Three Roads to Quantum (Science Masters) Book

As footballers talk of the double, or statesmen dream of Middle East peace, so physicists conceive of "Quantum Gravity". This proposed wedding of the two main strands of modern physics in one Grand Unified Theory is at once the scientists' major goal, and ultimate prize.Rather like the Middle East, however, the problem of Quantum Gravity has usually appeared intractable: reconciling the macrocosmic with the microcosmic being just too tricky. But now comes Lee Smolin, American academic and author of The Life of the Cosmos, to describe, in direct and lucid prose, how that unhappy situation may be changing. Smolin's well-argued thesis is that one day soon we will see tabled, and accepted, a single overarching Theory of Everything.Not that Smolin finesses the difficulties. As he deftly and firmly guides the reader through the intricacies of relativity, string theory and black hole thermodynamics, among other even more recondite disciplines, some of which might prove a little challenging for the less enthusiastic layman, he takes pains to emphasise the hurdles to be jumped, the knots to be untied. Still, though, his scientific self-belief abides: this impressively confident and self-assured book ends with the ringing words "In the 21st Century Quantum Gravity will be taught to high school students all over the world". --Sean ThomasRead More