It's high time I forgave you: Essays on science, scientists, and humanity

Author: (English) Perutz, translated by Zhang Chunmei
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: This book is a collection of scientific essays by Perutz, the winner of the 1962 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Through essays and book reviews, Perutz not only provides a captivating account of his long and unique career but also, from his perspective, describes some of the scientific giants of the 20th century. These include the Nobel Prize-nominated nuclear physicist Lise Meitner, Leó Szilárd, who registered and patented the atomic bomb, Andrei Sakharov, who transformed from an atomic bomb designer to an opponent, the war hero Jacob who won the Nobel Prize, and Louis Pasteur, whose reputation in the eyes of the French surpassed Napoleon. Perutz not only guides you through meeting many famous scientists in this book but also takes you on a marvelous journey in the world of science, helping us better understand the significant scientific events that have profoundly impacted our lives. Topics include why Germany failed to develop the atomic bomb, the discovery process of the tuberculosis vaccine, the struggle of humanity against malaria, terrifying genetic defect diseases, the discovery process of oral contraceptives and abortion drugs and the social upheaval they caused, as well as reflections and investigations into the environmental effects of nuclear energy.