In To light such a candle, renowned chemist and science historian Keith Laidler examines the progress of science and technology over the centuries, tracing the often separate paths of these pursuits, showing how they have ultimately worked together to transform everyday life. Faraday's pure research on electricity, for example, had immense technological implications, while Maxwell's theory of electromagnetic radiation led directly to the discovery of radio transmission, something of which Maxwell himself had no conception. Conversely, the early steam engines were by no means science-based, but they led directly to the science of thermodynamics, one of the most fundamental branches of pure science. Illuminated by many fascinating stories from the history of science, this book provides a powerful argument for the relevance of pure research, and gives the general reader and scientist alike an idea of the nature and importance of the links between science and technology.
From George Washington Carver to Dr. Mae Jemison, African Americans have been making outstanding contributions in the field of science. This unique resource goes beyond the headlines in chronicling not just the scientific achievements but also the lives of 100 remarkable men and women. Each biography provides an absorbing account of the scientist's struggles, which often included overcoming prejudice, as they pursued their educational and professional goals.
Notable Women in the Physical Sciences features substantive biographical essays on 96 world and American women scientists who have made significant contributions to the physical sciences from antiquity to the present. The essays go beyond basic facts found in standard biographical dictionaries, bringing to life the women's developmental influences, the obstacles they faced and overcame, and their efforts to contribute in their chosen professions in spite of sometimes overwhelming disapproval by the establishment. The emphasis is on 20th-century women, and many of the living scientists profiled contributed interviews and autobiographical statements, that add a vital and unique element to their profiles. Entries have been written by 70 practicing scientists and researchers who explain the scientific work clearly, in terms familiar to general readers and high school students.