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The Five Biggest Unsolved Problems in Science
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 500
EAN: 9780471268086
ISBN: 0471268089
Label: Wiley
Manufacturer: Wiley
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 240
Publication Date: September 12, 2003
Publisher: Wiley
Studio: Wiley
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Editorial Review:
An in-depth look at the theories behind the most intriguing puzzles in physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and astronomy
In The Five Biggest Ideas in Science, authors Arthur W. Wiggins and Charles M. Wynn discussed science's most important current ideas. Now, they tackle the questions that science has been unable to answer-so far. Choosing one unsolved problem from each discipline, they explore the current scientific thinking behind these questions: How are particle masses determined? How did simple atoms first combine to form complex molecules? What role does the genome play in the development of life? Why is it so difficult to predict the weather? And what is the future of the universe? Featuring cartoons by Sidney Harris, the book includes discussions of recent theories such as the God particle, string theory, "brane" theories, and the Theory of Everything and also explores other science questions.
Arthur W. Wiggins (Farmington Hills, MI) is a Professor of Physics at Oakland Community College in Michigan. Charles M. Wynn (Willimantic, CT) is a Professor of Chemistry at Eastern Connecticut State College. They collaborated on The Five Biggest Ideas in Science (0-471-13812-6).
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - 5 Unsolved Problems - Or is it 100's
This book is a GREAT introduction to anyone interested in science, wishing to become better informed about scientific issues, or wanting to know what many of our best scientists are working on right now. It is not particularly deep and is therefore a good primer for the non-scientifically oriented reader.
The authors open with a careful discussion of the scientific process. Most of us make our daily life decisions on the basis of tradition, word of mouth, and limited anecdotal ... Read More
Rating: - Fine introduction for the general reader
This is written by two guys who teach physics (Wiggins) and chemistry (Wynn) at the college level in a reader-friendly manner in which each of the five unsolved problems are presented, explained, and critiqued. Each section is then concluded with indications of how these problems might be solved. There are some nice cartoons by Sidney Harris to augment the text.
The five "biggest" problems are (from different disciplines and not without controversy):
1. The nature and origin ... Read More
Rating: - A Fun Way to Discover the Intriguing
We teach subjects not related to the science Wiggins and Wynn address - except in the ways that really matter. For example, reviewer Winston teaches American Government; he finds this book profoundly "usable" in that its point includes the notion (disused in some high political places) that problems can be treated by thinking, and shouldn't be expected to be solved by wish fulfillment and received authority. In this sense the book is a continuation of the earlier "Quantum Leaps in The Wrong Direction," ... Read More
Rating:  - A survey course in Science
This is like a condensed survey course of various facets of Science. The authors cut to the chase by focusing on one major unsolved problem in each discipline. Their breadth of knowledge is impressive and their presentations are comprehensible for laymen like me. I was particularly attracted to the question "How was the first living thing formed?" and also "Why is the universe expanding faster and faster?". The accompanying cartoons are well done. The ideas folder at the end touches on ... Read More
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