Table of Contents
Foreword Neil deGrasse Tyson xi
Introduction: An Invitation to Our Readers Cornelia Dean xiii
Chapter 1 The Nature of Matter
Quantum Theory Tugged, and AH of Physics Unraveled Dennis Ouerbye 2
Investigating Light Waves 10
Prof. Röntgen's X-Rays 11
Character of the X-Rays 18
About X-Ray Photography 21
The Mystery of Radium 27
A Lecture by M. Curie 30
Atom of Matter Can Be Detected 31
Madame Curie's Genius 33
Pictures Electrons Speeding in Atom 37
Discusses Atom from New Point 42
Atomic Theory Clears Some Cosmic Problems W.J. Luyten 44-
Details Concepts of Quantum Theory Waldemar Kaempffert 48
Super X-Rays Reveal the Secret of Creation Waldemar Kaempffert 49
Tests of the Electron Indicate It Is a Wave Clinton J. Davisson 57
To Speed Hydrogen to Break Up Atoms 61
Discovers Neutron, Embryonic Matter 62
Chadwick Calls Neutron "Difficult Catch" Ferdinand Kuhn Jr. 64
Bombardment of Atoms 66
Jekyll-Hyde Mind Attributed to Man William L. Laurence 68
Fermi Measures Speed of Neutron 72
Bohr and Einstein at Odds William L. Laurence 74
Discovery of the Antiproton Ends a Long Search, Confirms Einstein's Equation Waldemar Kaempffert 78
Discovery of New Particle Called "Crucial Test" of Theory Walter Sullivan 80
Two Men in Search of the Quark Lee Edson 84
Einstein: Relativity in the Kitchen Walter Sullivan 95
Signs of Quark Discovery Cited in Stanford Report Walter Sullivan 97
Detection of the Elusive "Gluon" Exciting Scientists Malcolm W. Browne 100
New Quarks Stir Debate on Basic Laws of Nature Walter Sullivan 105
Microscopes Peer Ever Deeper into Small World Walter Sullivan 111
Reagan to Press for $6 Million Atom Smasher Ben A. Franklin 116
The Supercollider's Demise Disrupts Many Lives and Rattles a Profession Malcolm W. Browne 120
Europe Is Ready to Pick Up the Pieces in Particle Research Barry James 124
Top Quark, Last Piece in Puzzle of Matter, Appears to Be in Place William J. Broad 126
Physicists Manage to Create the First Antimatter Atoms Malcolm W. Browne 131
Stuck in Traffic? Consult a Physicist Malcolm W. Browne 134
Mass Found in Elusive Particle; Universe May Never Be the Same Malcolm W. Browne 139
Almost in Awe, Physicists Ponder "Ultimate" Theory George Johnson 144
New Dimension in Dance: Thinking Man's Macarena George Johnson 151
In Quantum Feat, Atom Is Seen in Two Places at Once George Johnson 153
Art + Physics = Beautiful Music James Glanz 158
No Hope of Silencing the Phantom Crinklers of the Opera James Glanz 164
Scientists Bring Light to Full Stop, Hold It, Then Send It on Its Way James Glanz 166
With Little Evidence, String Theory Gains Influence James Glanz 169
Quantum Stew: How Physicists Are Redefining Reality's Rules George Johnson 172
String Theory, at 20, Explains It All (or Not) Dennis Overbye 175
A Giant Takes on Physics's Biggest Questions Dennis Overbye 184
Physicists Find Elusive Particle Seen as Key to Universe Dennis Overbye 195
Chapter 2 The Practical Atom
Wireless Signals across the Ocean 200
Light-Energy Ideas Told by Millikan 202
Compton to Strive for Atomic Energy 205
Radar-I Hanson W. Baldwin 207
Radar-II Hanson W. Baldwin 209
Dec. 2, 1942-The Birth of the Atomic Age William L. Laurence 212
Drama of the Atomic Bomb Found Climax in July 16 Test William L. Laurence 218
Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki Told by Flight Member William L. Laurence 226
Visit to Hiroshima Proves Its World's Most-Damaged City William H. Lawrence 234
Five Atomic Piles in Operation Here 240
Tiny Radios Made by Armed Services T. R. Kennedy Jr. 242
Ending of All Life by Hydrogen Bomb Held a Possibility William L. Laurence 244
Major Gains Seen in New Amplifiers William L. Laurence 248
Hydrogen Is Fused for Peace or War William L. Laurence 250
Silicon "Battery" Represents a New Approach in Long Efforts to Harness Sun's Power Waldemar Kaempffert 253
New "All-Transistor" Calculator May Surpass Electronic Models 255
The Laser Lights Up the Future Maya Pines 257
New Photo Technique Projects a World of Three-Dimensional Views Walter Sullivan 262
Nuclear Power Gain Reported, But Experts Express Doubts Malcolm W. Browne 271
Claim of Achieving Fusion in Jar Gains Support in Two Experiments Malcolm W. Browne 273
