The Best American Science Writing 2012 is yet another endlessly fascinating and mind-expanding installment of the popular science series that Kirkus Reviews calls, “Superb brain candy.” Edited by renowned theoretical physicist and bestselling author Michio Kaku, co-founder of string field theory, this collection contains the most engaging and provocative science writing of the year—gathering in one volume enthralling and eye-opening essays about the latest developments in biochemistry, physics, astronomy, genetics, evolutionary theory, cognition, and more.

BEST AMERN SCI WRITING 2012 (Best American Science Writing)

Biographies & Memoirs

KAKU,MICHIO

Professionals & Academics

EccoPress

Already thoroughly familiar to the seasoned science fiction fan, Hyperspace is that realm which enables a spaceship captain to take his ship on a physics-defying shortcut (or "wormhole") to the outer shores of the Galaxy in less time than it takes a 747 to fly from New York to Tokyo. But in the past few years, physicists on the cutting edge of science have found that a 10-dimensional Hyperspace may actually exist, albeit at a scale almost too small to comprehend, smaller even than a quark; and that in spite of its tiny size, it may be the basis on which all the forces of nature will be united. This is the first book for a general audience on one of the latest, most exciting developments in modern science. In the past several years, theoretical physicists--the author among them--have discovered that the universe exists not merely in the four spacetime dimensions (3 of space + one of time) with which Einstein made us familiar, but rather as a ten-dimensional Hyperspace. Once the domain of the science fiction writer or the occultist, Hyperspace has recently been shown to be the only kind of space in which the laws of modern physics can be satisfactorily explained. Amazingly enough, many of the phenomena whose explanations have stymied 20th century physicists and cosmologists can now be perfectly clarified by using the ten dimensions of Hyperspace. Most importantly, Einstein's unfulfilled dream, the work on which he spent the last several decades of his life in vain--the unification of all the forces of nature--now sits waiting on the ten-dimensional doorstep of modern theoretical physicists. Michio Kaku--theoretical high-energy physicist, author, radio talkshow host, and nuclear disarmament activist--is one of the pioneers in the field of String Theory, which states that the basic constituents of our universe are not quarks or protons or electrons, but much smaller entities called "strings" or "superstrings", which vibrate--like violin strings--in 10 dimensional Hyperspace, and whose vibrations in different resonances are manifested in the elementary particles. In his book, Kaku takes the reader on a ride through Hyperspace to the edge of physics. On the way he gives crystal clear explanations of such formidable mathematical concepts as non-Euclidean Geometry, Kaluza-Klein Theory, and Supergravity, the everyday tools of the string theorist. Utilizing fascinating and often hilarious anecdotes from history, from art, and from science fiction, Kaku shows us that writers and artists--in addition to scientists--have been fascinated by multidimensional space for over a century. In fact, many of the weird effects created by such famous artists as Dali and Picasso can be explained and more appreciated with an eye on the fourth spatial dimension. Finally, Kaku shows us why the ability to master Hyperspace may be our only salvation from destruction at the end of space-time. This lively yet authoritative book is spiced with many whimsical illustrations in a style reminiscent of the late science writer George Gamow.

Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the Tenth Dimension

Science & Math

Mathematics

Oxford Univ Pr (T)

What is superstring theory and why is it important? Can superstrings offer the fulfilment of Einstein's lifelong dream of a Theory of Everything? Co-authored by Michio Kaku, one of the leading pioneers of superstrings, this is a thrilling account of the discoveries that have led scientists to the brightest new prospect in theoretical physics today. With all the excitement of a detective story, this book contains the newest ground-breaking research in physics, and offers a fascinating look at the scientific research that may make the impossible possible.

Beyond Einstein: Superstrings and the Quest for the Final Theory Paperback

Physics

Oxford Paperbacks

New in paperback, from the bestselling author of Hyperspace, this spellbinding book brings together the cutting-edge research of today's foremost scientists to explore the science of tomorrow. Michio Kaku describes the development of computers and artificial intelligence, reveals how the decoding of the genetic structure of DNA will allow us to alter and reshape our genetic inheritance, and observes how quantum physicists are perfecting new ways of harnessing the matter and energy of the Universe. Visions is an exhilarating adventure into the future of our planet and ourselves.

Visions : How Science Will Revolutionize the 21st Century and Beyond

History

Oxford Univ. Pr.

The rise of quantum electrodynamics (QED) made possible a number of excellent textbooks on quantum field theory in the 1960s. However, the rise of quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and the Standard Model has made it urgent to have a fully modern textbook for the 1990s and beyond. Building on the foundation of QED, Quantum Field Theory: A Modern Introduction presents a clear and comprehensive discussion of the gauge revolution and the theoretical and experimental evidence which makes the Standard Model the leading theory of subatomic phenomena. The book is divided into three parts: Part I, Fields and Renormalization, lays a solid foundation by presenting canonical quantization, Feynman rules and scattering matrices, and renormalization theory. Part II, Gauge Theory and the Standard Model, focuses on the Standard Model and discusses path integrals, gauge theory, spontaneous symmetry breaking, the renormalization group, and BPHZ quantization. Part III, Non-perturbative Methods and Unification, discusses more advanced methods which now form an essential part of field theory, such as critical phenomena, lattice gauge theory, instantons, supersymmetry, quantum gravity, supergravity, and superstrings.

Quantum Field Theory: A Modern Introduction

Reference

Words, Language & Grammar

Oxford University Press

Are there other dimensions beyond our own? Is time travel possible? Can we change the past? Are there gateways to parallel universes? All of us have pondered such questions, but there was a time when scientists dismissed these notions as outlandish speculations. Not any more. Today, they are the focus of the most intense scientific activity in recent memory. In Hyperspace, Michio Kaku, author of the widely acclaimed Beyond Einstein and a leading theoretical physicist, offers the first book-length tour of the most exciting (and perhaps most bizarre) work in modern physics, work which includes research on the tenth dimension, time warps, black holes, and multiple universes. The theory of hyperspace (or higher dimensional space)--and its newest wrinkle, superstring theory--stand at the center of this revolution, with adherents in every major research laboratory in the world, including several Nobel laureates. Beginning where Hawking's Brief History of Time left off, Kaku paints a vivid portrayal of the breakthroughs now rocking the physics establishment. Why all the excitement? As the author points out, for over half a century, scientists have puzzled over why the basic forces of the cosmos--gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces--require markedly different mathematical descriptions. But if we see these forces as vibrations in a higher dimensional space, their field equations suddenly fit together like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle, perfectly snug, in an elegant, astonishingly simple form. This may thus be our leading candidate for the Theory of Everything. If so, it would be the crowning achievement of 2,000 years of scientific investigation into matter and its forces. Already, the theory has inspired several thousand research papers, and has been the focus of over 200 international conferences. Michio Kaku is one of the leading pioneers in superstring theory and has been at the forefront of this revolution in modern physics. With Hyperspace, he has produced a book for general readers which conveys the vitality of the field and the excitement as scientists grapple with the meaning of space and time. It is an exhilarating look at physics today and an eye-opening glimpse into the ultimate nature of the universe.

Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the Tenth Dimension

Astronomy & Space Science

As the twentieth century draws to a close, the fundamental elements of matter and life - the particles of the atom and the decoding of the nucleus of the cell - have been discovered, and one of the great chapters of scientific discovery has drawn to a close. In many ways, however, this is but a preface to an even more far-reaching scientific revolution that will take place in the next century, as we make the transition from unravelling the secrets of nature to becoming the masters of nature. In VISIONS, physicist Michio Kaku looks to this future and guides the reader through the science of the next century. What makes his vision of this future so compelling is that it is based on the pioneering efforts by theoreticians and the groundbreaking research that is going on in the labs right now. Science, for all its breathtaking change, evolves slowly. Dr. Kaku asserts that, using today's knowledge, we can confidently predict the direction of science through the next century. In the first section of the book, he explores the evolution and development of computers and artificial intelligence. He offers a window on how computer science will evolve after the year 2020, when the principle that has governed the industry's technological process since the 1950's, Moore's Law, reaches its limits. Next, he discusses biogenetics, the second great scientific revolution, and reveals how the completion of the decoding of the genetic structure of DNA will allow us to conquer the devastating genetic diseases that have plagued the human race throughout our history and allow us to alter and reshape our genetic inheritance. The final section of the book takes us yet further into the future, as we see how quantum physicists are perfecting new ways of harnessing the matter and energy of the Universe. A spellbinding narrative that brings together the cutting-edge research of today's foremost scientists to explore the science of tomorrow, VISIONS is an exhilarating adventure into the future of our planet and ourselves.

Visions: How Science Will Revolutionize the Twenty-First Century

Computers & Technology

Computer Science

'A majestic story' David Bodanis, Financial Times\nFrom the international bestselling author of Physics of the Impossible and Physics of the Future\nThis is the story of a quest: to find a Theory of Everything. Einstein dedicated his life to seeking this elusive Holy Grail, a single, revolutionary 'god equation' which would tie all the forces in the universe together, yet never found it. Some of the greatest minds in physics took up the search, from Stephen Hawking to Brian Greene. None have yet succeeded.\nIn The God Equation, renowned theoretical physicist Michio Kaku takes the reader on a mind-bending ride through the twists and turns of this epic journey: a mystery that has fascinated him for most of his life. He guides us through the key debates in modern physics, from Newton's law of gravity via relativity and quantum mechanics to the latest developments in string theory. It is a tale of dazzling breakthroughs and crushing dead ends, illuminated by Kaku's clarity, storytelling flair and infectious enthusiasm.\nThe object of the quest is now within sight: we are closer than ever to achieving the most ambitious undertaking in the history of science. If successful, the Theory of Everything could simultaneously unlock the deepest mysteries of space and time, and fulfil that most ancient and basic of human desires - to understand the meaning of our lives.

The God Equation: The Quest for a Theory of Everything

History & Philosophy

Allen Lane.

Einstein's Cosmos: How Albert Einstein's Vision Transformed Our Understanding of Space and Time

Einstein's Cosmos : How Albert Einstein's Vision Transformed Our Understanding of Space and Time

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Mystery

Weidenfeld&Nicolson

Teleportation, time machines, force fields, and interstellar space ships—the stuff of science fiction or potentially attainable future technologies? Inspired by the fantastic worlds of Star Trek, Star Wars, and Back to the Future, renowned theoretical physicist and bestselling author Michio Kaku takes an informed, serious, and often surprising look at what our current understanding of the universe's physical laws may permit in the near and distant future.Entertaining, informative, and imaginative, Physics of the Impossibleprobes the very limits of human ingenuity and scientific possibility.

Physics of the Impossible: A Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force Fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel

Experiments, Instruments & Measurement

Vintage

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