Author Topic: A must read for science/physics geeks... (Read 400 times)

GrimCO · « **on:** March 04, 2005, 12:03:03 PM »

Just finished re-reading "The Elegant Universe" by Dr. Brian Greene. Forgot how good it was... If any of you fellas are into theoretical physics or cosmology, it is a must read for sure...

JB88 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2005, 12:04:02 PM »

very good read.

GrimCO · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2005, 12:06:00 PM »

Hey there JB88,

Ever read any books by Richard Feynman? That guy was an absolute hoot.

JB88 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2005, 12:12:23 PM »

can't say as i have grim, but sounds like i should.

GrimCO · « **Reply #4 on:** March 04, 2005, 12:22:14 PM »

He was a Physicist at Los Alamos working on the Manhattan Project. A genious and quite a character as well.

His books "QED" and "Surely You're Joking Mr. Feyman! Adventures of a Curious Character" are both outstanding and amusing as well :-)

beet1e · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2005, 12:24:47 PM »

I've got two of the late Dr. Carl Sagan's books. One of them is "Billions and Billions", and the other is "Cosmos".

GrimCO · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2005, 12:29:13 PM »

Who can forget Sagan...

I used to watch his show "Cosmos" when I was a kid. I think I blame him for turning me into an astronomy and physics geek. He just had a wonderful way of explaining things.

beet1e · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2005, 12:39:39 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by GrimCO
Who can forget Sagan...

I used to watch his show "Cosmos" when I was a kid. I think I blame him for turning me into an astronomy and physics geek. He just had a wonderful way of explaining things.

Wow, GrimCo. I watched that same series c1980 when I was living in the US. I was glued to the TV set! I always remember the one that demonstrated the speed of light if it were the same as the speed of sound - and they had two guys on motor scooters riding towards the camera, then away from the camera - and showing the change in colour that would be observed. From that, he moved on to show that many of the stars that can be observed with powerful telescopes appear red - because they are moving away from Earth. Why are they moving away from Earth? It's the aftermath of Big Bang. I'll never forget that episode, even though it's 25 years since it was first shown.

JB88 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 04, 2005, 12:58:55 PM »

you know who i miss seeing is james burke. he had that show "connections". probably unrelated subject matter, but i thought of it. great show.

went off on a bucky fuller kick in college some years ago as well. another intruiging fellow iirc.

Finrod · « **Reply #9 on:** March 04, 2005, 01:29:20 PM »

Connections was a very entertaining show.

SunTracker · « **Reply #10 on:** March 04, 2005, 01:42:53 PM »

How about one of you geeks actually giving us a summary of the book

Octavius · « **Reply #11 on:** March 04, 2005, 02:13:34 PM »

String Theory!

It's beefy enough to satisfy the hardcore freaks craving proofs and equations, but written so anyone with minor background can understand it.

Nova put on an excellent show which takes you through the basic principles and hte history of string theory.

Octavius · « **Reply #12 on:** March 04, 2005, 02:15:59 PM »

Sweet, the link is still active from the original Elegant Universe thread.

Go here and watch it:

T3H STRING THEORAY!1

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #13 on:** March 04, 2005, 03:28:41 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by GrimCO
He was a Physicist at Los Alamos working on the Manhattan Project. A genious and quite a character as well.

His books "QED" and "Surely You're Joking Mr. Feyman! Adventures of a Curious Character" are both outstanding and amusing as well :-)

Surely You're Joking is an outstanding read.

Feynman was at Los Alamos during Manhattan and loved giving the security force fits. He found a hole in the fence and left the compound through the hole and returned through the front gate just to see how long security would wonder why his entries didnt equal his exits.

He didn't want to share his quarters when he got there, (first come, first serve) and he had some of his wifes clothes in his bag, so he spread some of her stuff over the other bed in his room. Security had a fit trying to figure out how and who he snuck in and whether they should tell his wife.

Brian Greene's next book, "The Fabric of the Cosmos" is now out in paperback. If you liked elegant universe, you will like FOTC.

TheDudeDVant · « **Reply #14 on:** March 04, 2005, 03:45:20 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by JB88
you know who i miss seeing is james burke. he had that show "connections". probably unrelated subject matter, but i thought of it. great show.

went off on a bucky fuller kick in college some years ago as well. another intruiging fellow iirc.

The Day the Universe Changed I think is his best work.. Very entertaining show. It was short though, maybe 10 1hr episodes.. I have searched for it for a long time.. But I have been unable to find it for what I considered a reasonable cost..