Science and Inquiry discussion

Anyone have suggestions for the June 2010 read?

Here are some suggestions:

I really enjoy Steven Pinker's books:
How the Mind Works

There is more to heredity than just genes:
Evolution in Four Dimensions: Genetic, Epigenetic, Behavioral, and Symbolic Variation in the History of Life

I've just finished reading this book:
The Predictioneer's Game: Using the Logic of Brazen Self-Interest to See and Shape the Future
It is about the use of game theory to predict (and alter) future political events. Fascinating.

How about Uranium: War, Energy and the Rock That Shaped the World by Tom Zoellner? Supposed to be good on the history/politics/social impact of humanity's involvement with the mineral, as well as solid (if not in-depth) on the science.

I would suggest Anil Ananthaswamy part science part travelogue. has a 3.6 rating by those who have read it so far.

And I'll throw Longitude in the mix and set up a poll.
Thanks!

I'm rooting for Evolution in Four Dimensions. It was a very good book and I wouldn't mind reading it a second time.

All six of the books in the June, 2010 poll are excellent. If you have an intention to read any of them, please vote in the poll!

Uranium is the winning book for June 2010...go start reading! :)

I've started reading Uranium...it is a fascinating book! It doesn't say all that much about the science behind uranium, but the author is an excellent storyteller. Well worth reading.

There is more science in the following book.
Jim Baggott

I'm about halfway through Uranium.

At the end of chapter 3 I was surprised to see how little of the plutonium mass was converted into energy. Does anyone know how much of the plutonium is left as plutonium and how much gets split into something else?

That may be in The Making of the Atomic Bomb (which I recommend, by the way). Have to go check.

ETA: The "active" plutonium, as compared to the uranium tamper, would seem to have been about 5 kilos (11 pounds) in the original Little Boy model. Given the weight of weapons-grade plutonium, that would probably have been about the size of a small orange, according to Richard Rhodes.

I just finished Chapter 4 about the development of the atomic bomb. I'm definitely enjoying the book.

I looked at The Making of the Atomic Bomb and am putting it on my TBR list. I wish it was on the Kindle, I would have downloaded it today. I have read a number of books with bits and pieces of the story but I would like to read something in-depth.

The Making of the Atomic Bomb is excellent. The first half is the story of the physics and the physicists up to 1939.

The second half is the story of how they built the bomb.

It is long but I found it fascinating. I believe it won a Pulitzer for non-fiction.

In regards to my message #11. I found the following information in the article on fat-man in wikipedia.

The result is that about two and a half of the thirteen pounds of plutonium in the pit, (about 20% of the 6.2 kilograms (14 lb) ) fissioned, and converted probably less than 1 gram (0.035 oz) of mass into energy, releasing the energy equivalent of 21 kilotons of TNT or 88 TJ.

The main fission product appear to be iodine and strontium

on page 236 he tells of the finding of highly enriched uranium near Dalhart that had apparently been stolen from Los Alamos. To get the two pieces found together correctly would have destroyed everything within 10 miles. Correctly is the rub, anything other than a high explosive gun would have resulted in a fizzle and radiation contamination.

A Japanese company apparently had an accident about getting too much nuclear material together in 1999. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf...

I just finished the book. I give it 4 stars. It jumped around a lot but I think that was in the nature of the story. And several times he repeated sentences verbatim from earlier in the book, which I found jarring. Minor quibbles though. I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

I'm "reading" the Uranium book by listening to the audio version. I was hesitant to try this mode for technical/historic content, but am actually enjoying it quite a bit. Patrick Lawlor is an excellent narrator and keeps things lively with his use of amusing accents and shifting tones. He is not preachy like so many of these narrators and his voice does not wear on one. Anyway, it is a great story and I'm about one-fourth through it and hungry for more.

DonnaR wrote: "several times he repeated sentences verbatim from earlier in the book, wh..."

DonnaR~ I had the same reaction--a bit odd, but does not detract from the overall appreciation for the book. His writing is simple enough for the non-technical among us to grasp it easily and get swept into the drama of the story.

I admit I would never have chosen to read this book, but I am really finding it fascinating. I guess that's why I enjoy this group so much! Thanks to all you who voted for it.

Likewise, I also would never have independently chosen to read this book, but I'm glad I did.

I've taken the factoid about the statue in the lobby of the headquarters of the World Nuclear Association (in London), and turned it into a trivia question. People love it!

Well, I finally finished it, but have to admit the second half didn't entrance me as much. Perhaps it is not a good choice for an audio read--I kept falling asleep and then having to back up to find my place again. Also feel a little disappointed that I didn't learn that much about the technology.

Sandra wrote: "Well, I finally finished it, but have to admit the second half didn't entrance me as much. Perhaps it is not a good choice for an audio read--I kept falling asleep and then having to back up to fin..."

I agree that the second half of the book is rather soporific. Uranium mining is big business and occurs in some dangerous places. Essentially repeat that for several hundred pages.

David wrote: "I've taken the factoid about the statue in the lobby of the headquarters of the World Nuclear Associat..."

this is a hilarious piece of trivia!

Patricrk wrote: "Sandra wrote: "Well, I finally finished it, but have to admit the second half didn't entrance me as much. Perhaps it is not a good choice for an audio read--I kept falling asleep and then having to..."

I found that it did slow a bit in the second half, but I appreciated picking up some insight on how uranium affects world politics--not just the enriched product, but the mining, transport & security. I learned a lot.