Kirjahaku

Bestselling author and astrophysicist Mario Livio examines the lives and theories of history’s greatest mathematicians to ask how—if mathematics is an abstract construction of the human mind—it can so perfectly explain the physical world.Nobel Laureate Eugene Wigner once wondered about “the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics” in the formulation of the laws of nature. Is God a Mathematician? investigates why mathematics is as powerful as it is. From ancient times to the present, scientists and philosophers have marveled at how such a seemingly abstract discipline could so perfectly explain the natural world. More than that—mathematics has often made predictions, for example, about subatomic particles or cosmic phenomena that were unknown at the time, but later were proven to be true. Is mathematics ultimately invented or discovered? If, as Einstein insisted, mathematics is “a product of human thought that is independent of experience,” how can it so accurately describe and even predict the world around us? Physicist and author Mario Livio brilliantly explores mathematical ideas from Pythagoras to the present day as he shows us how intriguing questions and ingenious answers have led to ever deeper insights into our world. This fascinating book will interest anyone curious about the human mind, the scientific world, and the relationship between them.

From the author of The Accelerating Universe comes a thought-provoking look at phi or "The Golden Ratio," discovered by Euclid more than two thousand years ago, examining the meaning of this remarkable mathematical proportion in terms of science, biology, art and architecture, philosophy, and other fields. Reprint.

We all make mistakes. Nobody is perfect. And that includes five of the greatest scientists in history -- Charles Darwin, William Thomson (Lord Kelvin), Linus Pauling, Fred Hoyle, Albert Einstein. But the mistakes that these great scientists made helped science to advance. Indeed, as Mario Livio explains in this fascinating book, science thrives on error; it advances when erroneous ideas are disproven. All five scientists were great geniuses and fascinating human beings. Their blunders were part of their genius and part of the scientific process. Livio brilliantly analyses their errors to show where they were wrong and right, but what makes his book so enjoyable to read is Livio's analysis of the psychology of these towering figures. Along the way the reader learns an enormous amount about the evolution of life on earth and in the universe, but from an unusual vantage point -- the mistakes of great scientists rather than the achievements that made them famous.

Astrophysicist and author Mario Livio investigates perhaps the most human of all our characteristics--curiosity--in this "lively, expert, and definitely not dumbed-down account" (Kirkus Reviews) as he explores our innate desire to know why. Experiments demonstrate that people are more distracted when they overhear a phone conversation--where they can know only one side of the dialogue--than when they overhear two people talking and know both sides. Why does half a conversation make us more curious than a whole conversation? "Have you ever wondered why we wonder why? Mario Livio has, and he takes you on a fascinating quest to understand the origin and mechanisms of our curiosity. I thoroughly recommend it." (Adam Riess, Nobel Prize Winner in Physics, 2011). Curiosity is not only at the heart of mystery and suspense novels, it is also essential to other creative endeavors, from painting to sculpture to music. It is the principal driver of basic scientific research. Even so, there is still no definitive scientific consensus about why we humans are so curious, or about the mechanisms in our brain that are responsible for curiosity. In the ever-fascinating Why? Livio interviewed scientists in several fields to explore the nature of curiosity. He examined the lives of two of history's most curious geniuses, Leonardo da Vinci and Richard Feynman. He also talked to people with boundless curiosity: a superstar rock guitarist who is also an astrophysicist; an astronaut with degrees in computer science, biology, literature, and medicine. What drives these people to be curious about so many subjects? An astrophysicist who has written about mathematics, biology, and now psychology and neuroscience, Livio has firsthand knowledge of his subject which he explores in a lucid, entertaining way that will captivate anyone who is curious about curiosity.

Galileo’s story may be more relevant today than ever before. At present, we face enormous crises—such as the minimization of the dangers of climate change—because the science behind these threats is erroneously questioned or ignored. Galileo encountered this problem 400 years ago. His discoveries, based on careful observations and ingenious experiments, contradicted conventional wisdom and the teachings of the church at the time. Consequently his books were forbidden by church authorities. Astrophysicist and bestselling author Mario Livio draws on his own scientific expertise to provide captivating insights into how Galileo reached his bold new conclusions about the cosmos and the laws of nature. A freethinker who followed the evidence wherever it led him, Galileo was one of the most significant figures behind the scientific revolution. He believed that every educated person should know science as well as literature, and insisted on reaching the widest audience possible, publishing his books in Italian rather than Latin. Galileo was put on trial with his life in the balance for refusing to renounce his scientific convictions. He remains a hero and inspiration to scientists and all of those who respect science—which, as Livio reminds us in this gripping book, remains threatened even today.

