“A VALUABLE SOURCE FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT OUR WORLD.”—EL PASO HERALD POST

Covering the entire spectrum of science from microparticles through evolution to the Big Bang, the incomparable Isaac Asimov has brought together more than 120 essays that reveal some of the most astonishing new scientific discoveries and advances. In timely, informative writings, Asimov moves from a discussion of the first living cell to a fascinating chronicle of the hunt for an elusive subatomic particle, to an up-to-the-minute synopsis of the exciting genome project. In compelling detail, he explores such diverse topics as the age of the universe, the origin of life, space pollution, and galaxies in collision. Now, the most widely known and prolific science writer in the world brings the wonders and recent discoveries of science to light—in a superbly written volume that investigates the latest breakthroughs about ourselves, our past, our planet, our galaxy, and the cosmos around us.

“WILL HELP THE READER UNDERSTAND THE SCIENCE BEHIND TODAY’S HEADLINES.”—New York City Tribune

“MIXES THE AMAZING FACTS OF HARD SCIENCE WITH THE ‘OH WOW’ OF THE TECHNOLOGICAL.”—Sunday Telegram

“ASIMOV HAS AN EYE FOR THE FASCINATING MYSTERY.”—Sacramento Bee

In 1986, Asimov started a weekly science column for the Los Angeles Times Syndicate, and this book is a selection of two-and-a-half years’ worth of these columns. They‘re short, clear examinations of current advances in science as they happen—which means that sometimes wrong results get included. Still, it’s an interesting exposition of science at the edge and reasonably worthwhile, the main strike against it being that the essays are all so short that it tends to be a bit choppy.