The Left Hand of the Electron"A wide ranging collection of essays, explaining, among other things: why the 'overthrow' of an established principle is usually one of the best things that can happen to natural science; what 'polarized light' is (not really 'polarized,' for one thing), and how it contributed to our understanding of crystals; what makes water a unique chemical compound -- and uniquely important to us; why Euclid's axioms were regarded as absolute truth for two thousand years -- and why they aren't; who first shouted 'Eureka!' and why most scientists won't admit that they still do; how a knowledge of Greek astronomy can enhance an understanding of Shakespeare, and shed some light on an old argument in the process; and many more facts and phenomena of the world around us." -- Back cover. |
Contents
1ODDS AND EVENS | 3 |
2THE LEFT HAND OF THE ELECTRON | 14 |
3SEEING DOUBLE | 26 |
Copyright | |
12 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
amino acids Archimedes assumption atomic weight axioms beam birth control boiling point bonds bones Caesar called carbon atom chapter charge chemist chloride compounds conservation of parity consider Crassus crystals cubic centimeter density Earth egg-layers electron electronegative elements equal Euclid's fifth exist explain fact fifth postulate fluorine geodesic grams gravitational Greek hand happens helium hydrogen atoms infinite instance interior angles intersect Isaac Asimov Kekule law of conservation less living tissue look mammals mathematics means mirror image molecular weight Nicol prism non-Euclidean non-primes obtuse geometry ocean odd numbers once optically active oxygen particle pelycosaurs plane polarized light pole polywater Pompey possible pressure prime numbers properties racemic acid reason reptiles right angles rotated Saccheri seems side sieve of Eratosthenes sodium solid sphere stars straight line structure substance suppose sure tartaric acid tell temperature therapsids thing tion universe water molecules waves weak nuclear interactions