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The Matter of Everything

Twelve Experiments that Changed Our World
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Matter of Everything reveals the remarkable story of twentieth-century physics through twelve pivotal experiments that reshaped our understanding of the universe. Physicist Suzie Sheehy guides readers from the surprising discovery of X-rays to the experiments leading to the Large Hadron Collider and the creation of the World Wide Web, tracing the brilliant, persistent, and sometimes accidental efforts behind these discoveries.
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This book is ideal for readers fascinated by science and history, especially those interested in physics and the experimental journey that shapes scientific knowledge.

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The Matter of Everything tells the astonishing story of twentieth-century physics through the twelve experiments that changed our world.

A 2022 BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR: NEW SCIENTIST WATERSTONES SUNDAY TIMES

'A splendid idea, vividly carried out: I enjoyed this book enormously’ – PHILIP PULLMAN

'A rich history of beautiful discoveries' – ROBIN INCE

'An all-action thriller, laced with some of the most profound ideas humans have ever had’ – BRIAN ENO

How did a piece of gold foil completely change our understanding of atoms? What part did a hot air balloon play in the discovery of cosmic rays? How did the experiments in the run-up to the Large Hadron Collider lead to the invention of the World Wide Web?

Asking questions has always been at the heart of physics, our unending quest to understand the Universe and how everything in it behaves. How do we know all that we know about the world today? It’s not simply because we have the maths – it’s because we have done the experiments.

Accelerator physicist Suzie Sheehy introduces us to the creative and curious people who, through a combination of genius, persistence and luck, staged the ground-breaking experiments of the twentieth century. From the serendipitous discovery of X-rays in a German laboratory, to the scientists trying to prove Einstein wrong (and inadvertently proving him right), The Matter of Everything takes us on a journey through the history of experiments that transformed our world.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781526618955

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 April 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 336

About the Author

Dr Suzie Sheehy is a physicist, academic and science communicator who divides her time between her research groups at the University of Oxford (where she is a Royal Society University Research Fellow) and the University of Melbourne (where she is Senior Lecturer). Her research focuses on developing new particle accelerators for future applications in areas such as medicine and energy.

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