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The Cat in the Box: A History of Science in 100 Experiments

by John Gribbin, Mary Gribbin (Author)

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432588,691 (3.33)None
"This book distills the history of science into 100 epic experiments that have fueled our understanding of Earth and the Universe beyond. Everything in the scientific world view is based on experiment, including observations of phenomena predicted by theories and hypotheses, such as the bending of light as it goes past the Sun. As the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman said, "If it disagrees with experiment, it is wrong." From the discovery of microscopic worlds and gravitational waves, to the weighing the Earth, to making electricity, this stunning book by renowned science writers John and Mary Gribbin tells the enlightening, fascinating, and somewhat oddball story of scientific innovation."--Amazon.com.… (more)
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Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com ( )
  Floratina | Dec 7, 2019 |
Is it strange that a book about experiments is titled after Schrödinger's Cat? I guess that's a thought experiment, but it was a thought experiment meant to illustrate the ridiculousness of a scientific theory, so in a book that's all about scientific thingies (and yes, that is the scientific term), is that an odd choice for a title? The Gribbins (I assume they are related somehow) even mention that Schrödinger's Cat was supposed to be somewhat in jest. So is it a paradox? Am I spending too much time wondering about the title of this book? Hmm...

So it's a list of experiments, with a little write-up about each one. All the big names are there: Newton, Curie, Einstein. As always, reading these books I get sad by how few women and POC were able to contribute to science because of sexism and racism and intersections of all that. As always, there's some Feynman, who creeps me out, and a lot of astrophysics since people like stars. I like math personally, but math books may be a harder sell. Also, experiments in math are a bit more sitting down with a pencil and proving things on paper, so definitely lacks some of the *glam*.

So it's a coffee table book of experiments. Lots of glossy pictures and I kept getting frustrated because I couldn't always understand exactly the science behind some of the thingies (see, I used it twice so it is totally a valid scientific word), but then there was a glossy picture and I moved on. I don't have to understand the nitty gritty of everything, right? Instead I'll stare at the Feynman diagrams and feel sort of slimy inside.

The Cat in the Box by John Gribbin and Mary Gribbin went on sale September 1, 2017.

I received a copy free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )
  reluctantm | Dec 12, 2017 |
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Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
John Gribbinprimary authorall editionscalculated
Gribbin, MaryAuthormain authorall editionsconfirmed
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"This book distills the history of science into 100 epic experiments that have fueled our understanding of Earth and the Universe beyond. Everything in the scientific world view is based on experiment, including observations of phenomena predicted by theories and hypotheses, such as the bending of light as it goes past the Sun. As the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman said, "If it disagrees with experiment, it is wrong." From the discovery of microscopic worlds and gravitational waves, to the weighing the Earth, to making electricity, this stunning book by renowned science writers John and Mary Gribbin tells the enlightening, fascinating, and somewhat oddball story of scientific innovation."--Amazon.com.

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