish hardback book ...which looks like information technology has the colour plates embedd I don't call up ever watching the TV series but somewhere I came beyond this petty book that was designed to accompany the BBC TV serial with Professor Brian Cox (and in smaller fonts ...Andrew Cohen who was apparently the Executive producer of the BBC Scientific discipline Unit of measurement..and and then probably taking the credit hither for the toil of many underlings). I merely realised later on I had bought the paperback book that in that location is apparently a more lavish hardback volume ...which looks like it has the colour plates embedded into the text rather than being gathered together in ane section equally they are in the paperback. In fact, the paperback version is not good. The diagrams appear to have been lifted from a larger version (perhaps with colour in the larger version) but they are mostly so small and the printing is and then faint that it is difficult to read or interpret. So this was disappointing.
Nevertheless, I persevered and to give credit where it is due, Brian Cox does a workman-like task of bringing some aspects of science to the masses (in this case just me). As he says in the opening chapter ...this volume is near scientific discipline and near request the sort of questions that a child might inquire...and ordinarily doesn't get a satisfactory answer; why is the heaven blueish? why are stars and planets round? why are plants green? I thought that I had a reasonable grasp on all of these issues simply Brian opened my eyes to quite a few new wrinkles or things that I had non thought about. He, nigh appropriately, starts off with a give-and-take nigh snowflakes and symmetry ...leading into Chemistry and the fundamental building blocks and forces of nature...the stiff force, the weak force, electromagnetism and gravity. And why is the earth round (well more than or less round)..information technology's because gravity is pulling everything inwards towards the center. And he makes the indicate...which I had not thought about before, that we can't accept really loftier mountains on earth because the ground nether them volition non exist strong plenty to resist the downwards pressure. But on Mars you can accept very high mountains,...24 km high. And once an object in our solar system gets to be about 600 km across the force of gravity is sufficient to pull it into a spherical shape. The earth is spinning, however, and the spin makes the earth a slightly oblate spheroid. And the snowflake has a hexagonal symmetry considering of the angular bonds in the water molecules ..so the shape of the snow crystals is indicative of a deeper construction.
Brian then moves into a discussion of space and time and describes ane of Einstein's contributions that you are a rest in an inertial frame of reference if an isolated object is either remaining at rest or continuing in a straight line. And the earths accelerating towards the lord's day ...merely cyberspace effect is information technology orbits the sun in a elliptical orbit. (Must confess the I've always has a mental difficulty in accepting this thought of accelerating towards the sun...just travelling in a "stock-still" elliptical orbit. And the moon (which probably was formed by a collision of the world with another planet) has a major impact on the earth. Contrary to popular belief, the moon doesn't circle the centre of the earth merely a spot nearly 4,700km from the centre of the world (which is the eye of mass of the earth/moon organization). (The earth has a radius of 6,376 km). And the earth, in plough orbits effectually this centre of mass in roughly a circle. Considering the earth is rotating around this centre of mass (and spinning on information technology'due south axis) there is a centrifugal force which counterbalances the pull of the moon's gravity....and information technology's this centrifugal force which spins the tides out on the side facing away from the moon. And for the side facing (underneath) the moon, the gravitational pull is slightly greater than the gravitational pull at the centre of the earth. So the oceans are pulled towards the moon...and, in fact, the globe's chaff is deformed past about 0.5m too.
Maxwell developed his equations relating the electric and magnetic fields where the speed of light enters the equations every bit a constant. Einstein's brilliance was to accept the equations at face value and insist that the speed of light remained constant when nosotros hop betwixt inertial frames of reference. Brian goes on to hash out the familiar problems of measuring time in unlike frames of reference and discusses the globe timeline that we all experience plus "forbidden " zones that are not within our "light cone".
If nosotros have Einstein'south theory of relativity at confront value, it leads to the idea of the Block Universe. Spacetime tin can exist pictured as a 4D blob over which we move, encountering the events on our worldliness as we go. Simply whilst the theory leads to this it is not necessarily correct.
He now moves on to the question of how did life begin. It seems that the world formed 4.54 billion years agone and there is good evidence that life had gained a human foot concur by 3.5 billion years ago. And living things are made out of unproblematic building blocks. It'due south Chemistry. And chemistry is all near the movement of electrons. We accept a fleck of a digression here whilst Brian describes the rather macabre experiments around 1800 with corpses and electricity...making the corpses twitch and move.....with some ideas nigh bring them back to life.
