{"id":12063,"date":"2022-04-26T11:06:18","date_gmt":"2022-04-26T09:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=117522"},"modified":"2022-04-26T11:23:11","modified_gmt":"2022-04-26T09:23:11","slug":"7-of-the-best-physics-books-according-to-physicist-suzie-sheehy","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/7-of-the-best-physics-books-according-to-physicist-suzie-sheehy\/","title":{"rendered":"7 of the best physics books, according to physicist Suzie Sheehy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"rssexcerpt\"><\/p><p class=\"rssauthor\">By Suzie Sheehy\n                \t\t<\/p><p class=\"rssbyline\">Published: Tuesday, 26 April 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p><hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/><?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\" standalone=\"yes\"?>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p>What is the nature of matter, how does the Universe work, and how does that affect us? In my book, <a href=\"\/\/www.bloomsbury.com\/uk\/matter-of-everything-9781526618986\/&quot;\" target=\"&quot;_blank&quot;\" rel=\"&quot;noopener&quot; noopener noreferrer\"><em>The Matter of Everything<\/em><\/a>, I explore how our adventures into the heart of matter have changed the world in profound ways. This isn\u2019t just a theoretical story: it is one of ambitious, creative, often nigh-on-impossible experiments which have brought deep insights about nature, vast technological and societal change, and inspired us to work together like never before.<\/p>\n<p>Researching these stories made me fall in love with physics all over again, ultimately leaving me hopeful for our future. At a time when the influence of science and technology can feel anxiety-inducing and frightening, it is more important than ever to find hope in stories of what humanity can achieve when we truly work together to seek understanding.<\/p>\n<p>These are some of the books that inspired me, and I hope they will fuel your curiosity too.\u00a0 And if you fancy browsing more great science reads, check out this list of the <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/books\/science-books-2\/&quot;\">best science books<\/a> to while away lazy summer days.<\/p>\n<h2>The best particle physics books to read in 2022<\/h2>\n<h3>The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Abraham Flexner<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"&quot;image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--full=\"\" style=\"&quot;padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><img class=\"&quot;wp-image-117710\" align=\"\" size-full=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--full=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Usefulness-of-Useless-Knowledge-\u2013-Abraham-Flexner-aba6899.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" width=\"&quot;620&quot;\" height=\"&quot;413&quot;\" alt=\"&quot;&quot;\" title=\"&quot;&quot;\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<ul class=\"&quot;monetizer-in-text-link-list&quot;\"><li data-type=\"&quot;in-text&quot;\" class=\"&quot;monetizer-in-text-link&quot;\" data-config=\"'{&quot;nameKeywords&quot;:\" usefulness=\"\" of=\"\" useless=\"\" knowledge=\"\" data-text=\"&quot;&lt;b&gt;Buy\" now=\"\" from=\"\" and=\"\"> <\/li>\n<\/ul><script><![CDATA[ (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text\/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = \"\/\/sciencefocus.com\/pricecomparison\/widget\/intext\/app.bundle.js\"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: \"sciencefocus.com\/pricecomparison\", shopId: 1306, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); \/\/trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })();\n]]><\/script><p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>This theme was on my mind before I began writing my book, when a little parcel appeared in my letterbox in Oxford Physics, dropped off by a colleague. In it was a pocket-sized book featuring a powerful essay from 1939 by Abraham Flexner \u2013 the founding director of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton \u2013 who eloquently argues that \u2018useless\u2019 research is ultimately the most powerful source of innovation we have.<\/p>\n<p>The idea that curiosity-driven research \u2013 or \u2018blue-sky\u2019 thinking \u2013 is a powerful force behind technology and societal change is not new. It is, however, an idea that many scientists wish was more widely understood \u00adand appreciated \u2013 particularly by our political leaders.<\/p>\n<h3>Recollections and Reflections<\/h3>\n<p><strong>JJ Thomson, edited by G. Bell<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"&quot;image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--full=\"\" style=\"&quot;padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><img class=\"&quot;wp-image-117708\" align=\"\" size-full=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--full=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Recollections-and-Reflections-\u2013-J.-J.-Thomson-1085706.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" width=\"&quot;620&quot;\" height=\"&quot;413&quot;\" alt=\"&quot;&quot;\" title=\"&quot;&quot;\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<ul class=\"&quot;monetizer-in-text-link-list&quot;\"><li data-type=\"&quot;in-text&quot;\" class=\"&quot;monetizer-in-text-link&quot;\" data-config=\"'{&quot;nameKeywords&quot;:\" and=\"\" reflections=\"\" thomson=\"\" data-text=\"&quot;&lt;b&gt;Buy\" now=\"\" from=\"\"> <\/li>\n<\/ul><script><![CDATA[ (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text\/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = \"\/\/sciencefocus.com\/pricecomparison\/widget\/intext\/app.bundle.js\"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: \"sciencefocus.com\/pricecomparison\", shopId: 1306, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); \/\/trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })();\n]]><\/script><p>J. J. Thomson famously discovered the electron, leading \u2013 to his amazement \u2013 to entire new industries including electronics, TV, radio and telecommunications. Despite his intellectual heavyweight status, I confess it gave me joy to realise that Thomson also agonised over learning to use a piece of scientific equipment well enough to produce reliable results in the lab.<\/p>\n<p>This is unashamedly a book for those who love a good bit of physics history nerdery and not a popular tome, but I find myself pulling it off the shelf each year to share with my first-year Physics students when we learn about Thomson\u2019s work. What emerges throughout his exceptionally distinguished career is a fascinating character and an endearingly real human. It helps my students to realise that not even Thomson was always on the right track: there is, after all, a whole chapter on his investigations into\u00a0s\u00e9ances and the paranormal!<\/p>\n<h3>The Fly in The Cathedral<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Brian Cathcart<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"&quot;image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--full=\"\" style=\"&quot;padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><img class=\"&quot;wp-image-117709\" align=\"\" size-full=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--full=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Fly-in-The-Cathedral-\u2013-Brian-Cathcart-f120211.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" width=\"&quot;620&quot;\" height=\"&quot;413&quot;\" alt=\"&quot;&quot;\" title=\"&quot;&quot;\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<ul class=\"&quot;monetizer-in-text-link-list&quot;\"><li data-type=\"&quot;in-text&quot;\" class=\"&quot;monetizer-in-text-link&quot;\" data-config=\"'{&quot;nameKeywords&quot;:\" fly=\"\" in=\"\" the=\"\" cathedral=\"\" data-text=\"&quot;&lt;b&gt;Buy\" now=\"\" from=\"\" and=\"\"> <\/li>\n<\/ul><script><![CDATA[ (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text\/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = \"\/\/sciencefocus.com\/pricecomparison\/widget\/intext\/app.bundle.js\"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: \"sciencefocus.com\/pricecomparison\", shopId: 1306, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); \/\/trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })();\n]]><\/script><p>The atom is astonishing in many ways, but particularly in its dimensions. If we expanded the atom to the size of a cathedral, we would find that while the electrons lie out at the cathedral walls, the nucleus at its heart would be so tiny it would be no bigger than a fly. In between, physicists realised in the early 20th Century, is nothing* at all.<\/p>\n<p>Despite this, the nucleus contains around 99.97 per cent of the atomic mass, so is crucially important to our understanding of the atom. Getting at the atomic nucleus and understanding its nature required far more complex experiments than ever before, leading to a dramatic race from around 1927 to 1932 to build the first particle accelerator.<\/p>\n<p>In his wonderful, deeply researched book, Cathcart tells the in-depth story of the race to build the first particle accelerator and in particular the work of the indefatigable John Cockcroft and the young Irishman Ernest Walton, along with the larger-than-life Ernest Rutherford and his modest but ingenious colleague James Chadwick.<\/p>\n<p>*Later, thanks to <a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/science\/quantum-physics\/&quot;\">quantum mechanics<\/a>, it became clear that even nothingness \u2013 vacuum \u2013 wasn\u2019t quite as it seemed.<\/p>\n<h3>Out of the Shadows: Contributions of Twentieth-Century Women to Physics<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Nina Buyers<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"&quot;image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--full=\"\" style=\"&quot;padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><img class=\"&quot;wp-image-117707\" align=\"\" size-full=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--full=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Out-of-the-Shadows-Contributions-of-Twentieth-Century-Women-to-Physics-\u2013-Nina-Buyers-531909c.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" width=\"&quot;620&quot;\" height=\"&quot;413&quot;\" alt=\"&quot;&quot;\" title=\"&quot;&quot;\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<ul class=\"&quot;monetizer-in-text-link-list&quot;\"><li data-type=\"&quot;in-text&quot;\" class=\"&quot;monetizer-in-text-link&quot;\" data-config=\"'{&quot;nameKeywords&quot;:\" of=\"\" the=\"\" shadows:=\"\" contributions=\"\" twentieth-century=\"\" women=\"\" to=\"\" physics=\"\" data-text=\"&quot;&lt;b&gt;Buy\" now=\"\" from=\"\" and=\"\"> <\/li>\n<\/ul><script><![CDATA[ (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text\/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = \"\/\/sciencefocus.com\/pricecomparison\/widget\/intext\/app.bundle.js\"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: \"sciencefocus.com\/pricecomparison\", shopId: 1306, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); \/\/trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })();\n]]><\/script><p>Science is not an individual pursuit, but a team one. Yet we writers dare not involve every single character in a team of fifty or we know we\u2019ll soon lead our readers \u2013 and editors \u00ad\u2013 to despair. As a result, stories of scientific discovery are often told as if by a few lone geniuses, or (to put it bluntly) great white men. Those who play a lesser role in the story are often simply left out, and these omissions can be compounded with biases and stereotypes.<\/p>\n<p>In my research, I found that women \u2013 often unpaid or working in the role of assistants and students \u2013 were frequently left out in other books. In part, this was because they never went on to become well known, and their contributions \u2013 including those by Harriet Brooks, Marietta Blau and Bibha Chowdury \u2013 were only recognised many years later. For me, it was a delight to go beyond Marie Curie to find many female physicists. They simply leapt out at me from the page: in acknowledgements, in photographs, sometimes even as lead authors on scientific papers.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, getting to know them more deeply was surprisingly difficult: there are disappointingly few biographies about female physicists and their letters and recollections often went unrecorded. Thankfully, this book \u2013 an edited volume of 40 biographies written by world experts \u2013 fills that vacuum somewhat.<\/p>\n<ul><li><a class=\"&quot;standard-card-new__article-title&quot;\" href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/science\/10-amazing-women-in-science-history-you-really-should-know-about\/&quot;\">22 pioneering women in science history you really should know about<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><h3>My World Line<\/h3>\n<p><strong>George Gamow<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"&quot;image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--full=\"\" style=\"&quot;padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><img class=\"&quot;wp-image-117706\" align=\"\" size-full=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--full=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/My-Worldline-\u2013-George-Gamow-3e7317a.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" width=\"&quot;620&quot;\" height=\"&quot;413&quot;\" alt=\"&quot;&quot;\" title=\"&quot;&quot;\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul><li><strong>Buy now<\/strong> from <a href=\"\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/world-informal-autobiography-Foreword-Stanislaw\/dp\/0670503762\/?tag=bbcsciencefoc-21&amp;ascsubtag=sciencefocus-0&quot;\" rel=\"&quot;sponsored&quot; noopener noreferrer\" target=\"&quot;_blank&quot;\">Amazon<\/a> (<a href=\"\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/world-informal-autobiography-Foreword-Stanislaw\/dp\/0670503762\/?tag=bbcsciencefoc-21&amp;ascsubtag=sciencefocus-0&quot;\" rel=\"&quot;sponsored&quot; noopener noreferrer\" target=\"&quot;_blank&quot;\">\u00a339.46<\/a>)<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>Gamow was a remarkable Russian-US theoretical physicist and as his informal autobiography recalls, a total live wire with a great sense of humour. This comes across in his writing, and he did love to write, including around 30 popular books in physics. He was also a remarkable physicist, contributing to a wide variety of areas of physics including applying quantum theory to the nucleus (a story early in his career, which features in my book) through to cosmology. His books are most amusing, and this autobiography full of anecdotes throughout his life and career is no exception.<\/p>\n<h3>Tunnel Visions<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Michael Riordan, Lillian Hoddeson, and Adrienne W Kolb<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"&quot;image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--full=\"\" style=\"&quot;padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><img class=\"&quot;wp-image-117711\" align=\"\" size-full=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--full=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Tunnel-Visions-Michael-Riordan-9b42f95.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" width=\"&quot;620&quot;\" height=\"&quot;413&quot;\" alt=\"&quot;&quot;\" title=\"&quot;&quot;\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<ul class=\"&quot;monetizer-in-text-link-list&quot;\"><li data-type=\"&quot;in-text&quot;\" class=\"&quot;monetizer-in-text-link&quot;\" data-config=\"'{&quot;nameKeywords&quot;:\" visions=\"\" riordan=\"\" data-text=\"&quot;&lt;b&gt;Buy\" now=\"\" from=\"\" and=\"\"> <\/li>\n<\/ul><script><![CDATA[ (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text\/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = \"\/\/sciencefocus.com\/pricecomparison\/widget\/intext\/app.bundle.js\"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: \"sciencefocus.com\/pricecomparison\", shopId: 1306, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); \/\/trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })();\n]]><\/script><p>It\u2019s often said we learn more from our failures than our successes: this excellent book \u2013 written by three of the most prominent writers in the history of particle physics \u2013 details the rise and fall of the planned Superconducting Super Collider (SSC), an 80km long collider planned in the US which could have found the Higgs Boson well before the Large Hadron Collider. It was originally planned as a \u2018world laboratory\u2019 to be sited in Texas, USA with the support of international contributions. After kilometres of tunnels were built, the Cold War ended, the budget overran, other countries refused to contribute and in 1993 the project was cancelled by Congress. Many lessons were learned.<\/p>\n<h3>Massive: The Missing Particle That Sparked the Greatest Hunt in Science<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Ian Sample<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"&quot;image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--full=\"\" style=\"&quot;padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(max-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?webp=true&amp;quality=90&amp;resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/webp&quot;\"><source media=\"&quot;(min-width:\" data-srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\"&quot;image\/jpeg&quot;\"><img class=\"&quot;wp-image-117705\" align=\"\" size-full=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--full=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/Massive-The-Missing-Particle-That-Sparked-the-Greatest-Hunt-in-Science-Ian-Sample-67a4067.jpg?quality=90&amp;resize=620%2C413&quot;\" width=\"&quot;620&quot;\" height=\"&quot;413&quot;\" alt=\"&quot;&quot;\" title=\"&quot;&quot;\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<ul class=\"&quot;monetizer-in-text-link-list&quot;\"><li data-type=\"&quot;in-text&quot;\" class=\"&quot;monetizer-in-text-link&quot;\" data-config=\"'{&quot;nameKeywords&quot;:\" the=\"\" missing=\"\" particle=\"\" that=\"\" sparked=\"\" greatest=\"\" hunt=\"\" in=\"\" science=\"\" data-text=\"&quot;&lt;b&gt;Buy\" now=\"\" from=\"\" and=\"\"> <\/li>\n<\/ul><script><![CDATA[ (function () { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text\/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = \"\/\/sciencefocus.com\/pricecomparison\/widget\/intext\/app.bundle.js\"; s.onload = function () { new inText({ domain: \"sciencefocus.com\/pricecomparison\", shopId: 1306, geolocation: true, }); }; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); \/\/trim whitespace from li to flag empty items (twig seems to strip out closing if you remove the space..... [].forEach.call(document.querySelectorAll('.monetizer-in-text-link'), function(textLink) { textLink.innerHTML = textLink.innerHTML.trim(); }); })();\n]]><\/script><p>Many physics discoveries have been serendipitous ones, but my book features one forty-year-long story of discovery which happened very much intentionally: the search for the Higgs Boson. Sample\u2019s book is one of the most engaging accounts I have come across of this decades-long search, involving egos, politics, enormous collaborations, billions of dollars and ultimately, an incredibly emotional success story. A really engaging read, by an award-winning writer.