The Universe Speaks in Numbers How Modern Maths Reveals Nature's Deepest Secrets

A superbly written riveting book.'MARTIN REES Astronomer Royal'I am overcome with admiration for its range and profundity. An amazing achievement.'MICHAEL FRAYN'A wonderful book.'TOM STOPPARDA groundbreaking exploration of how the interplay of physics and mathematics has enriched our understanding of the universe - essential reading for anyone who wants to grasp how physicists are attempting in Stephen Hawking's words to 'know the mind of God'.Searching for the fundamental laws of the universe physicists have found themselves developing ambitious mathematical ideas. But without observation and experiment as their guide are they now doing 'fairy-tale physics' as their detractors claim?InThe Universe Speaks in Numbers Graham Farmelo argues that today's greatest scientific minds are working in a tradition that dates back to Newton. He takes us on an adventure from the Enlightenment to the breakthroughs of Einstein and Dirac to the work of modern physicists and mathematicians shedding light on each other's disciplines to their mutual surprise and excitement. This blossoming relationship is responsible for huge advances in our understanding of space and time - and as Farmelo explains could redefine reality as we know it.LISTEN TO THE ACCOMPANYING PODCAST featuring interviews with leading scientists at www.grahamfarmelo.com Review I am overcome with admiration for its range and profundity. An amazing achievement. -- Michael FraynA wonderful book. -- Tom StoppardA superbly written riveting book. -- Martin ReesFascinating and elegantly written. -- Manjit Kumar ―Guardian'Farmelo deftly retraces the growing realisation that maths can unlock understanding of real phenomena . [he] provides a rich history of this interplay along with a well-informed account of how it has worked in recent decades.' ―Irish Times'A rich survey of the growing connections between pure mathematics and fundamental physics... Farmelo has worked in some of the world's most prestigious research centres and spoken to many leading theorists... rewarding.' ―Literary ReviewAs authoritative as it is fascinating. -- Marcus Chown ―ProspectFarmelo tells the story with a keen eye for anecdotes and the excitement of an eyewitness to an intellectual revolution. -- Amir Alexander ―Wall Street JournalPowerful and eloquent . . . A must-read. ―Michela Massimi Professor of Philosophy of Science University of EdinburghCrisply written entertaining and extraordinarily well informed. -- Roger Highfield Director of Science Science Museum LondonIf you like reading about math without having to do math this is a stellar book.' -- Ethan Siegel ―ForbesEntertaining and written with contagious enthusiasm that could almost be described as a page-turner. -- Saleem Denholme ―Nature Physics Book Description A groundbreaking exploration of how the interplay of physics and mathematics has enriched our understanding of the universe - essential reading for anyone who wants to grasp how physicists are attempting in Stephen Hawking's words to 'know the mind of God'. About the Author Graham Farmelo is a Fellow at Churchill College Cambridge and an Affiliate Professor of Physics at Northeastern University Boston USA. He edited the best-sellingIt Must be Beautiful Great Equations of Modern Science in 2002. His biography of Paul DiracThe Strangest Man won the 2009 Costa Biography Award and the 2010 Los Angeles Times Science Book Prize.