Why in the world are we paying for all this 'basic' research? The answer to this question becomes clear in this romp through the 'seemingly useless' world of pure science, where one thing leads to another in ways that result in major scientific advancements. With a novelistic style, C Renée James reveals how obscure studies of natural phenomena including curved space-time, poisonous cone snails, exploding black holes, and the precise chemical makeup of the sun led unexpectedly to WiFi, GPS, genetic sequencing, pain medications, and cancer treatments. Science Unshackled brings both science and scientists to life and shows how simple curiosity can result in life-changing breakthroughs. Scientists engaged in basic research, funded in large part by governments around the globe and throughout the centuries, never know when exploring small questions will have big impacts. But, by following the scientific method, disciplined inquiry can lead to wondrous and practical discoveries that benefit all of us in the end. The next time someone asks you why 'the government' wastes its money on weird research, recall the intriguing stories James has told and tell them the answer.
Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: Finding Ourselves 1. A Brief History of Timing 2. Going with the Flow 3. From Principia to Principe 4. The Attraction of Time 5. Fine-tuning Our Clocks 6. Around the World in 80 Hours (Give or Take) Part II: Identity Crisis 7. One Strand 8. Two Strands 9. The First Rungs of the Ladder 10. Interchangeable Pieces 11. Igniting the Fuse 12. Breaking Down, Building Up 13. A Curious Boy 14. Copycat 15. Molecule of the Year 16. The Genetic Bread Machine Part III: Finding a Hot Spot 17. A Universal ""Hot Spot"" 18. Classic Black 19. A Tunnel to Oblivion 20. Chasing Wild Geese 21. Going Wireless 22. Where Credit Is Due 23. Anatomy of a Successful Failure Part IV: Pick Your Poison 24. Desperate Times, Desperate Measures 25. Barking up the Right Tree 26. The Inside Story on Pain 27. A Bitter Sting 28. A Simple Question 29. The Gift of the Magus Part V: Dreaming of the Star Treatment 30. Ingredients of the Stars 31. The Sun's Secret Recipe 32. Reading between the Lines 33. Through a Star Darkly 34. The Opacity Project 35. The Iron Lady and the Gold Standard 36. Therapy of the Stars Afterword References Index
""Possessing a talent for crisp analogies that elucidate complex scientific concepts, the author elaborates on five examples in clear, easily digestible prose.""
