The Big Questions in Science

by Harriet Swain (Editor)

What is life about? How are men and women different? How did the universe begin? We all ponder these questions from time to time but some scientists spend their lives investigating them. Are they anywhere near finding answers? In this exciting new book, leading scientific thinkers address twenty of the really big questions that people have been asking for hundreds of years. The contributors include John Sulston, who led the British side of the Human Genome Project and who offers his views on whether we can ever end disease; Susan Greenfield, Oxford University professor of pharmacology, who describes what she thinks is a thought; John Barrow, Cambridge professor of mathematical sciences, who tells us what is time; and American psychologist David Buss, who suggests why we fall in and out of love. Their answers are each put into context by more general commentaries discussing the differing views of other leading contemporary scientists and looking at how people have tackled the question in the past. The result is a breathtaking tour of scientific thought through the ages and a peek at some of the most cutting-edge and controversial research today. Packed with fascinating insights, it

Genres: Science, Nonfiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and thought provoking book which attempts to answer 20 of the biggest questions in science today. Each question has 2 different expert perspectives which discuss the issues. Well written and thought provoking.

[Luis Munoz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este comentario es sobre la edición en español.

El problema con los libros sobre las preguntas abiertas de la ciencia es que tienen que ser realmente actuales y tomando en consideración que la edición en español es del 2014 y la edición original es del 2002, la diferencia es bastante grande. Cualquier persona que leas revistas científicas o esta inscrito a novedades de la ciencia puede encontrar las ideas detrás de estas 20 discusiones ya desarrolladas. Eso no hace que el libro sea malo, pero si no resultan será las Grandes Preguntas de la Ciencia del 2014 sino del 2002.

Otro detalle del libro es que cada capítulo está escrito por un divulgador de ciencia y luego por un especialista en el campo a abordar y en mucho capítulos la diferencia es calidad de escritura y en lograr despertar el interés por el tema es notable (a desmedro del especialista, por supuesto). Eso hace que el libro resulte en un vaivén de muy buena y buena lectura que puede llegar a cansar.