Asimov's New Guide to Science

by Isaac Asimov

  Plate III.20. The installation of a new vacuum liner which, built in 9-foot sections, was placed in the bore in much the same way as batteries are inserted in a flashlight. The new ultra-high-vacuum upgrade permits the acceleration of uranium ions to energies close to the speed of light. Courtesy of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley.

  IV. Aspects of Evolution

  Plate IV.1. DNA-protein complex photographed with the electron microscope. The spherical bodies, isolated from the germ cells of a sea animal and magnified 77,500 times, are believed to consist of DNA in combination with protein. By permission of United Press International.

  Plate IV.2. Ribonucleoprotein particles (ribosomes) from liver cells in a guinea pig. These particles are the main sites of the synthesis of proteins in the cell. By permission of J. F. Kirsch, Thesis, The Rockefeller University, New York, 1961.

  Plate IV.3. Mitochondria, sometimes called “powerhouses of the cell” because they carry out energy-yielding chemical reactions. The mitochondria are the grey crescents around the black bodies, which are lipid droplets used as fuel for energy production. By permission of the Rockefeller Institute, New York (G.E. Palade).

  Plate IV.4. Ribosomes, the tiny bodies in the cytoplasm of cells. These were separated from pancreas cells by a centrifuge and magnified about 100,000 times under the electron microscope. They are either free or attached to membrane-bound vesicles, called microsomes. By permission of The Rockefeller Institute, New York (G.E. Palade).

  Plate IV.5. Chromosomes damaged by radiation. Some are broken, and one is coiled into a ring. Courtesy of the Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York.

  Plate IV.6. Normal chromosomes of Drosophila. From Franklyn Branley, ed., Scientist’s Choice (New York: Basic Books, n.d.). By permission of the publisher.

  ~

  Plate IV.7. Mutations in fruit flies, shown here in the form of shriveled wings. The mutations were produced by exposure of the male parent to radiation. Courtesy of Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York.

  Plate IV.8. In studies on radiation effects, young plants of the Better Times rose were exposed to 5,000 roentgens of gamma rays over 48-hour periods. When the plants flowered twelve months later, a number of mutations were observed: the flower at the bottom is an unstable mutant for the pink sector, and the one at the left is a stable pink mutant. At the right is the flower from an unirradiated control plant of the Better Times rose. Courtesy of Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York.

  Plate IV.9. The chrysanthemum variety Masterpiece (pink), by accidental spontaneous mutation, produced a bronze “sport”, which was named Bronze Masterpiece. Radiation treatment of Masterpiece has duplicated this same process with much higher frequency than occurs in nature. If the variety Bronze Masterpiece is irradiated, it can be caused to revert to the original pink Masterpiece. Courtesy of Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York.

  Plate IV.10. Fossil of a bryozoan, a tiny, mosslike water animal, magnified about twenty times. It was brought up from an oil drillhole on Cape Hatteras. By permission of United Press International.

  Plate IV.11. Fossil of a foraminifer, also found in a Cape Hatteras drillhole. Chalk and some limestones arc composed mainly of the shells of these microscopic, one-celled animals. Notable examples are the White Cliffs of Dover and the stones used in the construction of the pyramids of Egypt. By permission of United Press International.

  Plate IV.12. Fossil of a crinoid, or sea lily, a primitive animal of the echinoderm superphylum. This specimen was found in Indiana. Neg. No. 120809 (Photo: Thane Bierwert) Courtesy Department of Library Services, American Museum of Natural History.

  Plate IV.13. Tyrannosaurus rex, reconstructed from fossilized bones and displayed in the Cretaceous Hall of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. This big carnivore preyed on dinosaurs with vegetarian diets. Courtesy Department of Library Services, American Museum of Natural History

  Plate IV.14. Skeleton of a pterodactyl, an extinct flying reptile. Neg. No. 315134 (Photo: Charles H. Coles and Thane Bierwert) Courtesy Department of Library Services, American Museum of Natural History.

  Plate IV.15. Cast of a coelacanth. This ancient fish was found still living in deep water near Madagascar. Courtesy Department of Library Services, American Museum of Natural History.

  Plate IV.16. An ancient ant delicately preserved in amber. Courtesy Department of Library Services, American Museum of Natural History.

  Plate IV.17 The evolution of the horse, illustrated by the skull and foot bones. Neg. No. 322448 (Photo: Baltin) Courtesy Department of Library Services, American Museum of Natural History.

