100 Most Important Science Ideas: Key Concepts from Genetics, Physics and Mathematics

by Mark Henderson, Joanne Baker, Tony Crilly

Explaining the crucial concepts of 21st-century science. This book simplifies and explains 100 key concepts in modern science in language easily understood by general readers. The authors use everyday examples and instructive diagrams -- for example, the genome, Sudoku and crossing time zones -- to describe scientific principles, hypotheses, theorems and laws. The ideas range from the simple to the subtle to the sophisticated and Each idea is presented in two to four pages that include illustrations and text boxes. To put the discoveries in context, there are timelines that show how the idea originated and when it was developed. Short biographies of iconic scientists, entertaining quotations and anecdotes and a range of other features make this book most refreshing to read.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Mathematics, Genetics

432 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Amanda L]

Very intriguing and nicely packaged little 2-3 page blurbs about major discoveries in math, physics and genetics. A nice mix of theoretical and practical. Actually enjoyable to read aloud a few at a time and ponder with a friend. Caters to diverse audiences as my background is in engineering/ science and my fiend's is in English/ history and we both found the presentation methods to be accessible and thought-provoking alike. I also recommended to another friend who has a background in theoretical math and she enjoyed it very much as well.

[Emily]

I never read the Physics but adored the Genetics and regained some connection with the Math major in me via the third section of the book. Easy to read in pieces and short stints. Comprehensive and current.

[Theresa]

100 Most Important Science Ideas: Key Concepts in Genetics, Physics and Mathematics by mark henderson a brief introduction to scientific ideals... only one or two pages each topic... good resource for informational vocabulary

[Brendan]

Contains some really interesting mistakes ( such as black and white silent films reaching outer space ... )

[Kevin Demel]

Just a book with some interesting ideas.

[Forked Radish]

Profoundly ignorant and obsolete. An abomination!

[Autumn]

I started to read this book hoping for some gain in knowledge. As I believe in creation science i knew this book would not be creation viewed. Still , I like to gather intelligence from all views , while it had very interesting facts , I could not get past the first couple of pages. What I found in this book was not knowledge from a different point of view , it was a summery of the others distain of creationists. I knew it was not going to be from a creationist view , but I did not expect it to bash them either. The author claiming how creationists do not understand science by claiming that everything was created by God. While it may be a somewhat informative book I will not be continuing, science is not about opinions it is about collective thinking, feeding off of each other's ideas , the first chapter was very biased.

[Mike]

The Physics section was extremely helpful.
Will be revisiting this book.

[Haley]

EXTREMELY HELPFUL