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BOOKS & MEDIA
Expert
Graduate
Undergraduate
JAN-FEB 2008 | VOLUME 11 | NUMBER 1-2 51
Energy... beyond oil
Fraser Armstrong and Katherine
Blundell (eds.)Oxford University Press • 2007 • 240 pp
ISBN: 978-0-19-920996-5
$49.50 / £25
This is a collection of contributions
from experts in physics, chemistry,
materials science, and biology together
with key industrialists, politicians, and
policy makers. The contributions focus
on solutions to the energy problem
and describe the major energy-generation
technologies that are still under
development.
Tissue Engineering Using Ceramics and Polymers
Aldo R. Boccaccini and Julie Gough
(eds.)CRC Press • 2007 • 700 pp
ISBN: 978-1-420044-54-6
$329.95 / £165
This book brings together international
experts to review the latest research
and advances. Contributions include
chapters on ceramic and polymeric
biomaterials, bioactive ceramics and
glasses, biodegradable and bioactive
polymer/ceramic composite scaffolds,
transplantation of engineered cells and
tissues, and tissue organ generation.
The editors also highlight some of the
characterization techniques used.
Materials Chemistry
Bradley D. FahlmanSpringer • 2007 • 485 pp
ISBN: 978-1-4020-6119-6
$89.95 / £54 / �72.75
This textbook is a reference point,
providing detail on the structure
and properties of inorganic, organic,
and nanoscale materials. The
book covers solid-state chemistry,
amorphous solids, powder metallurgical
methods, steels, corrosion, and shape-
memory materials. It also focuses on
modern transistors, IC fabrication, and
photovoltaics. The book ends with a look
at polymers.
This latest attempt to popularize science through the
medium of popular culture takes the world’s favorite
yellow cartoon family and uses the characters to
explore a number of scientific themes and related
sociological concerns. Although not a science fiction
show, The Simpsons does have a number of former
scientists on its writing staff and is famous for
appearances by celebrities, including Stephen Hawking,
Stephen Jay Gould, and Dudley Hirschbach. As such,
the plotlines frequently allude to science and where
there are no specific episodes addressing the area he
wishes to discuss, Halpern has had
fun creating hypothetical situations,
some of which may even inspire the
series creators to examine even more
scientific topics in the future!
The author is a physicist and
mathematician, and the sections
dealing with mechanics (such as the
reasons for doubting Lisa’s creation
of a perpetual motion machine
for the school science fair and the
discussion of robotics pertaining to
Bart’s replacement robot brother), are
particularly strong.
I was less convinced by some of the
discussions of genetics, in particular
the lengthy debate about whether radiation could
actually cause a mutation to give a three-eyed fish,
which then digresses into tales of ‘actual’ fake three-
eyed fish created by rogue fishermen (who apparently
perfected the art of cutting open fish and adding
an additional eye). Such anecdotes are entertaining,
but not really anything to do with either radiation
effects or genetics. However, it was heartening to
see a chapter devoted to Darwinism and the debate
between science and religion. This is a contentious
area, particularly in the US, and can always benefit
from a level-headed (and in this case amusing)
discussion.
In some sections, the author veers off into more
social scientific and even sci-fi related areas, such as
the chapter devoted to Asimov’s Laws of Robotics.
However, Halpern is always careful to include some
genuine scientific mitigation for these digressions
– in the case of robotics he gives an explanation of
the Turing test, then leads onto a discussion of chaos
theory and Einstein’s theories of relativity. There
are also several chapters on astronomy (including
near-earth objects), space travel, and a somewhat
implausible section on aliens, which is clearly aimed at
the more sci-fi obsessed reader. (Although even here
Halpern manages to include references to the Fibonacci
sequence, a discussion of topology as it pertains to the
shape of the Universe, and a brief introduction to string
theory).
To cover such a wide range of scientific concepts in
such a thin volume is brave, and occasionally leads
to some awkward transitions and an uneven tone
(moving from wordy and complex
sections to those that are rather glib
and superficial). As with earlier books
in this vein, such as The Physics of Star
Trek, the intended audience is not
always clear. Much of the writing reads
like a fanzine, with scene-by-scene
descriptions where the relevance to the
science being discussed is not always
apparent.
Although the book is roughly divided
into four sections (genetics/biological
sciences; mechanics/robotics;
particle physics/time travel; and
astronomy/space travel), there are
frequent digressions and overlaps that could make the
material confusing for a nonscientist. In addition, the
text is completely lacking in illustrations and while it
is easy to imagine that permission to use stills from
the cartoon might have been impossible to obtain,
some of the science discussed (such as DNA mutation,
nuclear physics, and Newtonian mechanics) would
be a lot more accessible with some well-designed
accompanying figures.
Despite all these reservations, this is an entertaining
and informative book. Halpern has even suggested a
list of questions to consider when watching the movie;
a combination of the two might make an inspiring
gift for a young Simpsons fan who also displays the
potential to become a budding scientist.
Paul Halpern
What’s Science Ever Done For Us?: What The Simpsons Can
Teach Us About Physics, Robots, Life, and the Universe
Wiley • 2007 • 272 pp • ISBN: 978-0-470-11460-5
$14.95 / £9.99 / �12
Scientific fact or fiction?Paul Halpern has fun examining the science used in The Simpsons and creates some more hypothetical situations that may inspire the series’ creators for future episodes.Lucy Dickinson | [email protected]
MT111_2p51.indd 51MT111_2p51.indd 51 10/12/2007 16:45:4510/12/2007 16:45:45