Science Firsts: From the Creation of Science to the Science of Creation

Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

1. Thales and Natural Causation.

2. Anaximander Orders the Cosmos.

3. Pythagoras Numbers the Cosmos.

4. Atoms and the Void.

5. Aristotle and the Birth of Biology.

6. Aristarchus, the Forgotten Copernicus.

7. Archimedes's Physics.

8. Ibn al-Haitham Illuminates Vision.

9. Copernicus Moves the Earth.

10. Galileo Discovers the Skies.

11. Kepler Solves the Planetary Puzzle.

12. Van Leeuwenhoek Explores the Microcosm.

13. Newton: Gravity and Light.

14. A Breath of Fresh Air.

15. Humphry Davy, Intoxicated with Discovery.

16. Visionaries of the Computer.

17. Darwin's Great Truth.

18. A Genius in the Garden.

19. Mendeleev Charts the Elements.

20. In the Realm of Radioactivity.

21. Planck's Quantum Leap.

22. Wired on Wireless.

23. Rutherford Dissects the Atom.

24. Einstein: Matter, Energy, Space, and Time.

25. Wegener Sets the Continents Adrift.

26. Hubble's Expanding Universe.

27. Out of Africa.

28. Fermi and the Fire of the Gods.

29. McClintock's Chromosomes.

30. A Bit of Genius.

31. The Dynamic Duo of DNA.

32. Echoes of Creation.

33. We Are Not What We Seem.

34. Planetary Pioneers.

35. After Dolly, Life Will Never Be the Same.

References and Further Reading.

Index.

ROBERT E. ADLER, Ph.D., is a freelance science writer who contributes frequently to Nature and other leading scientific publications. He lives in northern California, where he is currently working on his second book for Wiley, highlighting advances in medicine.

"...a fascinating collection of stories about key 'firsts' in the history of science..." (Materials World, December 2002) "...I think scientists and lay readers alike would find this book worthwhile and enjoyable, because of its historical sweep and depth. Something of a Christmas cracker this one..." (Chemistry in Britain, December 2002) "...stylishly written...each topic is given the space to breath...an excellent reference list containing a wealth of popular science titles..." (Physics World, February 2003) "...this fascinating book is complimented by black and white photographs..." (The Alchemist, 19 September 2003)