Gravity's Kiss

The Detection of Gravitational Waves

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science, Physics, Astrophysics & Space Science, Other Sciences, History
Cover of the book Gravity's Kiss by Harry Collins, The MIT Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Harry Collins ISBN: 9780262340052
Publisher: The MIT Press Publication: January 20, 2017
Imprint: The MIT Press Language: English
Author: Harry Collins
ISBN: 9780262340052
Publisher: The MIT Press
Publication: January 20, 2017
Imprint: The MIT Press
Language: English

A fascinating account, written in real time, of the unfolding of a scientific discovery: the first detection of gravitational waves.

Scientists have been trying to confirm the existence of gravitational waves for fifty years. Then, in September 2015, came a “very interesting event” (as the cautious subject line in a physicist's email read) that proved to be the first detection of gravitational waves. In Gravity's Kiss, Harry Collins—who has been watching the science of gravitational wave detection for forty-three of those fifty years and has written three previous books about it—offers a final, fascinating account, written in real time, of the unfolding of one of the most remarkable scientific discoveries ever made.

Predicted by Einstein in his theory of general relativity, gravitational waves carry energy from the collision or explosion of stars. Dying binary stars, for example, rotate faster and faster around each other until they merge, emitting a burst of gravitational waves. It is only with the development of extraordinarily sensitive, highly sophisticated detectors that physicists can now confirm Einstein's prediction. This is the story that Collins tells.

Collins, a sociologist of science who has been embedded in the gravitational wave community since 1972, traces the detection, the analysis, the confirmation, and the public presentation and the reception of the discovery—from the first email to the final published paper and the response of professionals and the public. Collins shows that science today is collaborative, far-flung (with the physical location of the participants hardly mattering), and sometimes secretive, but still one of the few institutions that has integrity built into it.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

A fascinating account, written in real time, of the unfolding of a scientific discovery: the first detection of gravitational waves.

Scientists have been trying to confirm the existence of gravitational waves for fifty years. Then, in September 2015, came a “very interesting event” (as the cautious subject line in a physicist's email read) that proved to be the first detection of gravitational waves. In Gravity's Kiss, Harry Collins—who has been watching the science of gravitational wave detection for forty-three of those fifty years and has written three previous books about it—offers a final, fascinating account, written in real time, of the unfolding of one of the most remarkable scientific discoveries ever made.

Predicted by Einstein in his theory of general relativity, gravitational waves carry energy from the collision or explosion of stars. Dying binary stars, for example, rotate faster and faster around each other until they merge, emitting a burst of gravitational waves. It is only with the development of extraordinarily sensitive, highly sophisticated detectors that physicists can now confirm Einstein's prediction. This is the story that Collins tells.

Collins, a sociologist of science who has been embedded in the gravitational wave community since 1972, traces the detection, the analysis, the confirmation, and the public presentation and the reception of the discovery—from the first email to the final published paper and the response of professionals and the public. Collins shows that science today is collaborative, far-flung (with the physical location of the participants hardly mattering), and sometimes secretive, but still one of the few institutions that has integrity built into it.

More books from The MIT Press

Cover of the book American Environmental Policy by Harry Collins
Cover of the book The Man Who Saw Tomorrow by Harry Collins
Cover of the book The Puppet and the Dwarf by Harry Collins
Cover of the book Globalizing Innovation by Harry Collins
Cover of the book Dream Chasers by Harry Collins
Cover of the book The The Monstrosity of Christ by Harry Collins
Cover of the book Philosophy of Language by Harry Collins
Cover of the book Africa's Turn? by Harry Collins
Cover of the book Rock, Bone, and Ruin by Harry Collins
Cover of the book The Shared World by Harry Collins
Cover of the book The Reputation Society by Harry Collins
Cover of the book Waste Is Information by Harry Collins
Cover of the book The Disruption Dilemma by Harry Collins
Cover of the book Confronting Consumption by Harry Collins
Cover of the book Distributed Algorithms by Harry Collins
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy