Books
Take a Step Into the Future
A popular-science exploration published by Springer in 2016, this book dives into breakthroughs and unsolved puzzles in science and technology—perfect for curious minds.
Featured Book
When Scientists Were Gods by Claude Phipps is a concise, thought-provoking reflection on the Cold War era, when scientists wielded immense power and public trust—often without oversight. Drawing from his own background in high-energy physics, Phipps recounts the secretive high-altitude nuclear tests conducted by the U.S., highlighting how these experiments, carried out with little public knowledge, affected global communications and security. He profiles key figures at Livermore and elsewhere, showing how their technical brilliance often came with unchecked egos and moral blind spots. The book explores how some of these “scientist-gods” later shifted toward peace and arms control, offering a critical yet personal look at scientific ambition, secrecy, and ethical responsibility.
Book Details
Publication date
May 15, 2025
Print length
90 pages
ISBN-10
1967362181
ISBN-13
978-1967362189
Other Books
Laser Propulsion in Space: Fundamentals, Technology, and Future Missions (Aerospace Engineering)
Laser Propulsion in Space: Fundamentals, Technology, and Future Missions explores the emerging field of beamed energy propulsion (BEP), where rockets are accelerated by external energy sources like high-power lasers or millimeter-wave beams instead of carrying onboard fuel. The book covers the theoretical foundations, current technologies, and real-world applications such as orbital launches, space debris removal, and interstellar probes. It combines mathematical rigor with visual aids, case studies, and expert opinions, making it a valuable resource for students, researchers, and innovators interested in the future of propulsion and space exploration.
No Wonder You Wonder!: Great Inventions and Scientific Mysteries
No Wonder You Wonder! by Claude Phipps is a lively, illustrated guide to the wonders of science and technology, blending history, physics, and engineering with humor and clear explanations. Without relying on equations, the book unpacks everything from quantum mechanics and electricity to flight, optics, and famous inventions, while also debunking myths and highlighting the contributions of various cultures to scientific progress. Designed for curious readers of all ages, it makes complex ideas accessible and fun through analogies, visuals, and thought-provoking questions about the universe and our place in it.
Laser Ablation and its Applications (Springer Series in Optical Sciences, 129)
Laser ablation involves the interaction of intense laser light with matter, causing atoms to be selectively removed through thermal or nonthermal processes. This rapidly evolving field, often confined to specialized journals and conferences, is now comprehensively covered in a single book that combines the latest research with a thorough understanding of laser ablation physics and its wide-ranging applications. These applications include inertial confinement fusion, pollution-monitoring aerostat propulsion, laser ignition in hypersonic engines, nanoscale cleaning in hard drive manufacturing, direct observation of atomic and molecular states, and studying material properties under extreme, ultra-fast shock conditions.
Testimonials
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.
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.
Claude Phipps takes us on a whirlwind tour of the science and technology behind the perennial question “How does that work?” We learn how science has shaped society from ancient China to the modern day. Phipps emphasizes understanding and working with numbers as a central theme, but in a delightfully conversational tone that teaches and entertains. This whimsically illustrated book is written by one of science’s most creative minds whose joy in wondering about the world around him shines through every page.
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.
I read this book with delight and was fascinated by Phipps’s approach! I believe “No Wonder You Wonder” will be captivating for teachers and their students – and for anyone with a sense of wonder.
Dr. Phipps has written a book as entertaining as it is enlightening. His brilliant scientific mind and playful writing style come together in a fun and fascinating read that will provide endless “ah-ha” moments for anyone who has ever wondered about the many mysteries of our world.
Claude Phipps in No Wonder You Wonder is a modern Plinius the elder summarizing human knowledge up to his time. His book examines math and science in an informative and entertaining way to both those who love math and science and those who don’t. You don’t know what you didn’t know until you’ve read this book.
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