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Title: Recent Advances and Issues in Physics by David E. Newton ISBN: 1-57356-171-1 Publisher: Oryx Press Pub. Date: 03 November, 1999 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $52.95

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Average Customer Rating: 3.5 (2 reviews)

Rating: 4
Summary: What is new in Physics? A book that answers this question!
Comment: This is my first encounter with the Oryx Fontiers of Science Series. I picked this particular volume from our University Library to read Chapter 1--Basic Research in physics and Chapter 3 --Unsolved problems inb Physics. My comments are, therfore, restricted to those chapters.

Ch 1: I found the discussion on the Standard Model refreshingly simple, clear, accurate and current. It starts with a discussion of the discovery of the top quark in 1997 and goes on to discuss frontier topics such as exotic mesons, neurino masses etc. and it continues to discuss topis in Astrophics such as Inflation Theory (A modification of the Big Bang), dark matter, anitmatter, Antigravity, Bose-Einstein Condensates. It is remarkable that this topics can be discussed in a language that is accesible to even non physicists.

I did find minor historical issues that I question. The Book says Neutrinos were anounced by Fermi in 1930. Pauli annouced neurinos and initially called them neutrons in 1930. Fermi developed the first Weak Intercation Theory in 1934. By then,the real neutron was discovered by Chadwick in 1932. So, Fermi introduced the term neutriono (the little neutron in Italian). The Book also states the Genral Theory of Relativity was announced in 1905 by Einstein. It is common knowledge that Einstein published his Special Theory of Relativity in 1905 and the General Theory in 1916.

Ch. 3: I have no complaint but praise for any book that attempts to discuss unsolved problems in physics in a simple, non mathematical and non technical terms. Topics such as dark matter with strange acronyms such as as MACHOs, WIMPs etc. and their effects on the fate of the universe are clearly discussed. I found the discussion on the illusive Higgs Boson fascinationg. It is described as waterbug that gains mass as it swims on top of honey. The technical explanation on how Higgs Bosons gain mass requires knowledge of nonlinear quantum field theory.

Ch. 3 ends with brief discussions of String Theory and M-theory. These are highly mathematical topics that aim to unify all physics. M-theory is the latest modification of Superstring theory. [All this is dicussed in the the popular book "The Elegant Universe" By M. Green]. Ch 3 of the book in review says (correctly) that M intitailly stood for Membrane (instead of string). It aso states that some think M satnds for Mysterious, Marvelous, or even Mythical. I would like to add that some of us think M stands for Mother. i.e., M-theory is the mother of all theories.

Among the many virtues of this book(may be series) is the careful listing of relevant references to websites. Not ony does it give the URLs (www addresses) it also includes the dates when they were accesssed.

Rating: 3
Summary: A glimpse of physics
Comment: This brief book is part of the Oryx Frontiers of Science Series, a series designed to explain major discoveries and issue in science-related fields and to provide "a useful resource for high school science students, college and university students, instructors, and anyone with an interest in current trends and issues in physics," according to the publisher's advertising. There is one brief chapter on Basic Research in Physics, one on Applied Research in Physics, one on Unsolved Problems, one on Biographical Sketches of 40 physics, and one on Social Issues in Physics. It is a book that can easily be read in one sitting. The author's writing style is interesting, but in my opinion he attempts to cover too much ground in 200 pages. It provides fleeting glimpses of many interesting subjects but never develops any of them in any depth. It is almost devoid of illustrations, other than a few photographs, which is quite unusual for a book that is designed to "explain" major discoveries. For the modest amount of content, it appears to be overpriced.