The Five Biggest Unsolved Problems in Science

by Arthur W. Wiggins and Charles M. Wynn

Book Overview

An in-depth look at the theories behind the most intriguing puzzles in physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, and astronomy
In The Five Biggest Ideas in Science, authors Arthur W. Wiggins and Charles M. Wynn discussed science's most important current ideas. Now, they tackle the questions that science has been unable to answer-so far. Choosing one unsolved problem from each discipline, they explore the current scientific thinking behind these...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471268089
• ISBN13: 9780471268086
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: Wiley (TP)
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

5 Unsolved Problems - Or is it 100's

This book is a GREAT introduction to anyone interested in science, wishing to become better informed about scientific issues, or wanting to know what many of our best scientists are working on right now. It is not particularly deep and is therefore a good primer for the non-scientifically oriented reader. The authors open with a careful discussion of the scientific process. Most of us make our daily life decisions on the basis of tradition, word of mouth, and limited anecdotal experience - and refer more important decisions to a professional. How enlightening it is to be reminded of the rigorous testing, the meticulous standards and procedures, the relentless re-examination in the face of new data, and the necessary grilling by peers that is part of the day to day activity of scientists. Science uses a different language from that used in everyday speech - that language being mathematics. "Because mathematical skills require a great deal of effort to acquire, explaining scientific hypotheses to people not trained in mathematics requires translation of mathematical concepts into conversational language. Unfortunately, the meaning of the hypothesis may suffer in the process." The five unsolved problems are then discussed, one each from the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and astronomy. Then 27 more are asked in an "appendix" type chapter and given only half-page answers. I like these sorts of books because they help me to maintain general scientific literacy. For every bit of knowledge we gain, new questions invariably arise - that never-ending quest being the nature of science. I personally think we'll still be looking for the TOE (Theory of Everything) in 100 years, but reading about unsolved problems will notify me if string theory is abandoned, if parallel universes are found, or if the complete structure and function of the proteome is ascertained (fat chance). I might add that the running cartoon commentary by Sidney Harris is superb!

Fine introduction for the general reader

This is written by two guys who teach physics (Wiggins) and chemistry (Wynn) at the college level in a reader-friendly manner in which each of the five unsolved problems are presented, explained, and critiqued. Each section is then concluded with indications of how these problems might be solved. There are some nice cartoons by Sidney Harris to augment the text. The five "biggest" problems are (from different disciplines and not without controversy): 1. The nature and origin of mass. (Why do some particles have mass while others do not?) It is obvious that we really do not understand the nature of mass from our inability to form a unified theory involving gravity, a theory that would unify quantum mechanics and relativity. Indeed I think physicists are just whistling in the dark when they talk about particles and fields. It's clear to even this casual observer that the real nature of particles/waves, particles/fields is not really understood, and perhaps cannot be understood in anything other than a once or twice removed mathematical sense. We can write equations that describe what we observe, but the intrinsic nature of all phenomena remains veiled. We avoid infinities in the mathematics of physics as a long-observed and much beloved rule (something like Occam's Razor) with the result that we (necessarily) "construct" limits on the physical world like those named after Max Planck. Beyond (or "below," or "under" or "smaller than," etc.) those limits is potentially a whole universe of physics much like what might be beyond the Big Bang in cosmology. Authors Wiggins and Wynn acknowledge that the Standard Model of physics has a "dark side" (p. 30) and that the long-sought Higgs field particle may be a "mathematic convenience." (p. 31) From my point of view everything in physics (and this includes all of string theory) that has not met with experimental proof is possibly a "mathematical convenience." This is not to denigrate physics or physicists. On the contrary. What physicists have accomplished toward an understanding of the world in which we live stands as one of humankind's most glorious achievements. The problem is that (as quoted from J.B.S. Haldane on page 159) "the universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose." In other words don't hold your breath for the dreamed-of "Theory of Everything." And if it arrives, don't imagine that "everything" really is "everything." 2. How did lifeless chemical reactions become life? The authors present some of the history (Stanley Miller's primordial soup experiment; panspermia, etc.), outline the problems, tell us a little about DNA and RNA, and finish with how the puzzle might be solved and by whom. I would observe that imbedded within this question is a theoretical bugaboo that first needs to be resolved. We have to agreeably define what "life" is before we can hope to make a distinction between very complex but "lifeless" self-replicating molecules

A Fun Way to Discover the Intriguing

We teach subjects not related to the science Wiggins and Wynn address - except in the ways that really matter. For example, reviewer Winston teaches American Government; he finds this book profoundly "usable" in that its point includes the notion (disused in some high political places) that problems can be treated by thinking, and shouldn't be expected to be solved by wish fulfillment and received authority. In this sense the book is a continuation of the earlier "Quantum Leaps in The Wrong Direction," only this time the scientific problems are "harder," as they are particular (albeit big!) quests on which scientists have been working. The pleasure scientists take in the pursuit is communicated in a way that leaves no doubt by the authors, and it is marvelous, breath-taking and invigorating. This is just one of the delights of the book. Another is that there is an unsolved mystery for everyone! The chapter sub-headings are a great device and most welcome. The pictures are fascinating and the cartoons are right-on and funny. Reviewer Friedler, who teaches creative and expository writing, finds the book accessible and readable in its well-timed understatement and clever analogy, and in its style and conceptual clarity. It flows and the reader understands. This is not an easy thing, given the mighty topics. We highly recommend this delightful book for its captivating material and entertaining reading.

A survey course in Science

This is like a condensed survey course of various facets of Science. The authors cut to the chase by focusing on one major unsolved problem in each discipline. Their breadth of knowledge is impressive and their presentations are comprehensible for laymen like me. I was particularly attracted to the question "How was the first living thing formed?" and also "Why is the universe expanding faster and faster?". The accompanying cartoons are well done. The ideas folder at the end touches on many current news topics like greenhouse gases and genetic engineering. An interesting read for those who wonder "Why?".