Description
Book SynopsisGeorge Johnson tells the stories of ten beautiful experiments which changed the world. From Galileo singing to mark time as he measured the pull of gravity and Newton carefully inserting a needle behind his own eye, to Joule packing a thermometer on his honeymoon to take the temperature of waterfalls and Michelson recovering from a dark depression to discover that light moves at the same speed in every direction - these ten dedicated men employed diamonds, dogs, frogs and even their own bodies as they worked to discover the laws of nature and of the universe.
Trade ReviewEntertaining, finely crafted... there is a feast of fine science writing in this gem of a book * Sunday Telegraph *
Johnson's essays balance human interest and scientific wonder in equal measure, making for a delicious succession of vignettes * Guardian *
Johnson's lively book... finds beauty throughout science - even among dead frogs and drooling dogs * Scotsman *
Johnson manages to convey the heart-stopping wonder of discovery * Radio 4, Today programme *
In describing these beautifully simple works of genius, Johnson reveals as much about the corporatist nature of modern science as he does about early research * Scotland on Sunday *
