Buch, Englisch, 304 Seiten
The forging of scientific reputations
Buch, Englisch, 304 Seiten
ISBN: 978-0-19-280484-6
Verlag: Oxford University Press
'Waller writes with clarity and flair. he has a real talent for telling a story.' Roy Porter
* Leaps in the Dark reveals the latest research into the myths surrounding twelve crucial moments in the history of science; the title refers to a seventeenth-century Italian scientist who fitted briefs onto male frogs to investigate the relationship between sperm and the fertilized egg
* Waller's last book, Fabulous Science (0192804049), received excellent reviews: in New Scientist it was described as 'a valuable sideways look at the rolling juggernaut of modern science'.
DESCRIPTION:
In Leaps in the Dark, John Waller reveals the latest research about famous scientists, ranging from the Renaissance to the mid-20th century, and challenges many of the received views of how science works, and how great scientific reputations are won. For example, the 17th-century scientist Lazaro Spallanzani (who fitted male frogs with underpants to see if this stopped them reproducing) maintained his view that all future generations are contained within the egg. Although his views now seem absurd, these were based on the available evidence. John Waller shows that Eureka! moments are rare, and that apparent scientific breakthroughs are often no more than shots in the dark.
The tales in Leaps in the Dark underscore the rich, fascinating complexity of scientific discovery. Writing in a clear and engaging style, and skilfully weaving history in with the science, John Waller brings these scientists to life, illustrating how their work and their discoveries influenced their careers and the wider world around them.
Zielgruppe
The general reader, anyone who enjoyed Fabulous Science, anyone interested in the history of science and scientific discoveries
