Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Reviews → Book Reviews

Book review: ‘The Quantum Moment’

How the quantum moment "overturned basic beliefs about space and time, causality and reality, and exposed as mistaken many fundamental cultural and philosophical assumptions."

Tibi Puiu by Tibi Puiu
March 17, 2015
in Book Reviews
If you buy something that we link, we may earn a commission. See our product review guidelines and affiliate disclaimer.

The quantum moment

“The Quantum Moment: How Planck, Bohr, Einstein, and Heisenberg Taught Us to Love Uncertainty”
By  Robert P. Crease, Alfred Scharff Goldhaber
W. W. Norton & Company, 352pp | Buy on Amazon

The idea that energy comes in finite packets of energy, known as quanta, instead of infinitely divisible quantities was a monumental breakthrough in physics. Little did Max Planck, the physicist who first posited the concept of quantization of radiation in 1900, what kind of impact his discovery would have. A new age of physicists ushered following Planck’s seminal paper, one that would topple Newton’s entrenched values and a deterministic worldview. This was the beginning of the quantum moment, culminating with the advent of quantum mechanics – a body of work that describes the queer world of the nanoscale.

Robert Crease (philosopher) and Alfred Goldhaber (physicists), both professors at Stony Brook University have for the past six years been co-teaching an unconventional course on quantum physics. Not just a physics lecture, their course is focused on an aspect that’s often ignored: how quantum physics has entered popular imagery and language. Their experience has inspired the two to author a highly entertaining book called “The Quantum Moment”.

Yes, the book covers a history of quantum physics and thus a marvelous job at explaining some of the most fundamental findings. But it’s far more than this. Taking turns, the authors  explore the quantum’s manifestation in everything from art and sculpture to the prose of John Updike. In physical terms, quantum leap signifies the  change of an electron from one quantum state to another within an atom. Today, however it has long crossed into the realm of popular culture. Journalists often use it to describe great progress. For instance, there’s a sculpture in  River Severn, Shrewsbury, UK called the Quantum Leap that’s dedicated to Charles Darwin, in recognition for the formidable leap in consciousness he offered humanity. Google Quantum Leap and the first thing that pops is a wikipedia entry about an old TV series.

Quantum physics is also abused. The multiverse, the uncertainty principle and even poor ol’ Schrodinger’s cat are often thrown about in discourses, when other metaphors might be more appropriate. Then there’s what the authors call fruit-loopery or blunt misinterpretations of quantum physics, often encountered in new age dialogues.

The book can be quite technical for neophytes, but you can skip some passages without losing the essence. Those concerned with the science will rejoice. But, again, this isn’t necessarily a book about the technical aspects of the quantum moment. The authors merely set out the right context, so they can then dissect the philosophical and cultural impact. After all, you’ll find how the quantum moment “overturned basic beliefs about space and time, causality and reality, and exposed as mistaken many fundamental cultural and philosophical assumptions.”

As Updike suggests, we keep asking for the material things that the quantum is going to give us through technology, but it has already maybe done much more so: it has changed us spiritually. The books explores all this and more. Art majors, physicists and laymen will all find something to their liking.

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. Book Review: “The Trilobite Book”
  2. Book review: ‘The Little Book of Black Holes’
  3. Quantum satellite investigates the gap between Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity
  4. Quantum computing breakthrough: quantum photonic chip created
  5. Tiny quantum refrigerator keeps quantum computers cool by ‘blinking’ electrons
Tags: max planckquantum physics

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW