It Must be Beautiful Great Equations of Modern Science

Apparently, Einstein was as likely to remark upon the beauty of an equation as he was to refer to its truth. Hence the title of this collection of essays by various hands, each an eminent figure in their field. Each of the dozen contributors takes one of the key equations in modern science and sets about explaining not only its importance but something of the context, both historical and biographical, in which it was discovered or devised. The results are lively and intriguing, and range from pieces on 'The Mathematics of Evolution' to 'Erotica, Aesthetics and Schrodinger's Wave Equation'. A challenging but far from inaccessible read, deliberately rinsed of what Farmelo calls the 'eye-watering' aspect of complex maths.