It Must be Beautiful: Great Equations of Modern Science

Synopsis

A wide-ranging collection of essays on some of the key equations of the 20th century. It brings together scientists with a gift for explanation and writers who have responded in their work by highlighting the immense weight and influence of the sciences in our culture. The equations have been selected by virtue of how fundamental they are, or because of their influence on science, or their general notoriety. The equation has come to embody the mystery and terror of modern science. This volume seeks to present the essence of each equation: to uncover what is says and why it is fundamental; who first stated it and the intellectual environment in which it was conceived; its scope and limitations; and its importance in the wider intellectual and popular culture.