Physicists Debunk Claim of a New Kind of Fusion Malcolm W. Browne 277
In the Quantum World, Keys to New Codes James Glanz 282
Computing, One Atom at a Time George Johnson 286
Brain Surgery, Without Knife or Blood, Gains Favor Laurie Tarkin 291
Chapter 3 The Fate of the Universe
The Greatest Telescope in the World Garrett P. Serviss 297
Einstein Expounds His New Theory 302
Lights All Askew in the Heavens 305
Science Seeks Secret of Life in Star Rays Waldemar Kaempffert 307
Giant Telescope of Immense Range to Dwarf All Others 315
Studies of the Cosmic Ray Point to Endless Creation William L. Laurence 318
New Radio Waves Traced to Center of the Milky Way. 326
New Dimensions Given to Universe William L. Laurence 328
Finds Galaxy Goes 100 Miles a Second Lawrence E. Davies 333
Palomar Observers Dazzled in First Use of 200-inch Lens William L. Laurence 337
Studies Reported in Star Evolution William L. Laurence 341
Universe Growing, Dr. Hubble Thinks 344
Birth of Universe Traced to Blast William L. Laurence 345
Radio Telescope to Expose Space John W. Finney 347
Rival Cosmologies Walter Sullivan 351
Satellite Challenges Theory of Universe John W. Finney 355
Signals Imply a "Big Bang" Universe Walter Sullivan 357
An X-Ray Scanning Satellite May Have Discovered a "Black Hole" in Space Walter Sullivan 361
End of Universe in "Black Hole" Foreseen Walter Sullivan 364
First Photo Taken by New Telescope Walter Sullivan 366
Galaxy's Speed through Universe Found to Exceed a Million MPH Walter Sullivan 368
Antennas Sharpen Radio "View" of Heavens Walter Sullivan 372
Island in Hawaii Is Becoming a World Astronomy Center Walter Sullivan 376
Gravity "Lens" Is Found in Space Walter Sullivan 379
"Big Bang" Has a Revival in New View of Universe Walter Sullivan 382
Cosmic Powerhouse Finally Seen in Detail Walter Sullivan 386
New View of Universe Shows Sea of Bubbles to Which Stars Cling Walter Sullivan 389
Powerful Source of Gravity Detected Deep in the Universe Walter Sullivan 392
Huge Stellar Explosion Detected Close Enough for Careful Study Malcolm W. Browne 397
Elated by Supernova, Astronomers Watch Their Theories Come to Life Malcolm W. Browne 400
Massive Clusters of Galaxies Defy Concepts of the Universe John Noble Wilford 405
Shuttle Soars 381 Miles High, with Telescope and a Dream John Noble Wilford 409
5,000-Mile Radio Telescope Set to Probe Depths of Time and Space Malcolm W. Browne 413
Big Bang's Defenders Weigh "Fudge Factor," a Blunder of Einstein's, as Fix for New Crisis John Noble Wilford 420
Age of Universe Is Now Settled, Astronomer Says Malcolm W. Browne 425
New Era Is Promised for Optical Telescopes Malcolm W. Browne 429
At Other End of "Big Bang" May Simply Be a Big Sputter John Noble Wilford 434
Peek at Black Holes' Feast Reveals Awful Table Manners John Noble Wilford 437
In Chilean Desert, Observatory for 21st Century Takes Shape John Noble Wilford 441
Pictures Give Hints of Universe at Its Dawn John Noble Wilford 447
Where Does the Time Go? Forward, Physics Shows Malcolm W. Browne 449
Hubble Telescope Yields Data for Recalculating Age of Universe John Noble Wilford 454
Galaxies' Vastness Surprises Scientists James Glanz 457
In the Dark Matter Wars, Wimps Beat Machos James Glanz 462
Before the Big Bang There Was … What? Dennis Overbye 465
A New View of Our Universe: Only One of Many Dennis Overbye 473
Radio Telescope Proves a Big Bang Prediction Dennis Overbye 480
Cosmos Sits for Early Portrait, Gives Up Secrets Dennis Overbye 483
Astronomers Report Evidence of "Dark Energy" Splitting the Universe Dennis Overbye 487
Remembrance of Things Future: The Mystery of Time Dennis Overbye 490
A Trip Forward in Time. Your Travel Agent: Einstein Dennis Overbye 498
Dark, Perhaps Forever Dennis Overbye 500
The Struggle to Measure Cosmic Expansion Dennis Overbye 507
Particle Hunt Nets Almost Nothing; the Hunters Are Almost Thrilled Dennis Overbye 512
There's More to Nothing Than We Knew Dennis Overbye 515
At the End of the Earth, Seeking Clues to the Universe Simon Romero 518
American Physics Dreams Deferred Dennis Overbye 522
Appendices 527
Nobel Laureates in Physics 527
Physics Timeline 535
Contributors' Biographies 539
Image Credits 542
Index 543
