Nobel Centennial Chronicle: Exploring the Deepest Realm of Matter

Author: Xie Yicheng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-07-01
Features: The Centennial of the Nobel Prize is an original popular science book compiled to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize. It consists of 29 volumes and 2.7 million words, written by 40 expert professors from renowned domestic universities and research institutions, including Academician Hong Tao from the Chinese Academy of Engineering. It presents a panoramic portrayal of the century-long journey of the Nobel Science Prizes within the broader context of scientific development in the 20th century, focusing on highlighting the essence of the Nobel Prize—the spirit of technological innovation. In addition to three volumes of reviews that comprehensively review the century-long transformations in modern physics, chemistry, and life sciences, the book categorizes all Nobel Science Prize-winning projects over the past century into 26 fields based on their intrinsic connections and developmental trajectories, with each field assigned its own volume. Each volume follows the continuity of scientific development in its respective field, emphasizing related Nobel Prize-winning projects as focal points. It not only introduces relevant scientific knowledge, methods, and ideas in an accessible manner but also promotes the spirit of pragmatism and innovation in science. The entire series is concise, easy to understand, and rich in humanistic color, combining both documentary value and collectible value.
The Nobel Prize, awarded since 1901, can be seen as a microcosm of the development of 20th-century physics, chemistry, and life sciences. It records nearly all the major achievements of these three disciplines over the past century and has significantly contributed to the advancement of science worldwide, widely recognized as the highest honor in the scientific community. People admire the Nobel Prize, praise the scientific contributions of its laureates, and have published many related books. So, why did we plan to publish this series, The Centennial of the Nobel Prize? This is because many science-loving readers yearn for such a series—a book that is grounded in concrete scientific content, enabling the general public to gain a certain intuitive understanding of the achievements of scientists. It follows the continuity of disciplinary development, allowing readers to appreciate the endless progress of science. Moreover, it is concise and easy to read, offering readers a pleasant and enriching experience.
Based on this consideration, the series categorizes all Nobel Prizes in the three disciplines over the past century into 26 fields, with each field presented as a small book of about 80,000 words. Each volume traces the progress of its respective field, with related Nobel Prize-winning projects as focal points. Readers will not only learn about the scientific content of these Nobel achievements but also understand the developmental history of the field. The division of volumes is not limited to the classification of primary disciplines, reflecting the interplay between modern sciences. Additionally, the series includes three volumes of reviews to provide readers with a macroscopic overview of these three disciplines.
The 29 volumes of the series are as follows:
20th-Century Physics Revolution
Modern Organic Chemistry
20th-Century Chemistry Overview
Inorganic Matter and Colloids
20th-Century Life Science Advances
Materials Physics and Chemistry
X-ray and Microscopy
Modern Analytical Techniques
Nuclear Physics and Radiochemistry
Biological Molecular Structure
Quantum Physics
Quantum and Theoretical Chemistry
Fundamental Particle Detection
Proteins, Nucleic Acids, and Enzymes
Field Theory and Particle Physics
Genetics and Genes
Particle Magnetic Moments and Collective Magnetism
Cell Biology
Superconductivity
Superfluidity and Phase Transitions
Physiological Phenomena and Mechanisms
Measurement Technology and Precision Metrology
Endocrinology and Immunology
Astrophysics
Clinical Medicine and Pharmaceutical Physics
Technology and Engineering
Infectious Diseases and Viruses
Thermodynamics and Reaction Dynamics
Neuroscience and Brain Science
Substance Metabolism and Photosynthesis