The Undercover Scientist: Investigating the Mishaps of Everyday Life

(Paperback)

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Why do sparks fly when you put metal in the microwaveWhy does it hurt so much when you get chilli pepper juice in your eyesWhy can cheese keep for weeks but milk go off while your back is turned 'Shit happens', as the saying goes, but if you want to know why it does, the Undercover Scientist is on hand to explain all. Making his way through one of those days when everything seems to go wrong, Peter Bentley investigates the fascinating science that lies behind the most apparently mundane mishaps - from sleeping through the alarm to battling with immovable superglue - and shows you how to fight back against these everyday disasters.

Reviews

Finally the answer to all the crap that pisses you off * Zoo *
Understanding is the first step to taking charge, and this book makes doing so seem a breeze. * Daily Mail *
Hugely enjoyable, this book demystifies science in such an amusing way that I found it hard to put down * refresh *

Author Bio

Professor Peter Bentley is one of the most creative thinkers in computer science, working with scientists of all different disciplines to model virtual experiments. He is Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Computer Science, University College London and is known for his prolific research covering all aspects of Evolutionary Computation and Digital Biology. He is the author of the popular science books The Book of Numbers (Cassell Illustrated), Digital Biology (Simon and Schuster USA), and the academic books The PhD Application Handbook, Evolutionary Design by Computers, Creative Evolutionary Systems and On Growth, Form and Computers. He is the host of the Royal Institution's monthly Cafe Scientifique, contributing editor for Wired UK and a regular contributor to programming for the BBC and Discovery Channel.