<\/p>\n<section class=\"&quot;highlight\"><div class=\"&quot;highlight__content\" editor-content=\"\"> <p><a href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.bloomsbury.com\/uk\/matter-of-everything-9781526618986\/&quot;\"><em>The Matter of Everything<\/em><\/a> by Suzie Sheehy is out 28 April 2022 (\u00a320, Bloomsbury)\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Discover more great science reads:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul><li><a class=\"&quot;standard-card-new__article-title&quot;\" style=\"&quot;background-color:\" transparent=\"\" inherit=\"\" pointer=\"\" href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/nature\/best-dog-books\/&quot;\">7 of the best dog books<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"&quot;standard-card-new__article-title&quot;\" style=\"&quot;background-color:\" transparent=\"\" inherit=\"\" pointer=\"\" href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/nature\/dinosaur-books\/&quot;\">5 of the best dinosaur books<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a style=\"&quot;background-color:\" transparent=\"\" inherit=\"\" pointer=\"\" href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/books\/best-wildlife-nature-books\/&quot;\">21 of the best wildlife books<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a class=\"&quot;standard-card-new__article-title&quot;\" style=\"&quot;background-color:\" transparent=\"\" inherit=\"\" pointer=\"\" href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/books\/science-books-2\/&quot;\">70 best science books<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a style=\"&quot;background-color:\" transparent=\"\" inherit=\"\" pointer=\"\" href=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/books\/best-maths-books\/&quot;\">16 of the best maths books<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p> <\/p><\/div> <div class=\"&quot;highlight__image-container&quot;\"> <div class=\"&quot;highlight__image&quot;\"> <div class=\"&quot;img-container\" img-container--highlight-image=\"\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Matter-of-Everything-by-Suzie-Sheehy--3d1a73d.png?quality=45&amp;resize=556,556&quot;\" srcset=\"&quot;https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/4\/2022\/04\/The-Matter-of-Everything-by-Suzie-Sheehy--3d1a73d.png?quality=45&amp;resize=410,410\" https:=\"\" sizes=\"&quot;(min-width:\" calc=\"\" width=\"&quot;556&quot;\" height=\"&quot;556&quot;\" class=\"&quot;img-container__image\" img-fluid=\"\" wp-image-117739=\"\" alignnone=\"\" size-highlight_image=\"\" img-container__image=\"\" alt=\"&quot;The\" matter=\"\" of=\"\" everything=\"\" by=\"\" suzie=\"\" sheehy=\"\" title=\"&quot;The\" data-source-url=\"&quot;https:\/\/www.bloomsbury.com\/uk\/matter-of-everything-9781526618986\/&quot;\"\/><\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section><\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Suzie Sheehy Published: Tuesday, 26 April 2022 at 12:00 am What is the nature of matter, how does the Universe work, and how does that affect us? In my book, The Matter of Everything, I explore how our adventures into the heart of matter have changed the world in profound ways. This isn\u2019t just [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":12064,"template":"","categories":[54],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"7"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/04\/7-of-the-best-physics-books-according-to-physicist-suzie-sheehy.jpg",1200,511,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/04\/7-of-the-best-physics-books-according-to-physicist-suzie-sheehy-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/04\/7-of-the-best-physics-books-according-to-physicist-suzie-sheehy-300x128.jpg",300,128,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/04\/7-of-the-best-physics-books-according-to-physicist-suzie-sheehy-768x327.jpg",768,327,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/04\/7-of-the-best-physics-books-according-to-physicist-suzie-sheehy-1024x436.jpg",800,341,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/04\/7-of-the-best-physics-books-according-to-physicist-suzie-sheehy.jpg",1200,511,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2022\/04\/7-of-the-best-physics-books-according-to-physicist-suzie-sheehy.jpg",1200,511,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Suzie Sheehy Published: Tuesday, 26 April 2022 at 12:00 am What is the nature of matter, how does the Universe work, and how does that affect us? In my book, The Matter of Everything, I explore how our adventures into the heart of matter have changed the world in profound ways. This isn\u2019t just&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/12063"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12064"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12063"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}