An “intriguing and accessible” (Publishers Weekly) interpretation of the life of Galileo Galilei, one of history’s greatest and most fascinating scientists, that sheds new light on his discoveries and how he was challenged by science deniers. “We really need this story now, because we’re living through the next chapter of science denial” (Bill McKibben).Galileo’s story may be more relevant today than ever before. At present, we face enormous crises—such as minimizing the dangers of climate change—because the science behind these threats is erroneously questioned or ignored. Galileo encountered this problem 400 years ago. His discoveries, based on careful observations and ingenious experiments, contradicted conventional wisdom and the teachings of the church at the time. Consequently, in a blatant assault on freedom of thought, his books were forbidden by church authorities. Astrophysicist and bestselling author Mario Livio draws on his own scientific expertise and uses his “gifts as a great storyteller” (The Washington Post) to provide a “refreshing perspective” (Booklist) into how Galileo reached his bold new conclusions about the cosmos and the laws of nature. A freethinker who followed the evidence wherever it led him, Galileo was one of the most significant figures behind the scientific revolution. He believed that every educated person should know science as well as literature, and insisted on reaching the widest audience possible, publishing his books in Italian rather than Latin. Galileo was put on trial with his life in the balance for refusing to renounce his scientific convictions. He remains a hero and inspiration to scientists and all of those who respect science—which, as Livio reminds us in this “admirably clear and concise” (The Times, London) book, remains threatened everyday.

Istorija otkrytij Galileja v kontekste sovremennosti;Formula uspekha uchenogo, proverennaja vekami: originalnoe myshlenie, nabljudenija i eksperimenty, rasprostranenie poluchennogo znanija;Kniga rasskazhet, pochemu imja Galileja stalo sinonimom obretenija istiny.Mario Livio, rasskazyvaja o sudbe Galileja, pokazyvaet, chto istorija povtorjaetsja: sovremennye uchenye mogut stolknutsja s tem, chto chut ne pogubilo uchenogo epokhi Vozrozhdenija, - s ignorirovaniem, a poroj dazhe s otritsaniem rezultatov, poluchennykh v khode nauchnykh nabljudenij i eksperimentov. Zhivoe izlozhenie faktov o sudbe Galileja sochetaetsja s razmyshlenijami o polozhenii nauki i uchenykh v sovremennom mire.V etoj knige izvestnyj astrofizik i pisatel Mario Livio obraschaetsja k figure Galileo Galileja, utverzhdaja, chto segodnja ego zhiznennyj put, nauch nye poiski i stremlenie k poznaniju mira aktualny kak nikogda Otkrytija uchenogo, osnovannye na neustannykh nabljudenijakh i genialnykh khsperimei takh, protivorechili obscheprinjatym predstavlenijam i pozitsii katolicheskoj tserkvi togo vremeni. V itoge Galilej byl predan sudu, ego zhizn okazalas pod ugrozoj. V uslovijakh globalnykh vyzovov, takikh kak izmenenie klimata na planete, sovremennye uchenye, kak i Galilej 400 let nazad stalkivajutsja s nedoveriem k issledovanijam, otritsaniem ikh rezultatov, ignorirovaniem vyvodov. Poetomu po sej den Galilej ostaetsja geroem i istochnikom adojamo venija dlja uchenykh i vsekh tekh. kto chtit i gotov otstaivat nauchnuju istinu.Perevodchik: Natalja Vladimirovna KolpakovaNauchnyj redaktor: Igor Sergeevich Dmitriev, d-r khim. naukRedaktor: Julija Bystrova

Mitä yhteistä on J. S. Bachin musiikilla, luonnon perusvoimilla, Rubikin kuutiolla ja parinvalinnalla. Tietyt symmetriat luonnehtivat niitäSymmetrian käsite on tieteen ja taiteen, teoreettisen fysiikan ja arjen maailmamme yhdistävä silta. Symmetrian “kielen” eli ryhmäteorian alkuperä on kuitenkin yllättävä: yhtälö, jota ei voinut ratkaista.Vuosituhansien mittaan matemaatikot ratkaisivat asteittain yhä vaikeampia yhtälöitä ja kohtasivat viimein niin sanotun viidennen asteen yhtälön. Se ei suostunut ratkeamaan parhaiden matemaatikoiden useita vuosisatoja kestäneistä ponnisteluista huolimatta. Viimein 1800-luvun alussa kaksi matematiikan ihmelasta todisti toisistaan riippumatta, että se ei ratkea tavanomaisin menetelmin. Samalla syntyi ryhmäteoria, symmetrian matematiikka.Nuorukaiset olivat ranskalainen Évariste Galois ja norjalainen Niels Henrik Abel. Molemmat kuolivat nuorena. Galois kirjoitti yhteenvedon merkittävimmistä matemaattisista ajatuksistaan kuolemaansa johtanutta kaksintaistelua edeltävänä iltana. Marginaaliin hän merkitsi:”Minulla ei ole aikaa.”Yhtälö jota ei voinut ratkaista on Galois'n ja Abelin traaginen tarina. Se esittelee myös, miten heidän työnsä käynnistänyt ryhmäteoria selittää sekä luonnon että ihmisen rakentaman maailman symmetrian ja järjestyksen.

Mario Livio - vsemirno izvestnyj astrofizik, populjarizator nauki, avtor bolee 400 nauchnykh statej i nauchno-populjarnykh knig, kotorye vnesli znachitelnyj teoreticheskij vklad v razlichnye temy ot kosmologii, vzryvov sverkhnovykh i chernykh dyr do ekzoplanet i vozniknovenija zhizni vo Vselennoj. Kak tolko ni nazyvali eto zagadochnoe chislo, kotoroe matematiki oboznachajut bukvoj?: i zolotym secheniem, i Chislom Boga, i bozhestvennoj proportsiej. Ono igraet vazhnejshuju rol i v geometrii zhivoj prirody, i v tvorenijakh cheloveka, ego zakladyvajut v osnovu proizvedenij zhivopisi, skulptury i arkhitektury, malo togo - emu posvjaschajut prikljuchencheskie romany! No zasluzhena li podobnaja slava? Chto zdes pravda, a chto ne sovsem, kakova istorija zolotogo sechenija v nauke i kulture i chem vyzvan takoj interes k prostomu geometricheskomu sootnosheniju, reshil vyjasnit Mario Livio. Unikalnoe rassledovanie privelo k neozhidannym rezultatam...Uvlekatelnyj sjuzhet i netrivialnaja razvjazka, ubeditelnaja logika i nezavisimost suzhdenij, maloizvestnye fakty iz istorii nauki i neozhidannye sopostavlenija - vot chto delaet etu nauchno-populjarnuju knigu nastojaschim detektivom.

V knige "Kod zhizni" astrofizik Mario Livio i nobelevskij laureat-biokhimik Dzhek Shostak masterski soedinjajut poslednie nauchnye otkrytija s zakhvatyvajuschim povestvovaniem. Vy uznaete, kak vspyshki zvezd, izverzhenija vulkanov i vzaimodejstvija molekul predpolozhitelno sozdali pervye kletki na Zemle. Pogruzites v mir RNK, protokletok i udivitelnykh khimicheskikh prevraschenij, kotorye priveli k pojavleniju zhizni. Odnako Zemlja - ne edinstvennoe mesto, gde provodjatsja issledovanija: poiski vnezemnoj zhizni proiskhodjat ne tolko na planetakh i sputnikakh Solnechnoj sistemy, no i na dalekikh ekzoplanetakh. Eta kniga - redkij sluchaj, kogda slozhnye nauchnye kontseptsii stanovjatsja ponjatnymi i uvlekatelnymi dazhe dlja nepodgotovlennogo chitatelja. So svezhimi dannymi iz peredovykh laboratorij avtory ne prosto dajut otvety, no i vdokhnovljajut na novye voprosy o nashem meste vo Vselennoj.

Advance Praise for The Accelerating Universe """"The Accelerating Universe"" is not only an informative book about modern cosmology. It is rich storytelling and, above all, a celebration of the human mind in its quest for beauty in all things."" --Alan Lightman, author of Einstein's Dreams ""This is a wonderfully lucid account of the extraordinary discoveries that have made the last years a golden period for observational cosmology. But Mario Livio has not only given the reader one clear explanation after another of what astronomers are up to, he has used them to construct a provocative argument for the importance of aesthetics in the development of science and for the inseparability of science, art, and culture."" --Lee Smolin, author of ""The Life of the Cosmos"" ""What a pleasure to read An exciting, simple account of the universe revealed by modern astronomy. Beautifully written, clearly presented, informed by scientific and philosophical insights."" --John Bahcall, Institute for Advanced Study ""A book with charm, beauty, elegance, and importance. As authoritative a journey as can be taken through modern cosmology."" --Allan Sandage, Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington