Everything's Relative: And Other Fables from Science and TechnologyThe surprising truth behind many of the most cherished "facts" in science history Morse invented the telegraph, Bell the telephone, Edison the light bulb, and Marconi the radio . . . right? Well . . . the truth is slightly more complicated. The history of science and technology is riddled with apocrypha, inaccuracies, and falsehoods, and physicist Tony Rothman has taken it upon himself to throw a monkey wrench into the works. Combining a storyteller's gifts with a scientist's focus and hardheaded devotion to the facts-such as they may be-Rothman breaks down many of the most famous "just-so" stories of physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, and technology to give credit where credit is truly due. From Einstein's possible misunderstanding of his own theories to actress Hedy Lemarr's role in the invention of the radio-controlled torpedo, he dredges his way through the legends of science history in relating the fascinating stories behind some of the most important, and often unsung, breakthroughs in science. Tony Rothman, PhD (Bryn Mawr, PA), is a Research Associate at Bryn Mawr College. He is the author of seven other critically acclaimed science books and a frequent contributor to leading science publications, including Scientific American and Discover. |
Contents
The Electron | 53 |
Einsteins Miraculous Year and a Few Others | 64 |
What Did the Eclipse Expedition Really Show? And Other Tales | 77 |
Copyright | |
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Everything's Relative: And Other Fables from Science and Technology Tony Rothman Limited preview - 2008 |
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Academy Adams Alexander Graham Bell American Antheil astronomer atom became Becquerel Bell Bell's biography Bohr C. R. Acad cathode rays century chemistry claim coherer Darwin deflection device discovered discovery eclipse Edison Einstein electric electromagnetic electrons Erasmus ether experiments explain fact famous Faraday Farnsworth Feynman Fleming Galileo George Sudarshan Hedy Hedy Lamarr Henry's Hertz hydrogen idea invented inventor J. J. Thomson Joseph Henry Kekulé later lecture letter light Lodge Lorentz Loschmidt magnetic Marconi Marconi Company Mendel mention mercury Morse Morse's nature Neptune never Niepce de Saint-Victor Niepce's Nobel prize orbit Panopticon paper particles patent penicillin photoelectric effect physicist physics planet Princeton published quantum radio received Reis relativity Royal Society Saint-Victor scientific scientists seems SIGSALY special relativity spread spectrum story Sudarshan telegraph telephone television theory Thompson tion Tony Rothman Torricelli transmitted tube Uranus velocity Verrier waves wire wrote York Young Zworykin