The Edge of the Unknown: 101 Things You Don't Know About Science and No One Else Does Either

Rating:
Summary: an interesting exploration of scientific wonders in...
Review: An interesting exploration of scientific wonders in easy to read 3 page sections. As the author says , this is not meant to be read cover to cover.

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Summary: Stuffed full of fascinating stuff
Review: If, like me, you were learning to fix cars or skipping class when everyone else in your high school was dissecting frogs, but you always had an interest in science, this book is well worth reading.

It's more of a spot-reference book than anything else; for detailed information, you'd need to look elsewhere. The author takes a brief, yet informative look at some of the hottest topics in science today (while pointing out that what's foremost in the popular mind isn't always what researchers are most interested in). Some of the questions are as old as thought itself: why does the universe exist? Why do we get old? Why haven't we cured the common cold? Will we ever invent a thinking machine?

There's stuff in here that's been examined in science fiction, and a few theories so esoteric that I suspect even Larry Niven never would have thought of them. You come away with the realization that, contrary to what they teach you in school, science *doesn't* have all the answers; scientists look at the universe with as much wonder and curiosity as the rest of us

Rating:
Summary: an interesting exploration of scientific wonders in...
Review: Trefil's book does contain 101 of the most fascinating unanswered questions of our time. This book is an excellent source for grad students looking for a dissertation as well as for the average person just wanting to learn a little more on science. Admittedly he doesn't go into a lot of detail, but that is part of the books charm, he keeps it short.

Rating:
Summary: Informative and Pertaining
Review: Trefil's book does contain 101 of the most fascinating unanswered questions of our time. This book is an excellent source for grad students looking for a dissertation as well as for the average person just wanting to learn a little more on science. Admittedly he doesn't go into a lot of detail, but that is part of the books charm, he keeps it short.