The Science Magpie: Fascinating facts, stories, poems, diagrams and jokes plucked from science

(Paperback)

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Description

Fascinating lists, facts, stories, poems, drawings, diagrams - and even jokes - across the scientific disciplines and from science's bejewelled history. Science, humankind's greatest intellectual achievement, is capable equally of delight and amusement as much as learning and the advancement of knowledge. The Science Magpie brings together a hugely diverse collection of classic, common and unusual tidbits from across science and its history. Read in full Galileo's infamous recantation of his view of a heliocentric solar system; sample questions from the University of Oxford's first public examination in 1858 and marvel at Sir Ronald Ross's poem describing his discovery of the life-cycle of the malaria parasite. Meet the full family of subatomic particles, view a geological clock, learn pi to 500 decimal places, discover the animals that have become extinct since 1900, see what a spiral periodic table looks like and much, much more.

Reviews

Simon Flynn's cornucopia of curious facts, anecdotes and quotations ... is sure to entertain and surprise. -- New Scientist
For anyone who likes science and is a fan of Schott's original miscellany, this book is a must. It is full of quirky, interesting scientific facts and anecdotes from across science and its history ... Quite frankly, I loved it. It's great fun and doesn't take itself too seriously. -- Chemistry World
[A] lighthearted dash through science ... offering lots of curiosities that you will be itching to tell those around you. -- The Biologist
Simon Flynn's grab-bag of stories from all branches of science exudes enthusiasm, breathing fresh life into a venerable format. -- Physics World
This book is a cabinet of scientific curiosities ... [The Science Magpie] will stimulate good topics of conversation for the pub. -- BBC Focus

Author Bio

Simon Flynn was a publisher and is now training as a science teacher. He has degrees in Chemistry and Philosophy - and a passion for science.