Does the universe embody beautiful ideas?

Artists as well as scientists throughout human history have pondered this “beautiful question.” With Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek as your guide, embark on a voyage of related discoveries, from Plato and Pythagoras up to the present. Wilczek’s groundbreaking work in quantum physics was inspired by his intuition to look for a deeper order of beauty in nature. In fact, every major advance in his career came from this intuition: to assume that the universe embodies beautiful forms, forms whose hallmarks are symmetry—harmony, balance, proportion—and economy. There are other meanings of “beauty,” but this is the deep logic of the universe—and it is no accident that it is also at the heart of what we find aesthetically pleasing and inspiring.

Wilczek is hardly alone among great scientists in charting his course using beauty as his compass. As he reveals inA Beautiful Question, this has been the heart of scientific pursuit from Pythagoras, the ancient Greek who was the first to argue that “all things are number,” to Galileo, Newton, Maxwell, Einstein, and into the deep waters of twentiethcentury physics. Though the ancients weren’t right about everything, their ardent belief in the music of the spheres has proved true down to the quantum level. Indeed, Wilczek explores just how intertwined our ideas about beauty and art are with our scientific understanding of the cosmos.

Wilczek brings us right to the edge of knowledge today, where the core insights of even the craziest quantum ideas apply principles we all understand. The equations for atoms and light are almost literally the same equations that govern musical instruments and sound; the subatomic particles that are responsible for most of our mass are determined by simple geometric symmetries. The universe itself, suggests Wilczek, seems to want to embody beautiful and elegant forms. Perhaps this force is the pure elegance of numbers, perhaps the work of a higher being, or somewhere between. Either way, we don’t depart from the infinite and infinitesimal after all; we’re profoundly connected to them, and we connect them. When we find that our sense of beauty is realized in the physical world, we are discovering something about the world, but also something about ourselves.

Gorgeously illustrated, A Beautiful Question is a mind-shifting book that braids the age-old quest for beauty and the age-old quest for truth into a thrilling synthesis. It is a dazzling and important work from one of our best thinkers, whose humor and infectious sense of wonder animate every page. Yes: The world is a work of art, and its deepest truths are ones we already feel, as if they were somehow written in our souls.

Acerca de los autores

Frank Wilczek won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2004 for work he did as a graduate student. His 1989 book,Longing for the Harmonies, was a New York Times notable book of the year. Wilczek is a regular contributor toNature and Physics Today and his work has also been anthologized inBest American Science Writing and the Norton Anthology of Light Verse. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he is the Herman Feshbach Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Frank Wilczek won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2004 for work he did as a graduate student. His 1989 book, Longing for the Harmonies, was a New York Times notable book of the year. Wilczek is a regular contributor to Nature and Physics Today and his work has also been anthologized in Best American Science Writing and the Norton Anthology of Light Verse. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he is the Herman Feshbach Professor of Physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"Sobre este t�tulo" puede pertenecer a otra edici�n de este libro.

Descripci�n de la librer�a

Welcome to the Solr Books & Books4Cause AbeBooks page! We are a social venture dedicated to supporting social causes, education, and community through a business model. Books4Cause doesn?t raise funds or rely on government grants. All of our funding comes from selling a portion of used books donated to us. Our main goal is to recirculate books back into the hands of people who will read and treasure them. We support both local and global initiatives. Through partnering with the African Library Project, we have built over 120 libraries in nursery schools, elementary schools, high schools, and universities across 18 countries in Africa. Our pop-up free library program in Chicago distributes free books in under-served neighborhoods throughout the city, giving necessary resources to children, adults, and families who otherwise may not have been able to access them. For more information on what we do, or how you can help, go to books4cause.com

Ver la p�gina web de la librer�a

Informaci�n empresarial del vendedor

Solr Books
IL, U.S.A.

Condiciones de venta y env�o

Condiciones de venta

We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the Abebooks web
sites. If you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as
Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund
within 30 days of the estimated delivery date. If you've changed your mind about a
book that you've ordered, please use the Ask bookseller a question link to contact
us and we'll respond within 2 business days.

Derecho a cancelaci�n

Si eres un consumidor puedes cancelar el presente contrato de acuerdo con lo indicado a continuaci�n. Son consumidores las personas f�sicas que act�en con un prop�sito ajeno a su actividad comercial, empresarial, oficio o profesi�n.

Documento de informaci�n al consumidor y usuario sobre el desistimiento

Derecho de desistimiento:

Tiene derecho a cancelar este contrato en un plazo de 14 d�as por cualquier motivo.

El plazo de desistimiento expirar� a los 14 d�as naturales del d�a en que t� o un tercero que hayas indicado, distinto del transportista, adquiera la posesi�n material del �ltimo bien, componente o pieza.

Para ejercer el derecho de desistimiento, deber�s notificarnos a Solr Books, 7080 N McCormick Blvd, 60712, Lincolnwood, Illinois, U.S.A., de tu decisi�n de desistir del contrato a trav�s de una declaraci�n inequ�voca (por ejemplo, una carta enviada por correo postal, fax o correo electr�nico). Podr�s utilizar el modelo de formulario de desistimiento que figura a continuaci�n, aunque su uso no es obligatorio. Tienes asimismo la opci�n de cumplimentar y enviar electr�nicamente el modelo de formulario de desistimiento o cualquier otra declaraci�n inequ�voca a trav�s de nuestro sitio web a "Mis pedidos" en "Mi cuenta". Si recurres a esta opci�n, te comunicaremos sin demora en un soporte duradero (por ejemplo, por correo electr�nico) la recepci�n de dicho desistimiento.

Para cumplir el plazo de desistimiento, basta con que la comunicaci�n relativa al ejercicio por tu parte de este derecho sea enviada antes de que venza el plazo correspondiente.

Consecuencias del desistimiento:

En caso de desistimiento por tu parte, te devolveremos todos los pagos recibidos de ti, incluidos los gastos de entrega (con la excepci�n de los gastos adicionales resultantes de la elecci�n por tu parte de una modalidad de entrega diferente a la modalidad menos costosa de entrega ordinaria que ofrezcamos) sin ninguna demora indebida y, en todo caso, a m�s tardar 14 d�as naturales a partir de la fecha en la que se nos informes de tu decisi�n de desistir del presente contrato. Procederemos a efectuar dicho reembolso utilizando el mismo medio de pago empleado por ti para la transacci�n inicial, a no ser que hayas dispuesto expresamente lo contrario; en todo caso, no incurrir�s en ning�n gasto como consecuencia del reembolso.

Podremos retenerte el reembolso hasta haber recibido los bienes, o hasta que hayas presentado una prueba de la devoluci�n de los mismos, seg�n qu� condici�n se cumpla primero. Deber�s devolvernos o entregarnos directamente los bienes a Solr Books, Lincolnwood, Illinois, U.S.A., sin ninguna demora indebida y, en cualquier caso, a m�s tardar en el plazo de 14 d�as naturales a partir de la fecha en que nos comuniques tu decisi�n de desistimiento del contrato. Se considerar� cumplido el plazo si efect�as la devoluci�n de los bienes antes de que haya concluido dicho plazo. Deber�s asumir el coste directo de devoluci�n de los bienes. Solo ser�s responsable de la disminuci�n de valor de los bienes resultante de una manipulaci�n distinta a la necesaria para establecer la naturaleza, las caracter�sticas y el funcionamiento de los bienes.

Excepciones al derecho de desistimiento:

La entrega de peri�dicos, publicaciones especializadas o revistas con la excepci�n de contratos de suscripci�n; y
La entrega de contenido digital (incluyendo apps, MP3, etc.) que no hubiera sido entregado en un medio tangible (por ejemplo: CD o DVD), si al realizar tu pedido has aceptado que podemos proceder al env�o del producto y que no resulta posible su cancelaci�n una vez comienza la entrega.

Modelo de formulario de desistimiento

(S�lo debe cumplimentar y enviar el presente formulario si desea desistir del contrato)

A la atenci�n de: (Solr Books, 7080 N McCormick Blvd, 60712, Lincolnwood, Illinois, U.S.A.)

Por la presente le comunico/comunicamos* que desisto de mi/desistimos de nuestro* contrato de venta del siguiente bien/prestaci�n del siguiente servicio*

Pedido el/recibido el*:

Nombre del consumidor y usuario o de los consumidores y usuarios:

Domicilio del consumidor y usuario o de los consumidores y usuarios:

Firma del consumidor y usuario o de los consumidores y usuarios (solo si el presente formulario se presenta en papel):

Fecha:

* Eliminar en su caso

Condiciones de env�o

Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.

Tarifas de env�o en Estados Unidos de America

Tarifas de env�o en Estados Unidos de America
Cantidad del pedido	De 2 a 12 d�as h�biles	De 1 a 3 d�as h�biles
Primer art�culo	EUR 6.87	EUR 16.35

Los plazos de entrega los establecen los vendedores y var�an seg�n el transportista y la ubicaci�n. Los pedidos que pasan por la aduana pueden sufrir retrasos y los compradores son responsables de los aranceles o tarifas asociadas. Los vendedores pueden ponerse en contacto con usted en relaci�n con cargos adicionales para cubrir cualquier aumento en los costes de env�o de los art�culos.