There is increasing prove from analysis of ancient zircons that the very young world was a world of moderate temperatures, stable oceans and familiar air (though oxygen levels were low) and there are some indications that life may have been established iv.1 billion years agone.
But life appears to run opposite to the second law of thermodynamics because living things are highly ordered. Though equally Schrodinger pointed out, events within a living system cannot exist isolated from their surroundings . For example if you have a bunch of atoms of hydrogen and oxygen in a box and they spontaneously combine to course water...the water is in a more than ordered state than the atoms. So what has happened hither? Well whilst the entropy of the system of atoms has been lowered by the chemical reaction, a large amount of free energy has likewise been released, This heat is captivated into the environs ...thus increasing the entropy of the surroundings by more than than the entropy increase associated with the formation of the water molecules. Living things work in the same way.
The energy generating mechanisms used by living things are basically carbohydrate combines with oxygen giving CO2 plus water ...and a wax candle burning is essentially the same sort of reaction. In both cases electrons are transferred from a long chain carbon molecule to oxygen. But with respiration (life) the electron is transferred via a lot of steps (nigh xv) usually involving iron. The steps are too used in photosynthesis. And all living things shop part of the energy in ATP..similar batteries. Every bit the electrons are passed down the respiratory chain they are used to pump protons across membranes. For every pair of electron 10 protons are pumped. In the vicinity of the membrane (6 billionths of a m thick), the electric field is 30 million volts per chiliad...roughly like a lightning strike on usa. This "waterfall" of protons is used to produce ATP out of ii "empty" molecular components known as ADP plus P. All living things seem to use the aforementioned system which suggests that this biochemistry is very ancient.
The story then morphs into the familiar discussion about life originating in the nether-body of water volcanic vents..blackness smokers and possible hydrogen sulphide chemical science; and white smokers which are not volcanic just result from the reaction of warm h2o with methane at the ocean flooring...and have an alkaline environment.The statement is that one gets a proton gradient between this alkaline environment (with a deficit of protons) and the surrounding seawater'due south acrid environment with a surplus of protons. The argument is that this sets up the conditions needed for photosynthesis or respiration ...with a proton slope. (Actually, I call back one probably gets something similar this with the double layer betwixt common clay particles.....and dirt lines itself up in overnice ordered sheets with regular spacing.......might be worth exploring...). Brian leaves us with the idea that life is really only chemical science and in that location are some plausible pathways for it to occur spontaneously on the globe.
He then explores the ground of colour and our experience of colour and the formation of the rainbow. In passing he mentions Ibn al-Haytham, who, in the 11th century, was a pretty original researcher....looking for evidence rather than relying on authority....his words about the seeker subsequently truth:..."he should also suspect himself as he performs his disquisitional examination of it, so that he may avert falling into either prejudice or leniency". Great! I similar it. Other'due south contributed to the understanding of the formation of the rainbow but information technology was probably Newton who eventually resolved the result with a double refraction of while light ..which was composed of all the other visible colours. Then to an an investigation into the origin and nature of light. The free energy output of the dominicus at the top of the earth's temper is i.41Kw/ foursquare m. in January when the earth is closest to the sun and i.32 Kw in July when the world is furtherest away...and the energy output is staggering ...all due to the fusion resulting in an atomic nucleus of i proton and 1 neutron...it'south called a deuteron...Then another proton fuses with the deuteron to form Helium 3 nucleus and 2 of these fuse together to form a Helium 4 nucleus...with the release of 2 protons.
About this stage, I've merely ordered, the larger version of the BBC volume. I'll update this review when I receive information technology just for the moment I'll just go along following Brian Cox as he explains why things smooth.
It was Maxwell who realised that light was a travelling disturbance in the electromagnetic field. He saw it equally a moving ridge and light has a wavelength...ranging (at least) from 10 to power eight 1000 (long radio waves) to 10 to power -sixteen (gamma rays). When electrical charges wiggle they create a changing magnetic field which creates a irresolute electric field etc etc. The resulting moving disturbance IS light. The movement suggests a link between temperature and light...but the early models predicted an infinite amount of energy beingness radiated away from hot objects....plainly not right so Planck proposed another model...crazy but it worked where low-cal could just be emitted in packets. It was Einstein who actually proposed taking the theory seriously and proposed that light is actually composed of little packets (photons)....and even more than...that the electromagnetic field is composed of piddling particles of calorie-free.....thus pointing to the deeper structure of quantum theory. Electrically charged particles emit low-cal when they are accelerated....in accordance with Maxwell's equations.
