Ask the Experts: Physics and Math

by Scientific American, Graham Halstead (Reading)

For going on two decades, Scientific American's "Ask the Experts" column has been answering reader questions on all fields of science. We've taken your questions from the basic to the esoteric and reached out to top scientists, professors, and researchers to find out why the sky is blue or whether we really only use 10 percent of our brains.

Now, we've combed through our archives and have compiled some of the most interesting questions (and answers) into a series of books. Organized by subject, each title provides short, easily digestible answers to questions on that particular branch of the sciences.

The first title in our series--Physics and Math--explains a wide range of natural phenomena and mathematical concepts. Have you ever wondered what exactly antimatter is? How about game theory, quantum mechanics, and the origin of pi? Mathematicians and professors from universities across the country tackle these topics, drawing on their extensive expertise to give answers that are at once accurate and comprehensible by those who haven't studied physics or math since high school.

Genres: Science

1 pages, Audio CD

First published August 11, 2014

About the author

Scientific American , as an institutional author, is a popular science magazine founded by Rufus M. Porter and controlled by Nature Publishing Group since autumn, 2008. Mariette DiChristina has been editor-in-chief since December, 2009.

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are curious about the mysteries of the natural world and the mathematical concepts that explain them, you will enjoy the audiobook “Ask The Experts: Physics & Math” by Scientific American. It is a collection of questions and answers from the popular “Ask the Experts” column in Scientific American magazine, covering topics such as quantum mechanics, game theory, antimatter, pi, and more. The questions are posed by readers who want to know more about the science behind everyday phenomena and the cutting-edge research that explores the frontiers of knowledge. The answers are provided by experts in the fields of physics and math, who explain the concepts in a clear and accessible way, using examples, analogies, and diagrams.

The audiobook is divided into four sections: World of Small Things, Doing the Math, Everyday Physics, and Beyond Newton’s Apple. Each section contains several questions and answers that explore different aspects of physics and math. Some of the questions are:
* What is a neutrino?
* What is Godel’s incompleteness theorem?
* How does a flame behave in zero gravity?
* What does Bayes’s theorem have to do with the existence of God?

The audiobook is narrated by Graham Halstead, who has a pleasant and engaging voice. He reads the questions and answers with enthusiasm and clarity, making the audiobook easy to follow and enjoyable to listen to. He also uses different tones and accents to distinguish between the questioners and the experts, adding some variety and personality to the audiobook.

The audiobook is suitable for anyone who has an interest in physics and math, regardless of their level of expertise. The questions range from basic to advanced, but the answers are always explained in a way that anyone can understand. The audiobook is also a great resource for students and teachers who want to learn more about the topics covered in their courses or to find new ideas for projects and experiments. The audiobook is informative, entertaining, and inspiring, showing how physics and math can help us understand the world around us and beyond.

I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone who loves science and wants to expand their horizons. It is a fascinating journey through the wonders of physics and math, guided by some of the best minds in the field. You will learn something new, have fun, and be amazed by what science can reveal.

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook was really good. It hit all the highlights, the current state of cold fusion (it is dead), quantized gravity, zero point energy, and a whole lot more. Very helpful.

My one complaint is that some of the articles read were from the 1990s. This audiobook was published in 2017. On the other hand, a lot of this stuff hasn't changed radically in the last 20 years. It should be good enough for the layperson.

I will probably listen to this audiobook again.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

i listened to this on Audible to give me a peak into the vast space of these topics. this collection of essays was well organized and read by a man that clearly understands this data and wants the listener to understand as well. excellent inflections and emphasis on the narrator's part. excellent data collection. there was some opinion in the essays but this seemed logical to me as many of the topics are still somewhat of a mystery. well done Graham Halstead and Scientific American

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of interesting information in this audiobook!

[Bryce Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning: This book forgets to add any nerdy, math, puns, which does knock it down a bit but there is some solid info which makes it very readable.

[Dick Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable collection of a variety of topics. As someone interested in the topics but not particularly knowledgeable I cannot comment too broadly except to say that it appears that the eclectic collection tried to maintain an even bias and presented any controversy in a reflective manner.