A Random Walk in Science,

EEn......Page 0
Front Cover......Page 1
Back Cover......Page 2
A Random Walk in Science......Page 3
Copyright Info......Page 6
Foreword......Page 7
TOC......Page 11
Introduction......Page 16
When does jam become marmalade?......Page 19
In defense of pure research......Page 21
Keeping up with science......Page 22
Sir Francis Simon, low temperature physicist......Page 24
The theorist......Page 25
The theory of practical joking--its relevance to physics......Page 26
The Smithsonian Institution......Page 35
Atmospheric extravaganza......Page 36
The Academy......Page 41
The triumph of reason......Page 42
American Institute of Useless Research......Page 43
Remarks on the quantum theory of the absolute zero of temperature......Page 44
A contribution to the mathematical theory of big game hunting......Page 45
Fission and Superstition......Page 48
The uses of fallacy......Page 49
Basic science......Page 53
On the nature of mathematical proofs......Page 54
Arrogance in physics......Page 56
What do physicists do?......Page 57
Physics terms made easy......Page 58
Humphry Davy\'s first experiments......Page 59
Maxwell\'s aether......Page 62
Boltzmann on style in physics......Page 63
An Experiment to prove, that Water, when agitated by Fire, is infinitely more elastic than Air in the same Circumstances; by the late Rev John Clayton, Dean of Kildare in Ireland......Page 64
H A Rowland......Page 66
Confrontation......Page 69
Bunsen burner......Page 70
Rutherford and Nature\'s whispers......Page 72
The organization of research--1920......Page 73
Solar eclipse......Page 74
How Newton discovered the law of gravitation......Page 75
Epigrams......Page 81
Take away your billion dollars--1946......Page 82
Standards for inconsequential trivia......Page 83
How radar began......Page 84
Building research......Page 86
Perils of modern living......Page 87
Predictions and comments......Page 88
Which units of length?......Page 91
Alpher, Bethe and Gamow......Page 92
Electromagnetic units: 2......Page 93
Unit of Capacity......Page 95
Therapy......Page 96
Infancy of x-rays......Page 97
Faraday lectures......Page 98
N rays......Page 99
My initiation......Page 102
Frank Jewett......Page 105
Inertia of a broomstick......Page 106
The high standard of education in Scotland......Page 109
Theoretical zipperdynamics......Page 110
Atomic medicine......Page 113
100 authors against Einstein......Page 114
Ultraviolet catastrophe......Page 116
Flatland: a romance of many dimensions......Page 117
Schools of physics......Page 118
How a theoretical physicist works......Page 121
The art of finding the right graph paper to get a straight line......Page 124
On the imperturbability of elevator operatos: LVII......Page 126
The analysis of contemporary music using harmonious oscillator wave functions......Page 129
Researchers\' prayer......Page 130
Turboencabulator......Page 131
Heaven is hotter than Hell......Page 132
On the feasibility of coal-driven power stations......Page 133
Bedside manner......Page 135
A theory of ghosts......Page 136
A stress analysis of a strapless evening gown......Page 141
Two classroom stories......Page 143
Murphy\'s Law......Page 144
Thermoelectric effect......Page 145
A glossary for research reports......Page 146
Why we must go to the Moon......Page 148
Face to face with metrication......Page 149
Life on Earth (by a Martian)......Page 150
The high energy physics colouring book......Page 163
Do-it-yourself CERN Courier writing kit......Page 165
Gulliver\'s computer......Page 167
Haiku......Page 169
Textbook selection......Page 170
Computer, B.Sc. (failed)......Page 171
Collective names in basic sciences......Page 172
The Chaostron. An important advance in learning machines......Page 173
Physics is too young......Page 176
Yes, Virginia......Page 177
How to learn......Page 179
The nature of evidence......Page 180
School leaving exam......Page 181
Where to hold nuclear spectroscopy conferences in Russia......Page 182
Typical examination questions as a guide to graduate students studying for prelims......Page 183
Big Science and Lesser Sciences......Page 185
Oral examination procedure......Page 186
Fluorescent yield......Page 187
Slidesmanship......Page 188
A conference glossary......Page 193
Valentine from a Telegraph Clerk to a Telegraph Clerk......Page 194
Enrico Fermi......Page 195
Absent-minded......Page 196
The Mason-Dixon line......Page 197
Toothed wheels......Page 203
The transit of Venus......Page 204
Lines inspired by a lecture on extra-terrestrial life......Page 207
Postprandial: Ions mine......Page 208
The trial of Galileo......Page 209
Newton and Facts......Page 217
John Dalton\'s discovery of his colour blindness......Page 218
Paris, May 1832......Page 219
Clouds, 1900......Page 221
Shoulders of giants......Page 222
Home run......Page 223
The pulsar\'s Pindar......Page 225
Walter Nernst......Page 226
Self-frustration......Page 227
Unsung heroes--I: J-B Moire......Page 229
Wolfgang Pauli......Page 231
Scientific method......Page 232
Sir Isaac Newton, a short time before his death......Page 233
Acknowledgments......Page 234