From Atoms To Quarks

Traces the search leading to the discovery of the smallest bits of matter, pieces too small to be subdivided, and discusses recent developments in the field of particle physics, or study of the invisible microworld of elementary particles.

A short, illustrated introduction to the tiny building blocks of our universeincluding atoms, quarks, and the periodic table. Illustrations. 10,000print.

"In his new book, the author introduces us to the world of particles He traces the century of progress in our search for the basic units of matter as well as those of the forces that act on it, starting from the electron and photon, the first entry in the list of elementary quantum particles, and ending up with the quarks and gluons discovered in the last decades of this century. He gives the curious layman a clear understanding of the forefront of our knowledge about the structure of matter at its deepest level".Y NambuUniversity of Chicago"This is a readable little book on particle physics and is aimed at those with no previous exposure to the subject Nevertheless, as one would expect from a leading contributor to the field, Han takes care to get things right even when using simple language, as for example in his discussion of spin".CERN Courier

There are two scientific theories that, taken together, explain the entire universe. The first, which describes the force of gravity, is widely known: Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. But the theory that explains everything else—the Standard Model of Elementary Particles—is virtually unknown among the general public. In The Theory of Almost Everything, Robert Oerter shows how what were once thought to be separate forces of nature were combined into a single theory by some of the most brilliant minds of the twentieth century. Rich with accessible analogies and lucid prose, The Theory of Almost Everything celebrates a heretofore unsung achievement in human knowledge—and reveals the sublime structure that underlies the world as we know it.