Questa serie si addentra nei momenti cruciali in cui l'umanità ha svelato segreti scientifici e matematici fondamentali. Ogni volume esplora il contesto storico e l'impatto profondo di queste scoperte rivoluzionarie. È un viaggio attraverso l'ingegnosità e i balzi intellettuali che hanno rimodellato la nostra comprensione dell'universo e di noi stessi. Esplorate le narrazioni dietro le idee che hanno spinto avanti la civiltà.
Um die Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts entdeckte der Frauenarzt Ignaz Semmelweis Keime als Ursache für das Kindbettfieber und damit für Infektionen. Doch der Hygiene-Pionier wurde damals kaum ernstgenommen. Sherwin B. Nuland erzählt die bewegende Geschichte eines großen Entdeckers und tragischen Genies. Ein wichtiges Stück Medizingeschichte.
The life of Ernest Rutherford, born in colonial New Zealand, reveals a journey from frontier life to becoming a pivotal figure in modern physics. His groundbreaking discoveries include the orbital structure of the atom and the concept of radioactive half-life. Alongside his team, he was the first to split the atom, foreshadowing the development of the atomic bomb. Richard Reeves vividly portrays Rutherford as a warm and approachable man whose contributions significantly shaped the scientific landscape.
Michio Kaku, odkrywca i fizyk, autor bestseller�w, w 'Kosmosie Einsteina' snuje opowieść, w kt�rej splata biografię uczonego z jego dziełem, ukazując Wszechświat takim, jakim widział go Einstein, i pozwalając nam na jedyne w swoim rodzaju wniknięcie w spos�b myślenia Einsteina. Chociaż teorie Einsteina miały niezwykle rozległe implikacje, on sam myślał właściwie w kategoriach prostych fizycznych obraz�w - pędzących pociąg�w, spadających wind, rakiet, zegar�w w ruchu. I rzeczywiście, z dw�ch takich obraz�w wyłoniła się teoria względności, kt�ra wstrząsnęła posadami świata. Einstein pozostaje największym i najbardziej uwielbianym uczonym wszech czas�w, ale jego praca i jego dziedzictwo nie zawsze są rozumiane. 'Kosmos Einsteina' jest wspaniałą nowatorską drogą do poznania idei i życia Einsteina.
Sherwin B. Nuland narra la enigmática historia de Ignác Semmelweis, pionero en la higiene médica que descubrió que los médicos transmitían la fiebre puerperal. A pesar de sus reformas efectivas, su enfoque fue rechazado por el establishment médico. Esta obra revela un momento clave en la historia de la medicina.
As contemporary cosmologists explore the universe's vastness and the nearly insignificant role mankind plays in it, the repercussions from Copernicus's radical views continue to resound. The author provides an enlightening and readable explication of Copernicus's book and epoch, and the momentous clash between the two.
David Foster Wallace explores the intriguing concept of infinity, a longstanding enigma in mathematics. Known for his intellectual depth and distinctive writing style, he delves into the paradoxes surrounding infinity, offering insights that blend rigorous analysis with engaging prose. This work showcases his ability to tackle complex ideas while making them accessible and thought-provoking for readers, highlighting his status as a significant voice of his generation.
The story of Alan Turing, the persecuted genius who helped break the Enigma code and create the modern computer, and who received a royal pardon in 2013
At sixty-nine, Galileo stands as Italy's most esteemed scientist, navigating the complex relationship between faith and science. Despite his anti-literalist approach to the Bible, he identifies as a devout Catholic. Dan Hofstadter explores this paradox, situating Galileo within the rich cultural tapestry of the Renaissance and Baroque eras. The narrative highlights his multifaceted identity as a humanist and scientist, showcasing his deep engagement with philosophy, poetry, and the arts, as well as his connections with notable musicians, writers, and painters of his time.
Marie Curie remains the only woman to win two Nobel prizes - the first in 1903 for the discovery of radioactivity and the second in 1911 for the discovery of radium and polonium. Her discovery of radium opened the door to the exploration of the atom. What is even more remarkable is that the Nobel prize wasn't awarded to another woman until twenty years later, and it was Marie's daughter - Irene Joliot-Curie - who received it for discovering artificial radioactivity. In turn Irene's daughter, Helene Langevin-Joliot, helped create the first atomic pile in France. The legacy of Marie Curie, her daughter and grand-daughter makes for a fascinating story of the family who released the radioactivity that has transformed our world.
