Veteran astronomy author Bob Berman surveys the historical and scientific aspects of unseen radiation in Zapped: From Infrared to X-rays, the Curious History of Invisible Light, examining each of the non-visible forms of electromagnetic energy in turn, from radio waves at one end of the wavelength spectrum to gamma rays at the other ...Berman elaborates on the effects of infrared on the weather, describes next-generation space telescopes that will take infrared pictures of nascent galaxies, and explains the difference between heat (the vibration of atoms and molecules) and infrared (a form of electromagnetic energy emitted by these vibrating particles) ... Although dense with technical information, the narrative is briskly conversational: We’re on the porch, shooting the breeze with a knowledgeable neighbor.
Bob Berman’s Zapped: From Infrared to X-Rays, the Curious Story of Invisible Light, tells the story of Röntgen’s rays, alongside so many other invisible waves we now take for granted ... Perennially curious and fascinated by this invisible world, Berman wants to bring to light these strange photons and wavelengths that went unseen for centuries, giving us insight into how they make and transform our world ... Like any good pop science book, along the way Zapped offers an endless series of tidbits... The history of invisible light is ultimately more than simply a history of technological discovery; it opens up news ways of thinking just as it closes others.
...Bob Berman, for instance, takes a jaunty, conversational approach in his new book Zapped: From Infrared to X-rays, the Curious History of Invisible Light, telling his readers right at the start that they are surrounded by his subject ...tells readers the history of science's discovery of such things as gamma rays, cosmic rays, and ultraviolet rays, and he's an unfailingly congenial explainer, always ready with the kinds of fascinating facts his readers might have missed in school.
An enthusiastic account of all the light we cannot see from a science popularizer with a knack for presenting hard facts clearly and stylishly ...he clarifies for the nonscientist the nature of the many forms of radiation around us ... Due to information overload, some readers may be inclined to skim or skip ahead in certain sections... Thankfully, the author interweaves his science lessons with selective profiles of pioneers in the field and fascinating tales from fiction and real life... For those curious about what lies ahead, he takes a look at future applications of invisible light in medicine and computing ... A guide for laymen written with gusto and assurance.
Astronomy writer Berman (Zoom) runs through a fascinating history of the rainbow’s invisible bands in this breezy, accessible read. Berman draws from topics as far-flung as art, gardening, relativity, and radioactivity to explain light’s intriguing nature and its influence on humans... Berman adeptly explains the physics of light and its modern applications in studious detail ... In the style of a favorite professor, Berman injects bits of odd humor and captivating tangents into this complex but familiar topic.
