Bøger af Paul Sommers

Einstein comes back to life for a thought-provoking interrogation by Socrates. He is understandably intrigued by advances in physics and astronomy that have occurred since his death. Delving into the foundations of quantum theory, these paragons of intellect and reason are led to speculate about free will, cosmology, and abstract realms. The gravity of their quest is cloaked by a light-hearted dialogue in an impossible circumstance.

Twelve well-trained scientists set off on a journey to Alpha Centauri, the star system closest to Earth. This happens in the near future, thanks to a technological breakthrough in the control of nuclear fusion and the development of efficient fusion rocket engines. SpaceX builds the spaceship Quest and Disney funds the project in exchange for capitalizing on the greatest adventure of the century.Technical aspects of the venture are scientifically rigorous, and the relevant calculations are documented in the appended notes from the mission's project manager at SpaceX. The novel is scientific fiction, not science fantasy. It could happen if a breakthrough in controlled fusion were to occur as hypothesized.After accelerating for almost one year, the Quest coasts at one-tenth the speed of light for almost 44 more years to travel the 4.4 lightyears to Alpha Centauri. The questors are traveling into the unknown. It would take 50 years for an exploratory robotic mission to go there first and transmit its report back to Earth. That's too long for curious human pioneers to wait. Like the seafaring explorers of the 15th century, these spacefaring explorers accept risk and sacrifice as part of their great adventure.The unknown becomes ominous when arriving at Alpha Centauri as the questors attempt in vain to decipher an apparent transmission from an extraterrestrial intelligence.During their journey, the questors delve into foundational puzzles of modern physics and quantum cosmology as well as metaphysical questions about why there is a universe at all and how its physical laws were ordained.

Real Relativity is a book that provides a deep understanding of Einstein's theory. It is accessible to anyone with a basic knowledge of algebra. Contrary to popular belief, tools from trigonometry, calculus, and physics are not needed to comprehend the science of relativity. Readers only need the intellectual curiosity and patience to study the numerous illustrative diagrams that convey the meaning of the algebraic equations. They will come away with a thorough knowledge of Minkowski spacetime and the wonderful phenomena of special relativity. In particular, the book meticulously resolves the "twin paradox" in its comprehensive treatment of time dilation and the "barn-pole paradox" in its explanation of Lorentz contraction. Readers will also enjoy an introduction to general relativity and how curvature of spacetime has supplanted Newton's law of gravitation. College students majoring in physics will find this to be a valuable presentation of relativity that complements what they encounter in standard textbooks.

As every American knows, our nation's favorite pastime is also big business. The last fifteen years have been exceptionally good to the business of baseball-with the growth in fan attendance, the spread of cable television, the burgeoning interest in cards and other baseball memorabilia, the historical appreciation of franchise values, the emergence of a powerful players' union, and average salaries that are almost twenty times their pre-1976 levels. Yet at this time of prosperity, major economic issues trouble the sport: the threat of franchise relocation, the continual flash points in collective bargaining, the growing commercialization of the game, the club owners' collusive response to free agency, lingering concerns of race discrimination, and the arguably tenuous link between player pay and performance. This fascinating book examines these and other major issues and assesses their probable impact on the business of baseball. Contributors begin by examining the effect of the reserve clause on competitive league balance. They then investigate whether prior experience with the salary arbitration process affects player demands in subsequent settlements and compare salary differences between ineligible and arbitration-eligible players. They consider the role of the baseball fan as contributor to team winning, as season ticket purchase, and as card-collecting hobbyist. Diamonds Are Forever also looks at the link between player pay and performance. The authors question whether such high salaries are actually earned by players or are instead awarded by owners eager to have "the winning team." They also discuss the growth in unequal distribution of salaries among players. In the last section, the authors look at racial discrimination in baseball and the influence of a team's racial composition on salaries. From Babe Ruth to Nolan Ryan, Doubleday to Skydome, baseball cards to Homer Hankies, the nation has been enthralled for decades with the business of baseball. Although the authors look to the future and consider changes that might occur in this profitable pastime, they assure that diamonds are forever.