A History of Modern Planetary Physics: Transmuted PastThe three volumes that together make up A History of Modern Planetary Physics present a survey of the different theories about the origin of the solar system and the nature of the Earth. Transmuted Past follows the development of theories of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis in the twentieth century and describes radiometric methods for estimating the age of the Earth. Professor Brush also offers perspectives on the changing reputation of planetary science relative to the "pure" sciences, such as physics, and a comparison of history and geology as ways of studying the past. |
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19th century accepted amount argued Arthur Holmes assumption astronomers atomic weights B2FH Brush calculations causes Chamberlin cooling cosmic crust Darwin developed discovery electrons energy estimating the age evidence evolutionary explain fact formation formed Fourier's fundamental gases Geikie geological geologists H-R diagram heavier elements helium historians Houtermans Hoyle human hydrogen hypothesis isotopes Jeans Joly known laws lead isotopes lead/uranium luminosity Lyell main sequence mass mathematical meteorites method million modern nature Nebulous Earth neutron Nier nuclear reactions nucleus origin particles past Patterson period Phys physicists planetary physics planetary science planetesimals postulated present primeval abundances principles problem produced proposed protons pure science quantum radiation radioactive decay radiogenic radiometric dating radium Ranke Ranke's ratio red giant result rocks Rutherford scale scientific scientists Solar System solid stars stellar evolution suggested surface temperature theoretical theory thorium tion transmutation Trevelyan Uniformitarian University uranium white dwarf