Electrons can organise themselves in very specific means within molecules. If the arrangement of electrons within a molecule is to be contradistinct and then a photon with but the right energy to make the change must be absorbed. Since the free energy of a photon is direct related to its colour , a particular molecule volition only absorb certain colours of low-cal. In modern language, Rayleigh's formula shows that the probability of a photon to scatter is inversely proportional to the fourth ability of its wavelength. This ways that blue photos (450nm) are over 3 times more probable to besprinkle off gas molecules on their fashion through than blood-red photons (650nm). That's why nosotros have blueish skies during the day and scarlet at dusk.
But why is green the colour of life...the answer is that plants are green because chlorophyll absorbs blueish and red photons and the green photons are reflected back into our eyes. Early life probably grabbed their electrons off less stable molecules such as hydrogen sulphide..only at some phase the oxygen evolving circuitous allowed organisms to replace H2S with the more than readily available water. The while lot was linked together into the Z-scheme (of photosynthesis) which is nowadays in all plants today.His summary of photosynthesis skims over things only a flake too fast. Simply then, it's incredibly complicated...and probably best left to a specialist boom.
Finally he indulges himself with some speculation nigh life elsewhere in the universe. There is a lot of knowledge packed into this volume. And I'll be interested to see how the full sized book handles the message. ...more
Nevertheless, I persevered and to give credit where it is due, Brian Cox does a workman-like task of bringing some aspects of science to the masses (in this case just me). As he says in the opening chapter ...this volume is near scientific discipline and near request the sort of questions that a child might inquire...and ordinarily doesn't get a satisfactory answer; why is the heaven blueish? why are stars and planets round? why are plants green? I thought that I had a reasonable grasp on all of these issues simply Brian opened my eyes to quite a few new wrinkles or things that I had non thought about. He, nigh appropriately, starts off with a give-and-take nigh snowflakes and symmetry ...leading into Chemistry and the fundamental building blocks and forces of nature...the stiff force, the weak force, electromagnetism and gravity. And why is the earth round (well more than or less round)..information technology's because gravity is pulling everything inwards towards the center. And he makes the indicate...which I had not thought about before, that we can't accept really loftier mountains on earth because the ground nether them volition non exist strong plenty to resist the downwards pressure. But on Mars you can accept very high mountains,...24 km high. And once an object in our solar system gets to be about 600 km across the force of gravity is sufficient to pull it into a spherical shape. The earth is spinning, however, and the spin makes the earth a slightly oblate spheroid. And the snowflake has a hexagonal symmetry considering of the angular bonds in the water molecules ..so the shape of the snow crystals is indicative of a deeper construction.
Brian then moves into a discussion of space and time and describes ane of Einstein's contributions that you are a rest in an inertial frame of reference if an isolated object is either remaining at rest or continuing in a straight line. And the earths accelerating towards the lord's day ...merely cyberspace effect is information technology orbits the sun in a elliptical orbit. (Must confess the I've always has a mental difficulty in accepting this thought of accelerating towards the sun...just travelling in a "stock-still" elliptical orbit. And the moon (which probably was formed by a collision of the world with another planet) has a major impact on the earth. Contrary to popular belief, the moon doesn't circle the centre of the earth merely a spot nearly 4,700km from the centre of the world (which is the eye of mass of the earth/moon organization). (The earth has a radius of 6,376 km). And the earth, in plough orbits effectually this centre of mass in roughly a circle. Considering the earth is rotating around this centre of mass (and spinning on information technology'due south axis) there is a centrifugal force which counterbalances the pull of the moon's gravity....and information technology's this centrifugal force which spins the tides out on the side facing away from the moon. And for the side facing (underneath) the moon, the gravitational pull is slightly greater than the gravitational pull at the centre of the earth. So the oceans are pulled towards the moon...and, in fact, the globe's chaff is deformed past about 0.5m too.
Maxwell developed his equations relating the electric and magnetic fields where the speed of light enters the equations every bit a constant. Einstein's brilliance was to accept the equations at face value and insist that the speed of light remained constant when nosotros hop betwixt inertial frames of reference. Brian goes on to hash out the familiar problems of measuring time in unlike frames of reference and discusses the globe timeline that we all experience plus "forbidden " zones that are not within our "light cone".
