Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold“A lovely, fascinating book, which brings science to life.” —Alan Lightman Combining science, history, and adventure, Tom Shachtman “holds the reader’s attention with the skill of a novelist” as he chronicles the story of humans’ four-centuries-long quest to master the secrets of cold (Scientific American). “A disarming portrait of an exquisite, ferocious, world-ending extreme,” Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold demonstrates how temperature science produced astonishing scientific insights and applications that have revolutionized civilization (Kirkus Reviews). It also illustrates how scientific advancement, fueled by fortuitous discoveries and the efforts of determined individuals, has allowed people to adapt to—and change—the environments in which they live and work, shaping man’s very understanding of, and relationship, with the world. This “truly wonderful book” was adapted into an acclaimed documentary underwritten by the National Science Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, directed by British Emmy Award winner David Dugan, and aired on the BBC and PBS’s Nova in 2008 (Library Journal). “An absorbing account to chill out with.” —Booklist |
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ABSOLUTE ZERO AND THE CONQUEST OF COLD
User Review - KirkusAn intriguing but ponderous history of controlled cold and the pursuit of absolute zero. Unlike heat, explains Shachtman (Around the Block, 1997, etc.), cold was for a long time a mystery without a ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - jztemple - LibraryThingAs a history of the scientific pursuit of ultra low temperatures, "Absolute Zero" is a fairly decent narrative for the general reader. The author stays away from formulas, detailed technical ... Read full review
Contents
3 Battle of the Thermometers
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4 Adventures in the Ice Trade
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5 The Confraternity of the Overlooked
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6 Through Heat to Cold
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7 Of Explosions and Mysterious Mists
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8 Painting the Map of Frigor
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10 The Fifth Step
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11 A Sudden and Profound Disappearance
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12 Three Puzzles and a Solution
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13 Mastery of the Cold
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Back Matter | |
Back Cover | |
Spine | |
9 Rare and Common Gases | |
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Common terms and phrases
able absolute zero advance American apparatus assistant atoms attempt Bacon became become began believed Boyle called Carnot cause century cold conducting continued cooling demonstration described devices Dewar discovery Drebbel earlier early effect electricity energy engine existence experimental experiments explanation exploration field force freezing further gases glass heat helium hydrogen idea important Institution James Joule known laboratory later letter liquefaction liquefied liquid liquid helium London low temperatures lower machine magnetic materials matter means measure metal motion natural never noted Olszewski Onnes oxygen physicist physics predicted pressure produced proved published Ramsay reached reason refrigeration remained resistance Robert Royal scale scientific scientists seemed showed Society solid substance superconductivity temperature theory thermometer things Thomson thought tion took turned understanding universe wrote
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | Absolute Zero and the Conquest of Cold |
| Author | Tom Shachtman |
| Publisher | HMH, 2000 |
| ISBN | 0547525958, 9780547525952 |
| Length | 272 pages |
| Subjects | › › Science / Earth Sciences / Meteorology & Climatology Science / History Science / Mechanics / Thermodynamics |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |