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A Short Bright Flash
Augustin Fresnel and the Birth of the Modern Lighthouse
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A Short Bright Flash
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
How a scientific outsider came up with a revolutionary theory of light and saved untold numbers of lives.
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Description
Augustin Fresnel (1788β1827) shocked the scientific elite with his unique understanding of the physics of light. The lens he invented was a brilliant feat of engineering that made lighthouses blaze many times brighter, farther, and more efficiently.
Battling the establishment, his own poor health, and the limited technology of the time, Fresnel was able to achieve his goal of illuminating the entire French coast. At first, the British sought to outdo the new Fresnel-equipped lighthouses as a matter of national pride. Americans, too, resisted abandoning their primitive lamps, but the superiority of the Fresnel lens could not be denied for long. Soon, from Dunkirk to Saigon, shores were brightened with it.
The Fresnel legacy played an important role in geopolitical events, including the American Civil War. No sooner were Fresnel lenses finally installed along U.S. shores than they were drafted: the Union blockaded the Confederate coast; the Confederacy set about thwarting it by dismantling and hiding or destroying the powerful new lights.
Levitt's scientific and historical account, rich in anecdote and personality, brings to life the fascinating untold story of Augustin Fresnel and his powerful invention in A Short Bright Flash.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
A Short Bright Flash by Theresa Levitt receives praise for its detailed historical narrative, highlighting the crucial role of scientists and engineers in maritime safety. It is described as expertly researched, skillfully written, and thoroughly enjoyable, with endorsements from publications like Nature and The Wall Street Journal affirming its excellence and readability.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780393350890
Publisher: WW Norton & Co
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 12 January 2015
Country: United States
Imprint: WW Norton & Co
Illustration: 60 illustrations, 6 maps
Audience: Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 18.0mm
Width: 140.0mm
Height: 211.0mm
Weight: 223g
Pages: 288
About the Author
Theresa Levitt held the McDonnell-Barksdale Chair of History of Science at the University of Mississippi and is associate professor of history there. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she has a masterβs degree in history from Iowa State University and a PhD from Harvard University. She was the recipient of a National Science Foundation grant and a Fulbright IIE Graduate Research Fellowship, among other honors. She is the author of numerous articles and papers on a variety of scientific subjects.
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