  Plate IV.18 Skull of Pithecanthropus, as reconstructed by Franz Weidenreich. Neg. No. 120979. Courtesy Department of Library Services, American Museum or Natural History.

  Plate IV.19 Sinanthropus woman, as reconstructed by Franz Weidenreich and Lucile Swan. Neg. No. 322021. Courtesy Department of Library Services, American Museum of Natural History.

  Plate IV.20 Neanderthal man, according to a restoration by J. H. McGregor. Neg. No. 319951 (Photo: Alex J. Rota) Courtesy Department of Library Services, American Museum of Natural History.

  Plate IV.21 The original Univac, first of the large electronic computers. By permission of Remington Rand-Univac.

  Plate IV.22 The large-scale computer recently ordered by U.S Air Force. These computers, with their extensive data communications capacity, will support Air Force combat-mission requirements for handling aircraft parts and inventories and maintenance operations throughout the world. Additionally, the new advanced microprocessor-based systems will perform a wide range of base personnel, financial, civil engineering, and administrative functions. Photo courtesy of Sperry Corporation.

  Plate IV.23 A personal computer. This one consists of three basic components—the system unit, the monitor, and the keyboard. Photo courtesy of Sperry Corporation.

  Plate IV.24. “Tot”0, 1982-83. This mobile, programmable, multilingual personal robot contains dual control modes and a sensory system; it acts as sentry and tells time. Designed by Jerome Hamlin; 36" × 24" × 12". Courtesy of ComRo Inc., New York.

  Bibliography

  * * *

  A guide to science would be incomplete without a guide to more reading. I am setting down here a brief selection of books. The list is miscellaneous and does not pretend to be a comprehensive collection of the best modern books about science, but I have read most or all of each of them myself and can highly recommend all of them, even my own.

  General

  ASIMOV, ISAAC. A Choice of Catastrophes. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1979.

  ASIMOV, ISAAC. Asimov’s Biographical Encyclopedia of Science and Technology (and rev. ed.). New York: Doubleday, 1982.

  ASIMOV, ISAAC. Exploring the Earth and the Cosmos. New York: Crown Publishers, 1982.

  ASIMOV, ISAAC. Measure of the Universe. New York: Harper & Row, 1983.

  ASIMOV, ISAAC. Understanding Physics (1-vol. ed.). New York: Walker, 1984.

  CABLE, E. J., et al. The Physical Sciences. New York: Prentice-Hall, 1959.

  GAMOW, GEORGE. Matter, Earth, and Sky. New York: Prentice-Hall, 1958.

  HUTCHINGS, EDWARD, JR., ed. Frontiers in Science. New York: Basic Books, 1958.

  SAGAN, CARL. Cosmos. New York: Random House, 1980.

  SHAPLEY, HARLOW; RAPPORT, SAMUEL; and WRIGHT, HELEN, eds. A Treasury of Science (4th ed.). New York: Harper, 1958.

  SLABAUGH, W. H.; and BUTLER, A. B. College Physical Science. New York: Prentice-Hall, 1958.

  WATSON, JANE WERNER. The World of Science. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1958.

  Chapter 1: What Is Science?

  BERNAL, J. D. Science in History. New York: Hawthorn Books, 1965.

  CLAGETT, MARSHALL. Greek Science in Antiquity. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1955.

  CROMBIE, A. C. Medieval and Early Modem Science (2 vols.). New York: Doubleday, 1959.

  DAMPIER, SIR WILLIAM CECIL. A History of Science. New York: Cambridg
e University Press, 1958.

  DREYER, 1. L. E. A History of Astronomy from Thales to Kepler. New York: Dover Publications, 1953.

  FORBES, R. J.; and DIJKSTERHUIS, E. J. A History of Science and Technology (2 vols.). Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1963.

  RONIN, COLIN A. Science: Its History and Development among the World’s Cultures. New York: Facts on File Publications, 1982.

  TATON, R., ed. History of Science (4 vols.). New York: Basic Books, 1963-66.

  Chapter 2: The Universe

  ABELL, GEORGE O. Exploration of the Universe (4th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders College Publishing, 1982.

  ASIMOV, ISAAC. The Collapsing Universe. New York: Walker, 1977.

  ASIMOV, ISAAC. The Universe (new rev. ed.). New York: Walker, 1980.

  BURBIDGE, G.; and BURBIDGE, M. Quasi-Stellar Objects. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman,

  1967.

  FUMMARION, G. G, et al. The Flammarion Book of Astronomy. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1964.

  GOLDSMITH, DONALD. The Universe. Menlo Park, Calif.: W. A. Benjamin, 1976.

  HOYLE, FRED. Astronomy. New York: Doubleday, 1962.

  KIPPENHAHN, RUDOLF. 100 Billion Suns. New York: Basic Books, 1983.

  LEY, WILLY. Watchers of the Skies. New York: Viking Press, 1966.

  MCLAUGHLIN, DEAN B. Introduction to Astronomy. Boston: Houghton MifHin, 1961.

  MITTON, SIMON, ed-in-chief, The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Astronomy. New York:

  Crown, 1977.

  SHKLOVSKII, l. S.; and SAGAN, CARL. Intelligent Life in the Universe. San Francisco: Holden-Day, 1966.

  SMITH, F. GRAHAM. Radio Astronomy. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1960.

  STRUVE, OTTO; and ZEBERGS, VELTA. Astronomy of the 20th Century. New York:

  Macmillan, 1962.

  Chapter 3: The Solar System

  BEATTY, J. KELLY; O’LEARY, BRIAN; and CHAIKIN, ANDREW, eds. The New Solar System. Cambridge, Mass.: Sky Publishing, and Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press, 1981.

  RYAN, PETER; and PESEK, LUDEK. Solar System. New York: Viking Press, 1978.

  Chapter 4: The Earth

  ADAMS, FRANKDAWSON. The Birth and Development of the Geological Sciences. New York: Dover Publications, 1938.

  ASIMOV, ISAAC. The Ends of the Earth. New York: Weybright & Talley, 1975.

  ASIMOV, ISAAC. Exploring the Earth and the Cosmos. New York: Crown Publishers, 1982.

  BURTON, MAURICE. Life in the Deep. New York: Roy Publishers, 1958.

  GAMOW, GEORGE. A Planet Called Earth. New York: Viking Press, 1963.

  GILLULY, J.; WATERS, A. G.; and WOODFORD, A. O. Principles of Geology. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman, 1958.

  JACKSON, DONALD DALE. Underground Worlds. Alexandria, Va.: Time-Life Books, 1982.

  KUENEN, P. H. Realms of Water. New York: John Wiley, 1963.

  MASON, BRIAN. Principles of Geochemistry. New York: John Wiley, 1958.

  MOORE, RUTH. The Earth We Live On. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1956.

  SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, eds. The Planet Earth. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1957.

  SMITH, DAVID G., ed-in-chief. The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Earth Sciences. New York: Crown, 1981.

  SULLIVAN, WALTER. Continents in Motion. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1974.

  TIME-LIFE BOOKS, eds. Volcano. Alexandria, Va.: Time-Life Books, 1982.

  Chapter 5: The Atmosphere

  BATES, D. R., ed. The Earth and Its Atmosphere. New York: Basic Books, 1957.

  GLASSTONE, SAMUEL. Sourcebook on the Space Sciences. New York: Van Nostrand, 1965.

  LEY, WILLY. Rockets, Missiles, and Space Travel. New York: Viking Press, 1957.

  LOEBSACK, THEO. Our Atmosphere. New York: New American Library, 1961.

  NEWELL, HOMER E., JR. Window in the Sky. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1959.

  NININGER, H. H. Out of the Sky. New York: Dover Publications, 1952.

  ORR, CLYDE, JR. Between Earth and Space. New York: Collier Books, 1961.

  YOUNG, LOUISE B. Earth’s Aura. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1977.

  Chapter 6: The Elements

  ALEXANDER, W.; and STREET, A. Metals in the Service of Man. New York: Penguin Books, 1954.

  ASIMOV, ISAAC. A Short History of Chemistry. New York: Doubleday, 1965.

  ASIMOV, ISAAC. The Noble Gases. New York: Basic Books, 1966.

  DAVIS, HELEN MILES. The Chemical Elements. Boston: Ballantine Books, 1959.

  HOLDEN, ALAN; and SINGER, PHYLIS. Crystals and Crystal Growing. New York: Doubleday, 1960.

  IHDE, AARON J. The Development of Modern Chemistry. New York: Harper & Row, 1964.

  LEICESTER, HENRY M. The Historical Background of Chemistry. New York: John Wiley, 1956.

  PAULING, LINUS. College Chemistry (3rd ed.), San Francisco: W. H. Freeman, 1964.

  PRYDE, Lucy T. Environmental Chemistry: An Introduction. Menlo Park, Calif.:

  Cummings Publishing, 1973.

  WEEKS, MARYE.; and LEICESTER, H. M. Discovery of the Elements (7th ed.). Easton, Pa.: Journal of Chemical Education, 1968.

  Chapter 7: The Particles

  ALFREN, HANNES. Worlds Antiworlds. San Francisco: W. H. Freeman, 1966.

  ASIMOV, ISAAC. The Neutrino. New York: Doubleday, 1966.

  FEINBERG, GERALD. What Is the World Made Of? Garden City, N.Y.: Anchor Press/‌Doubleday, 1977.

  FORD, KENNETH W. The World of Elementary Particles. New York: Blaisdell Publishing,

  1963.

  FRIEDLANDER, G.; KENNEDY, J. W.; and MILLER, J. M. Nuclear and Radiochemistry (2nd ed.), New York: John Wiley, 1964.

  GARDNER, MARTIN. The Ambidextrous Universe (2nd rev. ed.), New York: Charles Scribner’s, 1979.

  GLASSTONE, SAMUEL. Sourcebook on Atomic Energy (3rd ed.). Princeton: Van Nostrand, 1967.

  HUGHES, DONALD J. The Neutron Story. New York: Doubleday, 1959.

  MASSEY, SIR HARRIE. The New Age in Physics. New York: Harper, 1960.

  PARK, DAVID. Contemporary Physics. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1964.

  WEINBERG, STEVEN. The Discovery of Subatomic Particles. New York: Scientific library, 1983.

  Chapter 8: The Waves

  BENT, H. A. The Second Law. New York: Oxford University Press, 1965.

  BERGMANN, P. G. The Riddle of Gravitation. New York: Charles Scribner’s, 1968.

  BLACK, N. H.; and LITTLE, E. P. An Introductory Course in College Physics. New York: Macmillan, 1957.

  FREEMAN, IRA M. Physics Made Simple. New York: Made Simple Books, 1954.

  GARDNER, MARTIN. Relativity for the Million. New York: Macmillan, 1962.

  HOFFMAN, BANESH. The Strange Story of the Quantum. New York: Dover Publications, 1959.

  ROUSE, ROBERT S.; and SMITH, ROBERT O. Energy: Resource, Slave Pollutant. New York: Macmillan, 1975.

  SCHWARTZ, JACOB T. Relativity in Illustrations. New York: New York University Press, 1962.

  SHAMOS, MORRIS H. Great Experiments in Physics. New York: Henry Holt, 1959.

  Chapter 9: The Machine

  BITTER, FRANCIS. Magnets. New York: Doubleday, 1959.

  CLARKE, DONALD, ed. The Encyclopedia of How It Works. New York: A & W

  Publishers, 1977.

  DE CAMP, L. SPRAGUE. The Ancient Engineers. New York: Doubleday, 1963.

  KOCK, W. E. Lasers and Holography. New York: Doubleday, 1969.

  LARSEN, EGON. Transport. New York: Roy Publishers, 1959.

  LEE, E. W. Magnetism. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1963.

  LENGYEL, BELA A. Lasers. New York: John Wiley, 1962.

  NEAL, HARRYEDWARD. Communication. New York: Julius Messner, 1960.

  PIERCE, JOHN R. Electrons, Waves and Messages. New York: Doubleday, 1956.

  PIERCE, JOHN R. Symbols, Signals and Noise. New York: Harper, 1961.

  SINGER, CHARLES; HOLMYARD, E. J.; and HALL. A. R., eds. A History of Technology (5 vols.). New York: Oxford University Press. 1954—

  TAYLOR, F. SHERWOOD. A History of Industrial Chemistry. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1957.

  UPTON, MONROE. Electr
onics for Everyone (2nd rev. ed.). New York: New American Library, 1959.

  USHER, ABBOTT PAYSON. A History of Mechanical Inventions. Boston: Beacon Press, 1959.

  WARSCHAUER, DOUGLAS M. Semiconductors and Transistors. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1959.

  Chapter 10: The Reactor

  ALEXANDER, PETER. Atomic Radiation and Life. New York: Penguin Books. 1957.

  BISHOP, AMASA S. Project Sherwood. Reading. Mass: Addison-Wesley. 1958.

  FOWLER. JOHN M. Fallout: A Study of Superbombs, Strontium 90, and Survival. New York: Basic Books. 1960.