If nosotros have Einstein'south theory of relativity at confront value, it leads to the idea of the Block Universe. Spacetime tin can exist pictured as a 4D blob over which we move, encountering the events on our worldliness as we go. Simply whilst the theory leads to this it is not necessarily correct.
He now moves on to the question of how did life begin. It seems that the world formed 4.54 billion years agone and there is good evidence that life had gained a human foot concur by 3.5 billion years ago. And living things are made out of unproblematic building blocks. It'due south Chemistry. And chemistry is all near the movement of electrons. We accept a fleck of a digression here whilst Brian describes the rather macabre experiments around 1800 with corpses and electricity...making the corpses twitch and move.....with some ideas nigh bring them back to life.
There is increasing prove from analysis of ancient zircons that the very young world was a world of moderate temperatures, stable oceans and familiar air (though oxygen levels were low) and there are some indications that life may have been established iv.1 billion years agone.
But life appears to run opposite to the second law of thermodynamics because living things are highly ordered. Though equally Schrodinger pointed out, events within a living system cannot exist isolated from their surroundings . For example if you have a bunch of atoms of hydrogen and oxygen in a box and they spontaneously combine to course water...the water is in a more than ordered state than the atoms. So what has happened hither? Well whilst the entropy of the system of atoms has been lowered by the chemical reaction, a large amount of free energy has likewise been released, This heat is captivated into the environs ...thus increasing the entropy of the surroundings by more than than the entropy increase associated with the formation of the water molecules. Living things work in the same way.
The energy generating mechanisms used by living things are basically carbohydrate combines with oxygen giving CO2 plus water ...and a wax candle burning is essentially the same sort of reaction. In both cases electrons are transferred from a long chain carbon molecule to oxygen. But with respiration (life) the electron is transferred via a lot of steps (nigh xv) usually involving iron. The steps are too used in photosynthesis. And all living things shop part of the energy in ATP..similar batteries. Every bit the electrons are passed down the respiratory chain they are used to pump protons across membranes. For every pair of electron 10 protons are pumped. In the vicinity of the membrane (6 billionths of a m thick), the electric field is 30 million volts per chiliad...roughly like a lightning strike on usa. This "waterfall" of protons is used to produce ATP out of ii "empty" molecular components known as ADP plus P. All living things seem to use the aforementioned system which suggests that this biochemistry is very ancient.
The story then morphs into the familiar discussion about life originating in the nether-body of water volcanic vents..blackness smokers and possible hydrogen sulphide chemical science; and white smokers which are not volcanic just result from the reaction of warm h2o with methane at the ocean flooring...and have an alkaline environment.The statement is that one gets a proton gradient between this alkaline environment (with a deficit of protons) and the surrounding seawater'due south acrid environment with a surplus of protons. The argument is that this sets up the conditions needed for photosynthesis or respiration ...with a proton slope. (Actually, I call back one probably gets something similar this with the double layer betwixt common clay particles.....and dirt lines itself up in overnice ordered sheets with regular spacing.......might be worth exploring...). Brian leaves us with the idea that life is really only chemical science and in that location are some plausible pathways for it to occur spontaneously on the globe.
He then explores the ground of colour and our experience of colour and the formation of the rainbow. In passing he mentions Ibn al-Haytham, who, in the 11th century, was a pretty original researcher....looking for evidence rather than relying on authority....his words about the seeker subsequently truth:..."he should also suspect himself as he performs his disquisitional examination of it, so that he may avert falling into either prejudice or leniency". Great! I similar it. Other'due south contributed to the understanding of the formation of the rainbow but information technology was probably Newton who eventually resolved the result with a double refraction of while light ..which was composed of all the other visible colours. Then to an an investigation into the origin and nature of light. The free energy output of the dominicus at the top of the earth's temper is i.41Kw/ foursquare m. in January when the earth is closest to the sun and i.32 Kw in July when the world is furtherest away...and the energy output is staggering ...all due to the fusion resulting in an atomic nucleus of i proton and 1 neutron...it'south called a deuteron...Then another proton fuses with the deuteron to form Helium 3 nucleus and 2 of these fuse together to form a Helium 4 nucleus...with the release of 2 protons.
About this stage, I've merely ordered, the larger version of the BBC volume. I'll update this review when I receive information technology just for the moment I'll just go along following Brian Cox as he explains why things smooth.
It was Maxwell who realised that light was a travelling disturbance in the electromagnetic field. He saw it equally a moving ridge and light has a wavelength...ranging (at least) from 10 to power eight 1000 (long radio waves) to 10 to power -sixteen (gamma rays). When electrical charges wiggle they create a changing magnetic field which creates a irresolute electric field etc etc. The resulting moving disturbance IS light. The movement suggests a link between temperature and light...but the early models predicted an infinite amount of energy beingness radiated away from hot objects....plainly not right so Planck proposed another model...crazy but it worked where low-cal could just be emitted in packets. It was Einstein who actually proposed taking the theory seriously and proposed that light is actually composed of little packets (photons)....and even more than...that the electromagnetic field is composed of piddling particles of calorie-free.....thus pointing to the deeper structure of quantum theory. Electrically charged particles emit low-cal when they are accelerated....in accordance with Maxwell's equations.
Electrons can organise themselves in very specific means within molecules. If the arrangement of electrons within a molecule is to be contradistinct and then a photon with but the right energy to make the change must be absorbed. Since the free energy of a photon is direct related to its colour , a particular molecule volition only absorb certain colours of low-cal. In modern language, Rayleigh's formula shows that the probability of a photon to scatter is inversely proportional to the fourth ability of its wavelength. This ways that blue photos (450nm) are over 3 times more probable to besprinkle off gas molecules on their fashion through than blood-red photons (650nm). That's why nosotros have blueish skies during the day and scarlet at dusk.
But why is green the colour of life...the answer is that plants are green because chlorophyll absorbs blueish and red photons and the green photons are reflected back into our eyes. Early life probably grabbed their electrons off less stable molecules such as hydrogen sulphide..only at some phase the oxygen evolving circuitous allowed organisms to replace H2S with the more than readily available water. The while lot was linked together into the Z-scheme (of photosynthesis) which is nowadays in all plants today.His summary of photosynthesis skims over things only a flake too fast. Simply then, it's incredibly complicated...and probably best left to a specialist boom.
Finally he indulges himself with some speculation nigh life elsewhere in the universe. There is a lot of knowledge packed into this volume. And I'll be interested to see how the full sized book handles the message. ...more
Jun 03, 2021 Emily Moore rated it it was amazing
Beautiful answers to simple questions and almost completely satisfied the curious child within. Fantastic Mr Cox ever deepens my appreciation for the universe from snowflakes to breakthrough mechanics which is simply lovely. 😁 Not exactly a soft read but fifty-fifty a halfwit such as I could follow nearly of le physik. 🤌🏼
Aug 26, 2019 Marker Fussell rated it it was astonishing
Provided a great residual between real physics and maths coupled with keen story telling on the impact of the physical forces in the world and universe we live in.
Not to be dislocated with actor [Author: Brian Cox].
Brian Edward Cox, OBE (built-in 3 March 1968) is a British particle physicist, a Royal Guild University Enquiry Fellow, PPARC Advanced Fellow and Professor at the University of Manchester. He is a member of the High Free energy Physics group at the Academy of Manchester, and works on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, nea
Not to be confused with thespian [Author: Brian Cox].Brian Edward Cox, OBE (born iii March 1968) is a British particle physicist, a Regal Society Academy Inquiry Beau, PPARC Advanced Beau and Professor at the Academy of Manchester. He is a fellow member of the Loftier Energy Physics group at the University of Manchester, and works on the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, near Geneva, Switzerland. He is working on the R&D project of the FP420 experiment in an international collaboration to upgrade the ATLAS and the CMS experiment past installing additional, smaller detectors at a distance of 420 metres from the interaction points of the chief experiments.
He is best known to the public as the presenter of a number of science programmes for the BBC, boosting the popularity of subjects such as astronomy; so is a scientific discipline popularizer, and science communicator. He also had some fame in the 1990s as the keyboard histrion for the popular ring D:Ream.
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"You lot are exporting disorder [in the form of estrus into the Universe] now every bit you read this volume. You are hastening the demise of everything that exists, bringing forward by your very existence the inflow of time known every bit the heat death, when all stars have died, all black holes accept evaporated away and the entirety of creation is a uniform bath of photons incapable of storing a single bit of information about the glorious adolescence of our wonderful Universe." — 5 likes
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