At Home in the Universe (Masters of Modern Physics)

Colleague and confidant of Einstein and Bohr and pioneer of nuclear fission -- John A. Wheeler is one of our most original and profound thinkers. In engaging essays formed of reminiscence, science, and conjecture, Wheeler writes of debates and discussions with Bohr, long talks with Einstein in his study at Princeton, and the eloquence and nobility of Hermann Weyl. With simple delight in "the machinery of existence" Wheeler exudes an enthusiasm that illuminates this collection. John Wheeler is one of the 20th century's most notable nuclear physicists and relativity theorists. In addition, he has played a leading role in research on pulsars, black holes, and nuclear reactor safety. Dr. Wheeler is Jan and Roland Blumberg Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas, Austin and Joseph Henry Professor of Physics Emeritus at Princeton University. Colleague And Confidant Of Einstein And Bohr, Pioneer Of Nuclear Fission Theory, And Staunch Champion Of The Theory Of Black Holes - John Archibald Wheeler Is One Of The Most Original And Profound Thinkers Of Modern Science. In 1939 He Published, With Niels Bohr, The First Paper To Describe Nuclear Fission Successfully In Terms Of Quantum Physics, A Ground-breaking Study That Led To His Involvement In The Los Alamos Atom Bomb Project And His Subsequent Work On The Hydrogen Bomb. Wheeler Has Made Significant Contributions To Atomic And Nuclear Physics, Elementary-particle Physics, Relativity Theory, Cosmology, And Astrophysics. Yet, In The Final Analysis, It Is His Simple Delight And Wonder In The Machinery Of Existence That Illuminates This Collection. At Home In The Universe Presents A Feast Of Engaging Essays Formed Of Reminiscence, Science, And Conjecture.^ Wheeler Provides Intimate Glimpses Of Einstein, Bohr, And Other Giants In The Field Who Were His Friends And Collaborators. He Writes Of Debates And Discussions With Bohr That Formed The Cornerstone Of Nuclear Fission Theory, Long Talks With Einstein In His Upstairs Study At Princeton, And The Eloquence And Nobility Of Hermann Weyl. He Sees In These And Other Great Physicists - Marie Curie, Hideki Yukawa, And Hendrik Anthony Kramers - Exemplars Of The Scientific Spirit. Wheeler Ranges Over What He Calls The Intensely Human Activity Of Science, The Nature Of Scientific Endeavor, The Role Of Curiosity And Creativity, Characteristics Of Good Scientists, And Scientific Skepticism And Optimism. He Delves Into New Directions Of Physics, Notably His Intriguing Proposition That Reality Can Be Thought Of As Binary Units - Or Bits--similar To Those From Information Theory. Uniting The Collection Is Wheeler's Lifelong Passion For The Truth And His Unconcealed Joy In Its Pursuit.^ An Unforgettable Journey Through The Mind And Memory Of One Of The Century's Great Physicists, At Home In The Universe Will Delight, Educate, And Inspire. Science Smiles -- A Septet Of Sibyls : Aids In The Search For Truth -- Genesis And Observership -- Our Universe : The Known And The Unknown -- Élan And Morale -- The Morale Of Research People -- Be The Best To Give The Most -- To Nicolaus Copernicus -- To Joseph Henry -- The Spirit Of Colleagueship At Princeton -- Bohr And Einstein -- Niels Bohr And Nuclear Physics -- Delayed-choice Experiments And The Bohr-einstein Dialogue -- The Outsider -- To Albert Einstein -- No Fugitive And Cloistered Virtue -- Einstein And Other Seekers Of The Wider View -- More Greats -- Maria Sklodowska Curie And The World Of The Small -- Hermann Weyl And The Unity Of Knowledge -- Hendrik Anthony Kramers -- Hideki Yukawa As Uniquely Ecumenical -- From Half-life To Human Life -- Dealing With Risk -- To Benjamin Franklin -- Science And Survival -- The Place Of Science In Modern Life -- Beyond The Black Hole -- Beyond The Black Hole -- It From Bit. John Archibald Wheeler. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [315]-361) And Index. Presents essays by John Archibald Wheeler on figures including Planck, Marie Curie, Joseph Henry, Hideki Yukawa, Einstein and Niels Bohr. His essays reflect on the universe as a home for man and the responsibilities of a citizen-scientist, as well as cosmology, the art of science and death.