Lawrence M. Krauss, světově proslulý kosmolog a popularizátor moderní vědy, zachycuje osobní a profesní život fascinující osobnosti, amerického teoretického fyzika Richarda Feynmana. Tento svérázný člověk s velkým smyslem pro humor, vynikající pedagog a spolunositel Nobelovy ceny za fyziku za rok 1965 proslul famózní kreativitou, která vedla k největšímu pokroku ve fyzice druhé poloviny 20. století – odhalení povahy kvantové mechaniky. Je také autorem mnoha bestsellerů, například To nemyslíte vážně, pane Fenymane, a proslulých Fenymanových přednášek z fyziky.
An insightful new book putting Einstein's work in a contemporary context Few figures loom as large as Albert Einstein in our contemporary culture. It is truly remarkable that a man from such humble beginnings, an unemployed dreamer without a future or a job, who was written off by his professors as a hopeless loser, could to dare to scale the heights he reached. In this enlightening book Michio Kaku reasseses Einstein's work by centering on his three great theories - special relativity, general relativity and the Unified Field Theory. The first yielded the equation E =mc2 which is now such a fixture in our culture that it is practically a ubiquitous slogan. But the subsequent theories led to the Big Bang theory and have changed irrevocably the way we perceive time and space. Michio Kaku gives a new, refreshing look at the pioneering work of Einstein, giving a more accurate portrayal of his enduring legacy than previous biographies. As today's advanced physicists continue their intense search to fulfill Einstein's most cherished dream, a 'theory of everything', he is recognised as a prophet who set the agenda for modern physics.
Alan Turing a první počítač. Britský matematik Alan Turing učinil jeden z nejdůležitějších průlomů na cestě k modernímu počítači. Nápad skutečně vyrábět imaginární počítací stroj „Turing machine“ vykrystalizoval poté, co Turing společně s kolegy z Bletchey Park sestrojil zařízení, které dokázalo dešifrovat německé kódovací zařízení Enigma a pomohlo spojencům vyhrát 2. světovou válku. Turing se pak stal přeborníkem na umělou inteligenci a formuloval známý (a dosud nepřekonaný) Turningův test, jenž vychází z úvah o tom, že lidský mozek je ve své podstatě jakýmsi komplikovaným počítačem. Jeho vize a plány však byly přerušeny – v roce 1952 byl zatčen a odsouzen za homosexualitu, k níž se otevřeně přiznával, která však byla v té době v Anglii ilegální. O dva roky později spáchal Turing sebevraždu. David Leavitt podává Turingův příběh s vnímavostí romanopisce, přibližuje nám jak jeho dílo a význam, tak jeho otevřenou a mnohdy excentrickou osobnost.
"A gem…An unforgettable account of one of the great moments in the history of human thought." —Steven PinkerProbing the life and work of Kurt Gödel, Incompleteness indelibly portrays the tortured genius whose vision rocked the stability of mathematical reasoning—and brought him to the edge of madness.
Georg Cantor und die Welt der Mathematik
David Foster Wallace, Legende der amerikanischen Gegenwartsliteratur, erzählt die Geschichte des Unendlichen. Dieses Buch ist eine philosophische Einführung in ein großes Thema der Mathematik und zugleich eine Verneigung vor der Totalität des Kosmos und der menschlichen Geisteskraft: Wie das Unendliche denken?
How William and Caroline Herschel Revolutionized Our Understanding of the Cosmos
The narrative explores the remarkable achievements of William Herschel, a musician turned astronomer who discovered Uranus and collaborated with his sister, Caroline, on extensive surveys of the night sky. Their work led to significant contributions, including Caroline's influential nebulae catalogue and William's discovery of infrared radiation. The book also delves into their personal lives, highlighting William's eccentric theories, their sibling rivalry over marriage and funding, and the eventual reconciliation that underscored their groundbreaking partnership in astronomy.
A gripping new scientific biography of the revered Nobel Prize-winning physicist (and curious character) Richard Feynman.
The period from the 5th to the 7th century AD was characterised by far-reaching structural changes that affected the entire west of the Roman Empire. This process used to be regarded by scholars aspart of the dissolution of Roman order, but in current discussions it is nowexamined more critically. The contributions to this volume of conference papers combine approaches from history and literature studies in order to review the changing forms and fields of the establishment of collective identities, and to analyse them in their mutual relationships.
The author expands on his acclaimed trilogy, vividly capturing the tumultuous 18th-century Haitian uprisings and the revolutionary spirit of the time. Focusing on the influential works of Antoine Lavoisier, the narrative intertwines scientific exploration with the fervor of social change, highlighting the interplay between reason and revolution during this pivotal historical period.
21 years passed between Charles Darwim's epiphany that 'natural selection' formed the basis of evolution and the scientist's publication of 'On the Origin of Species'. This text looks at why Darwin delayed the publication and examines what happened during the course of those two decades.
