Fred Hoyle
Fred Hoyle
CAD$39.95
The scientific life of Fred Hoyle (1915–2001) was truly unparalleled. During his career he wrote groundbreaking scientific papers and caused bitter disputes in the scientific community with his revolutionary theories. Hoyle is best known for showing that we are all, literally, made of stardust in his paper explaining how carbon, and then all the heavier elements, were created by nuclear reactions inside stars. However, he constantly courted controversy and two years later he followed this with his 'steady state' theory of the universe. This challenged another model of the universe, which Hoyle called the 'big bang' theory. Fred Hoyle was also famous amongst the general public. He popularised his research through radio and television broadcasts and wrote best-selling novels. Written from personal accounts and interviews with Hoyle's contemporaries, this book gives valuable personal insights into Fred Hoyle and his unforgettable life.
- The only biographical account of Fred Hoyle written from personal knowledge
- Focuses on Hoyle's contributions to science as an astronomer and public figure
- A fascinating insight into the history of cosmology
Reviews & endorsements
"Written from personal accounts and interviews with Hoyle's contemporaries, this book gives valuable personal insights into Hoyle and his unforgettable life." -Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin, April/May 2012
Product details
March 2011Paperback
9780521189477
384 pages
234 × 156 × 16 mm
0.66kg
22 b/w illus.
Available
Table of Contents
- Foreword Paul Davies
- Prologue
- 1. An end and a beginning
- 2. Training for cosmology
- 3. The star makers
- 4. Hoyle's secret war
- 5. The nature of the Universe
- 6. Lives of the stars
- 7. Clash of Titans
- 8. Origin of the chemical elements
- 9. Matters of gravity
- 10. Mountains to climb
- 11. The watershed
- 12. Stones, bones, bugs and accidents
- Acknowledgements
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index.
