The Disappearing Spoon
Sam Kean
If aliens ever land on Earth, Kean
writes, one of the few things humans
could present that might actually
be understood by the visitors is the
periodic table of the elements. That
observation is typical of this quirky,
thoughtful and thorough book.
Remembered by many as a daunting
chart looming over a teacher’s shoulder and typically “less than frickin’
helpful” on exams, the periodic table
is actually a map, writes Kean, a science journalist. It is a map on which
geography is destiny, a map of rivalries
and antagonisms, a map that — accompanied by a guide like Kean — can take
you through space and time.
From the Big Bang to ancient
Greece to Nazi Germany and Gandhi’s
India, Kean highlights the prominent
roles of various chemical elements
throughout history. He also reveals
their personalities: Gold is aloof, carbon promiscuous and nitrogen an
intriguing combination of “plentitude,
ineptitude, and importance.”
Proofiness: The Dark Arts of
Mathematical Deception
Charles Seife
The 2000 U.S. presidential election
should have been decided by a coin flip.
Or so argues Seife, a mathematician-
turned-journalist who tackles some of
society’s biggest math problems in his
new book. The race between George W.
Bush and Al Gore was, mathematically
speaking, too close to call. So, Seife
suggests, instead of
counting chads, the
contested state of
Florida should have
relied on an age-
old procedure for
breaking a tie: draw-
ing lots.
Seife is somewhat
obsessed with the flaws in the coun-
try’s electoral system, but he makes an
eloquent case that all citizens should
be so concerned. What he dubs “proofi-
While a map is an excellent metaphor,
Kean doesn’t guide the reader region by
region across the table. Instead, chapters deal with periods in history, such
as the Cold War, or a particular theme,
such as art or money. These broader
ideas reveal how truly elemental the elements are and explain why this chemistry book appeals to nonchemists.
If your most
recent glance at the
periodic table was
in a classroom long
ago, have no fear,
this book is threaded
with plots more
often found in love
stories or thrillers
than in chemistry books, and Kean’s
enthusiasm and wit carry the reader
through spells of heavy lifting.
Even hard-core chemists will
undoubtedly learn something new. So
might aliens, Kean notes: If they ever
glimpse the periodic table, perhaps
they’ll even “whistle (or whatever) in
real admiration.” — Rachel Ehrenberg
Little, Brown and Co., 2010, 391 p., $24.99.
ness” — the manipulation of mathematics for untrue ends — permeates
modern culture.
He gives plenty of examples. One
flawed study suggests that women who
have had an abortion have a 30 percent
increased risk of breast cancer. Another
argues that tobacco is a gateway to
harder drug use. Statisticians can spend
all day eviscerating the math behind
these studies, but proofiness nonetheless trickles deep into social policy.
Even mathphobes will appreciate
Seife’s clear explanations of why polls
are so flawed and how risks are routinely
exaggerated to justify a particular decision. Seife is trying to do the admirable
and the impossible — educate the public
so people can understand when they
are being manipulated by bogus numbers. If only those doing the manipulation would believe that the public is too
smart to be duped. — Alexandra Witze
Much Ado About
(Practically) Nothing:
A History of the
Noble Gases
David E. Fisher
Delve deep into the
far right of the periodic
table with a chemist who appreciates
noble gases’ many uses. Oxford Univ.
Press, 2010, 264 p., $24.95.
How to Mellify
a Corpse
Vicki León
Eighty-eight tales tell
of science and super-
stition in the ancient world (including
Alexander the Great’s mellification, or
embalming in honey). Walker, 2010,
308 p., $17.
2030: Technology
That Will Change
the World
Rutger van Santen,
Djan Khoe and
Bram Vermeer
A survey of science
and engineering breakthroughs that
may lead to technological leaps. Oxford
Univ. Press, 2010, 295 p., $29.95.
Spider Silk
Leslie Brunetta and
Catherine L. Craig
Arachnid evolution is
woven into this history
of one of the strongest
natural materials. Yale
Univ. Press, 2010, 229 p., $30.
The 50 Most Extreme
Places in Our Solar
System
David Baker and
Todd Ratcliff
Tour Earth’s hottest, coldest, stormiest
and stinkiest neighbors, plus the solar
system’s weirdest phenomena. Harvard
Univ. Press, 2010, 290 p., $27.95.
How to Order To order these books or others,
visit www.sciencenews.org/bookshelf. A click on
a book’s title will transfer you to Amazon.com.
