Gino Segre Livres

A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice Named a Best Book of the Year by Bloomberg (Chosen by Philip Tetlock), Booklist’s Top 10 Science Books of the Year, and Shortlisted for Physics World’s Book of the Year A Major Biography of the Nobel Prize–Winning Physicist, Enrico Fermi, a Leading Architect of the Atomic Age Enrico Fermi is unquestionably among the greats of the world’s physicists, the most famous Italian scientist since Galileo. Called “the Pope” by his peers, he was regarded as infallible in his instincts and research. His discoveries changed our world; they led to weapons of mass destruction and conversely to life-saving medical interventions. This unassuming man struggled with issues relevant today, such as the threat of nuclear annihilation and the relationship of science to politics. Fleeing Fascism and anti-Semitism, Fermi became a leading figure in America’s most secret project: building the atomic bomb. An examination of the human dramas that touched Fermi’s life as well as a thrilling history of scientific innovation in the twentieth century, this is the comprehensive biography that Fermi deserves.

This book pays homage to the pioneers who laid the groundwork for two of the most dynamic areas of modern science. It explores their groundbreaking discoveries and contributions, highlighting how their work continues to influence contemporary research and innovation. Through engaging narratives, readers will gain insight into the challenges and triumphs faced by these trailblazers, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in the history of science and its evolution.

Set against the backdrop of 1932, a pivotal year in physics, the narrative captures the excitement of groundbreaking discoveries like the neutron and antimatter, alongside the ominous rise of totalitarianism in Europe. Gino Segrè, a physicist, provides an intimate and passionate exploration of the scientific community's triumphs during a time of impending global turmoil. The contrast between the celebration of scientific progress and the looming threat of war creates a compelling tension, highlighting the fragile nature of innocence in both science and society.

In 1932, the so-called annus mirabilis of modern physics, a group of scientists gathered in Copenhagen for a week-long conference on the extraordinary new work that was taking place in laboratories across the world;

Theorizes that temperature is the most revealing method of measurement, considering such topics as the fixed internal temperature of most mammals and the significance of hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor

"Based on Enrico Fermi's Geophysics Lectures of 1941"--Cover.