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Enigmatic for many years, cosmic rays are now known to be not rays at all, but particles, the nuclei of atoms, raining down continually on the earth, where they can be detected throughout the atmosphere and sometimes even thousands of feet underground. This book tells the long-running detective story behind the discovery and study of cosmic rays, a story that stretches from the early days of subatomic particle physics in the 1890s to the frontiers of high-energy astrophysics today. Writing for the amateur scientist and the educated general reader, Michael Friedlander, a cosmic ray researcher, relates the history of cosmic ray science from its accidental discovery to its present status. He ex...
Day in and day out, cosmic rays from the far reaches of space pass through our bodies, yet modern astrophysics has still to unlock all their secrets. Though many details about cosmic rays remain enigmatic, next to electromagnetic radiation they convey more information about the universe beyond the solar system than any other source. They provide us with information about energetic explosions elsewhere in our galaxy and perhaps beyond, and they tell us a great deal about the contents of our own galaxy, through which they pass in reaching us. Illustrating the beautiful symmetry of nature, they shed light on the tiny dimensions of atomic nuclei as well as the immense scale of galaxies. Friedlan...
Scientific discoveries are constantly in the news. Almost daily we hear about new and important breakthroughs. But sometimes it turns out that what was trumpeted as scientific truth is later discredited, or controversy may long swirl about some dramatic claim.What is a nonscientist to believe? Many books debunk pseudoscience, and some others presen
The late 1960s saw an extraordinary growth in the American nuclear industry: dozens of plants of unprecedented size were ordered throughout the country. Yet at the same time, public concern about the natural environment and suspicion of both government and industry increased dramatically. Containing the Atom is the first scholarly history of nuclear power regulation during those tumultuous years. J. Samuel Walker focuses on the activities of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, the agency entrusted with the primary responsibility for the safety of nuclear power, and shows that from the beginning the AEC faced a paradox: it was charged with both promoting and controlling the nuclear power indus...
With over 150 alphabetically arranged entries about key scientists, concepts, discoveries, technological innovations, and learned institutions, the Oxford Guide to Physics and Astronomy traces the history of physics and astronomy from the Renaissance to the present. For students, teachers, historians, scientists, and readers of popular science books such as Galileo's Daughter, this guide deciphers the methods and philosophies of physics and astronomy as well as the historical periods from which they emerged. Meant to serve the lay reader and the professional alike, this book can be turned to for the answer to how scientists learned to measure the speed of light, or consulted for neat, carefu...
Examines amount of nuclear testing fallout radiation in the atmosphere and its effect on humans and agriculture, and considers measures to combat fallout and its effects. Includes HEW report, "Review of Radionuclides in the Food Chain," by James G. Terrill, Jr., June 3, 1963. (p. 71-201), v.1. Includes AEC report, "Iodine-131 in Fresh Milk and Human Thyroids Following a Single Deposition of Nuclear Test Fallout," June 1, 1963 (p. 915-1075); and Milk Industry Foundation report, "Radioactive Fallout, A Manual for the Fluid Milk Industry" (p. 1201-1267), v.2.
Specifically traces the impact of Einstein's ideas on astronomy, including the way we interpret observations of stars and galaxies. Includes comments from principals in important discoveries, illuminating the processes behind these results. Presents many applications of relativity that have not been shown in earlier popular-level books and illustrates how deeply physics permeates the way we interpret many astronomical phenomena. Highlights light-travel delays in cosmic jets, using gravitational lensing to trace cosmic mass distribution. Illustrations employ new and archival data from ground- and space-based observatories.
Examines amount of nuclear testing fallout radiation in the atmosphere and its effect on humans and agriculture, and considers measures to combat fallout and its effects. Includes HEW report, "Review of Radionuclides in the Food Chain," by James G. Terrill, Jr., June 3, 1963. (p. 71-201), v.1. Includes AEC report, "Iodine-131 in Fresh Milk and Human Thyroids Following a Single Deposition of Nuclear Test Fallout," June 1, 1963 (p. 915-1075); and Milk Industry Foundation report, "Radioactive Fallout, A Manual for the Fluid Milk Industry" (p. 1201-1267), v.2.