Lucifer's Legacy: The Meaning of Asymmetry (Dover Books on Science)

"This is Frank Close's masterpiece — his best book, and one of the very best introductions to physics for the layperson. Close is a master expositor." — The (London) Sunday Times "Close's writing is beguiling, mingling personal and historical anecdote with carefully measured doses of exposition in such a way as to guide the reader painlessly into rather deep intellectual waters." — Nature "Life, intrinsically related to asymmetries, is the theme of this book, and Close offers us an absorbing and scientifically correct account of symmetry and its deep implications." — CERN Courier This thought-provoking work by a physicist and popular science writer explores the origins of asymmetry from the molecular level to that of the universe at large. Frank Close takes the readers on a tour of asymmetry that ranges from the development of human embryos to the mysterious Higgs boson, or "God particle," and ongoing research at Switzerland's CERN laboratory. For many centuries, scientists have investigated the "fearful symmetry" that seemed to underlie the Universe. But increasingly, it looks as though life is the result of cosmic asymmetry, and scientists are now preparing to uncover the asymmetries at the heart of the Big Bang. As we begin a new millennium, it becomes clearer that true understanding of our Universe will come only from identifying and understanding the asymmetries that surround us. While modern scientific theory describes a uniformly perfect and symmetrical creation, we know that were that so, matter would have been destroyed within an instant of its appearance and nothing that we now know could ever have happened. Not only cosmic life but our own everyday variety is full of other examples of asymmetry, from the human body to the molecules of life. In Lucifer's Legacy, physicist Frank Close explores the origins of asymmetry from the molecular level to the Universe at large, and asks whether this multitude of examples can be traced back to a single event that took place at the origin of our Universe. Inspired by a chance encounter with a statue of Lucifer in the Tuillerie gardens in Paris, Close takes the reader on a sweeping tour of asymmetry in the world around us, from the development of human embryos to the mysterious Higgs boson. His tour culminates in the research now underway at CERN to recreate the Big Bang in Switzerland in 2005 and thus to solve this mystery of the original asymmetry. Vividly and engagingly written, Lucifer's Legacy reveals that whenever asymmetry occurs in Nature, it points towards deeper truths. In Lucifer's Legacy, Physicist And Broadcaster Frank Close Explores The Origins Of Asymmetry From Life To The Universe At Large, And Asks Whether This Multitude Of Examples Can Be Traced Back To A Single Act That Took Place At The Origin Of Our Universe. Inspired By A Chance Meeting With Lucifer In The Tuillerie Gardens In Paris, Close Takes The Reader On A Sweeping Tour Of Asymmetry In The World Around Us, From The Development Of Human Embryos To The Mysterious Higgs Boson. His Tour Culminates In The Research Now Underway In Switzerland, Where Scientists Are Preparing An Experiment To Recreate The Big Bang And Hope To Resolve The Mystery Of The Original Asymmetry. Lucifer's Legacy Describes The Possible Outcomes Of This Experiment, And Assesses Their Implications For Our Understanding Of The Universe.--jacket. 1. Lucifer -- 2. Symmetry At Large -- 3. Through The Looking Glass -- 4. Mirror Molecules And The Origins Of Life -- 5. Unearthly Visions -- 6. Electrick Virtue -- 7. Heart Of The Matter -- 8. Glimpse Of Symmetry -- 9. Lost Symmetries -- 10. Nature's Sleight Of Hand -- 11. Antimatter Matters -- 12. Back To The Future -- 13. Lucifer's Legacy. Frank Close. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.