When the Uncertainty Principle Goes to 11: Or How to Explain Quantum Physics with Heavy Metal

by Philip Moriarty Narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds

Overview

There are deep and fascinating links between heavy metal and quantum physics. No, there are. Really. While teaching at the University of Nottingham, physicist Philip Moriarty noticed something odd, a surprising number of his students were heavily into metal music. Colleagues, too: a Venn diagram of physicists and metal fans would show a shocking amount of overlap. What's more, it turns out that heavy metal music is uniquely well-suited to explaining quantum principles. In When the Uncertainty Principle Goes to Eleven, Moriarty explains the mysteries of the universe's inner workings via drum beats and feedback: You?ll discover how the Heisenberg uncertainty principle comes into play with every chugging guitar riff, what wave interference has to do with Iron Maiden, and why metalheads in mosh pits behave just like molecules in a gas. If you're a metal fan trying to grasp the complexities of quantum physics, a quantum physicist baffled by heavy metal, or just someone who'd like to know how the fundamental science underpinning our world connects to rock music, this book will take you, in the words of a pioneering Texas thrash band, to A New Level. For those who think quantum physics is too mind-bendingly complex to grasp, or too focused on the invisibly small to be relevant to our full-sized lives, this funny, fascinating book will show you that physics is all around us . . . and it rocks.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

07/16/2018
Though Moriarty, a University of Nottingham physics professor, does manage to entertainingly relay some scientific concepts here, it is more in spite of than because of his references to heavy metal. Anyone who doesn’t already know where Master of Puppets fits into Metallica’s oeuvre, or what the F#7 add 11 chord contributes to Rush’s musicianship, may be a bit lost. The math-allergic, meanwhile, will be daunted by Moriarty’s reliance on formulae, graphs, and other mathematical tools, including numerous uses of Fourier analysis and transformation, “a way of taking a complex mathematical function and breaking it into simpler functions.” Those who persevere will discover a winning sense of humor and even snark—at one point Moriarty debunks purveyors of “quantum woo,” such as Deepak Chopra, who suggest that quantum effects occurring at an atomic and subatomic level apply to the macroscopic human-scale world. He also makes points that may be new to lay readers interested in quantum physics, chief among them that “the observer effect is distinct from Heisenberg’s famous principle,” something about which Heisenberg himself was mistaken. Confirmed heavy metal fans and determined heavy metal neophytes will learn something new and have a good time doing so, while others will be left in the quantum fog. (Aug.)

From the Publisher

"
"A refreshing and accessible introduction to nanoscience for the curious metalhead."

—Science Magazine

"You don't need to be a metalhead to like this book—but be warned that if you do like this book, you will probably find yourself more of a metalhead by the end than you were at the start, because the enthusiasm is infectious. You might even find you have a better grip of the notorious mind-warping concepts of quantum mechanics too."

—Philip Ball, author of Beyond Weird: Why Everything You Thought You Knew about Quantum Physics Is Different

"A magical mosh pit of Slayer and spandex trousers, sound waves, and strings—this is quantum physics as you've never seen or heard it before."

—Matin Durrani, editor of Physics World magazine and coauthor of Furry Logic: the Physics of Animal Life

"Both metal-heads and physicists have become caricatures in today's pop culture. In his wonderfully conversational writing, Moriarty smashes these stereotypes and subverts expectations by weaving the two worlds together. This book shows how unexpected ideas cut across the worlds of heavy metal and quantum physics. If you enjoy surprises, brutal band logos, or insane riffs, you'll love this book. Forgot pop-sci. This is metal-sci."

—Jesse Silverberg, PhD, physicist and Harvard research fellow

"I thought I'd already seen every possible analogy for the weird world of quantum physics, but Philip Moriarty's music-inspired take on it is fresh and engaging . . . Moriarty's enthusiasm for both physics and metal shines through so much in his writing that I was tempted to break out the Megadeth myself while reading. If you've ever been intrigued by quantum mechanics but worried that you couldn't hack an entire book on the subject, try this one, and you won't be disappointed."

—Kelly Oakes, former science editor for BuzzFeed UK

"Whether you're a physicist, science enthusiast, musician, or music fan, this book will entertain and enlighten in equal amounts. It will bring a new beauty to your favorite songs, and arm you with fresh concepts to explain some of the most counter-intuitive of scientific ideas. At the very least, you'll have an interesting conversational tangent to adopt next time someone wants to force their amateur rendition of ‘Smoke on the Water' upon you."

—David Domminney Fowler, guitarist with the Australian Pink Floyd Show
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Product Details

BN ID:	2940170618354
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	07/31/2018
Edition description:	Unabridged

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