A Century of Nature : Twenty-One Discoveries That Changed Science and the World

Many of the scientific breakthroughs of the twentieth century were first reported in the journal Nature . A Century of Nature brings together in one volume Nature 's greatest hits—reproductions of seminal contributions that changed science and the world, accompanied by essays written by leading scientists (including four Nobel laureates) that provide historical context for each article, explain its insights in graceful, accessible prose, and celebrate the serendipity of discovery and the rewards of searching for needles in haystacks. Contents......Page 6 Foreword / Steven Weinberg......Page 10 Preface / Laura Garwin and Tim Lincoln......Page 12 Chronology of twentieth-century science......Page 16 Raymond Dart and our African origins / C. K. Brain......Page 22 Electrons make waves / Akira Tonomura......Page 42 The atom completed / Maurice Goldhaber......Page 58 Superfluidity: a new state of matter / Allan Griffin......Page 70 From nuclear physics to nuclear weapons / Joseph Rotblat......Page 82 The double helix / Sydney Brenner......Page 94 Dawn of structural biology / Gregory A. Petsko......Page 106 The first laser / Charles H. Townes......Page 126 The quasar enigma / Malcolm Longair......Page 136 Seafloor magnetism and drifting continents / Dan McKenzie......Page 150 Stellar timekeepers / Joseph H. Taylor......Page 166 Viruses reverse the genetic flow / Robin A. Weiss......Page 186 Images of body and brain / Marcus E. Raichle......Page 208 Journey to the T cell / Jonathan C. Howard......Page 222 Molecular switches for “animal electricity” / Fred J. Sigworth......Page 236 DNA sequencing: the silent revolution / Peter Little......Page 252 The blueprint of animals revealed / Gine ́s Morata......Page 280 A hole in Earth’s shield / Richard S. Stolarski......Page 302 Carbon cages and carbon tubes / Philip Ball......Page 320 Seeking other solar systems / Gordon A. H. Walker......Page 334 Dolly! / Davor Solter......Page 354 Contributors......Page 372 Index......Page 376 Many of the scientific breakthroughs of the twentieth century were first reported in the journal Nature . A Century of Nature brings together in one volume Nature 's greatest hitsreproductions of seminal contributions that changed science and the world, accompanied by essays written by leading scientists (including four Nobel laureates) that provide historical context for each article, explain its insights in graceful, accessible prose, and celebrate the serendipity of discovery and the rewards of searching for needles in haystacks. Offering A Firsthand Chronicle Of Some Of The Most Decisive Moments In Twentieth Century Science, This Volume Will Interest Anyone Who Wants To Relive The Thrill (or Frustration) Of Scientific Discovery. Edited By Laura Garwin & Tim Lincoln ; With A Foreword By Steven Weinberg. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. A survey of the century's most important discoveries in the "natural" world covers twenty-one discoveries that reshaped the human landscape, including the discovery of neutrons, the DNA helix, the hole in the ozone layer, and the first planet found outside this solar system. Simultaneous. (Biology & Natural History) In the early twentieth century, the prevailing view was that humans had originated in Eurasia.