Having given a rather scathing opinion of the book “How the World Really Works” I’m happy to be more positive about my latest reading matter.

I am reading “The Matter of Everything (twelve experiments that changed our world) by suzie sheehy.

She is an Australian physicist who now shares her time between Oxford and Melbourne Universities.

Her work is interesting, well written, well researched, and makes insightful comment on her topics.

I should add though, I suppose, I have only read the introduction and half the first chapter so far.

Still, I have no hesitation in recommending it.

Syntax error.

SCIENCE said:

Syntax error.

Didn’t notice any so far, but even if there are one or two, not that important in the scheme of things, surely.

The Rev Dodgson said:

SCIENCE said:

Syntax error.

Didn’t notice any so far, but even if there are one or two, not that important in the scheme of things, surely.

We’re all dead in the end but as to the above, sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t.

Ta Rev, sounds good.

>The Matter of Everything

The astonishing story of twentieth-century physics, told through the twelve experiments that changed our world

SELECTED AS ONE OF WATERSTONES’ BEST POPULAR SCIENCE BOOKS OF 2022

‘A splendid idea, vividly carried out- I enjoyed this book enormously’ PHILIP PULLMAN
‘A rich history of beautiful discoveries’ ROBIN INCE
‘An all-action thriller, laced with some of the most profound ideas humans have ever had’ BRIAN ENO
—————-
How did a piece of gold foil completely change our understanding of atoms?
What part did a hot air balloon play in the discovery of cosmic rays?
How did the experiments in the run-up to the Large Hadron Collider lead to the invention of the World Wide Web?

Asking questions has always been at the heart of physics, our unending quest to understand the Universe and how everything in it behaves. How do we know all that we know about the world today? It’s not simply because we have the maths it’s because we have done the experiments.

Accelerator physicist Suzie Sheehy introduces us to the creative and curious people who, through a combination of genius, persistence and luck, staged the ground-breaking experiments of the twentieth century. From the serendipitous discovery of X-rays in a German laboratory, to the scientists trying to prove Einstein wrong (and inadvertently proving him right), The Matter of Everything takes us on a journey through the history of experiments that transformed our world.

Bubblecar said:

Ta Rev, sounds good.

>The Matter of Everything

The astonishing story of twentieth-century physics, told through the twelve experiments that changed our world

SELECTED AS ONE OF WATERSTONES’ BEST POPULAR SCIENCE BOOKS OF 2022

‘A splendid idea, vividly carried out- I enjoyed this book enormously’ PHILIP PULLMAN
‘A rich history of beautiful discoveries’ ROBIN INCE
‘An all-action thriller, laced with some of the most profound ideas humans have ever had’ BRIAN ENO
—————-
How did a piece of gold foil completely change our understanding of atoms?
What part did a hot air balloon play in the discovery of cosmic rays?
How did the experiments in the run-up to the Large Hadron Collider lead to the invention of the World Wide Web?

We all know the answers to those three questions.

Does she say anything that we don’t already know?

mollwollfumble said:

Bubblecar said:

Ta Rev, sounds good.

>The Matter of Everything

The astonishing story of twentieth-century physics, told through the twelve experiments that changed our world

SELECTED AS ONE OF WATERSTONES’ BEST POPULAR SCIENCE BOOKS OF 2022

‘A splendid idea, vividly carried out- I enjoyed this book enormously’ PHILIP PULLMAN
‘A rich history of beautiful discoveries’ ROBIN INCE
‘An all-action thriller, laced with some of the most profound ideas humans have ever had’ BRIAN ENO
—————-
How did a piece of gold foil completely change our understanding of atoms?
What part did a hot air balloon play in the discovery of cosmic rays?
How did the experiments in the run-up to the Large Hadron Collider lead to the invention of the World Wide Web?

We all know the answers to those three questions.

Does she say anything that we don’t already know?

I have good observational evidence that at least one forum member has only the vaguest idea of the answers to those questions. I suspect there may be others.

Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die

In Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die, Willie Nelson muses about his greatest influences and celebrates the family, friends, and colleagues who have blesses his remarkable journey. Willie riffs on music, wives, Texas, politics, horses, religion, marijuana, children, the environment, poker, hogs, Nashville, karma, and more. He shares the outlaw wisdom he has acquired over eight decades, along with favorite jokes and insights. Rare family pictures, beautiful artwork created by his son Micah Nelson, and lyrics to classic songs punctuate these charming and poignant memories.

At once a road journal and a fitting tribute to America’s greatest traveling bard, Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die – introduced by Kinky Friedman, another favorite son of Texas – is a deeply personal look into the heart and soul of one of the greatest artists of our time.

Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die

In truth, I enjoy The Red-Headed Stranger and his wild & wooly lifestyle for years
so I downloaded the AudioBook…when they read the lyrics of “The Troublemaker”:
it was love @ 1st site. So I purchased a pulp copy from e-bay the very same day.

“The Troublemaker”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzCGV6bsBg0

I could tell the moment that I saw Him
He was nothing but the trouble making kind
His hair was much too long and His motley group of friends
Had nothing but rebellion on their minds
He’s rejected the establishment completely
I know for sure He’s never held a job
He just goes from town to town, stirring up the young folks
‘Til they’re nothing but a disrespectful mob
I know for sure He’s never joined the army
And served His country like we all have done
He’d rather wear His sandals and His flowers
While others wage the war that must be won
They arrested Him last week and found Him guilty
And sentenced Him to die but that’s no great loss
Friday they will take Him to a place called Calvary
And hang that troublemaker to a cross.

Obviously, I highly recommend it.

Now about 2/3 of the way through The Matter of Everything, and still enjoying it.

Moll might know everything it covers already, but almost all of it is new to me.

For instance, I didn’t appreciate the close connection between the early development of linear accelerators with the development of radio-therapy for cancer.

Also the details of how different types of accelerators work with different types of particle.

And even the history of the development of the standard model and QM.

LOL.

Bogsnorkler said:

LOL.

When you get to my age, memories of such trivia last exactly 1 year, and not a day more.