The Ascent of Science

Where does heat come from? What is light? Did life start on Earth? Can physical phenomena be accurately measured? We may not think often about these questions, but for readers who do, Silver, professor of physical chemistry at the Israel Institute of Technology, is a reliable guide. Silver does more than explain scientific achievements with wit and grace: For him, science is fun. In this spirit, he leads a whirlwind tour through wondrous worlds of molecular biology, animal evolution, quantum mechanics, and relativity. The first half of the book is largely devoted to the rise of classical physics and subsequent ""Cracks in Newton's Pedestal."" After a discussion of chaos that leads to a section on biology, he continues his narrative with quantum theory and, finally, relativity. No matter how heady the subject, Silver stands undaunted in his belief that there is no topic too complex to explain to a determined lay reader, l'homme moyen sensuel, or HMS, as Silver calls him. Finally, one must applaud Silver's bravery in pointing out that even scientists approach their trade with a modicum of faith. Not all scientific conclusions, especially in the field of quantum mechanics, jibe with common sense; it is common for theories initially to appear to explain the facts satisfactorily, but later to be proven wrong. Science involves a lot of guesswork: theories can just as often obscure as elucidate nature's inner workings. For Silver, however, this is the wonder of science and reason for its ascent. Like the living creatures that cover the earth, science, too, evolves. (Jan.)