From Gods to Guardians: How Scientists Shaped War & Peace

We once detonated atomic bombs in space, chasing knowledge while risking extinction.

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Other Books

Laser Propulsion in Space: Fundamentals, Technology, and Future Missions (Aerospace Engineering)

Rockets may soon leave their fuel behind—on Earth or in orbit—ushering in a new era powered by light.

No Wonder You Wonder!: Great Inventions and Scientific Mysteries

From ancient wonders to rocket science, this journey traces how curiosity shaped the world—and still drives it forward.

Laser Ablation and its Applications (Springer Series in Optical Sciences, 129)

Laser ablation turns light into force, unlocking breakthroughs from space propulsion to nanoscale precision.

More about dr. phipp's books

Author

Claude Phipps

Dr. Claude R. Phipps is a plasma physicist and laser propulsion pioneer with a distinguished career spanning academia, national laboratories, and private industry. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees from MIT and completed his Ph.D. at Stanford University in 1972, where he conducted the first laser-plasma interaction experiment, a foundational study in plasma diagnostics .

Why Claude?

Dr. Phipps has authored over 145 scientific journal publications and 168 conference presentations. He chaired the High Power Laser Ablation conferences in Santa Fe from 1998 to 2024 and contributed to three books on laser interactions, including the popular science book No Wonder You Wonder .

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Visionary. Disruptive. Atomic.

Explore Experiences

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"Have You Always Wondered...?" is a fantastic book. Covering topics such as space, matter, and the energy within the universe, this book does an excellent job of clarifying these topics. It's a great read for young scientists and aspiring physicists."

– August R., High School Freshman –

"No Wonder You Wonder is an utter joy to read! Phipps is able to delve deep into the depths of black holes, the algorithms of time, or the construction of a jet engine while carrying you along on an informative and exciting ride… a ‘must read’ for anyone interested in a deeper understanding of the world around us."

– Jonah Cohen, Sound Engineer, Musician, Entrepreneur –

“From beginning to end, and with laugh after laugh, I enjoyed every single word of this book. Phipps isthe kind of physics teacher that I would have loved as a young student. No Wonder… can be engrossing for anyone with a bit of curiosity, not just the scientific minded.”

– Christophe Bonnal, Chief Engineer, CNES, French Space Agency –

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From Gods to Guardians: How Scientists Shaped War & Peace – Kindle Edition

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Research Publications

Dr. Claude Phipps has published over 145 peer-reviewed research papers focused primarily on laser ablation, laser propulsion, and high-power laser-matter interactions. His work is known for blending theoretical insight with experimental validation, especially in the development of laser microthrusters and the physics of laser-plasma interactions.

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