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Creation — The story of the origin and evolution of the universe
the darkest recessesof the memory in some future examination. Derek Woollins’ short hardback monograph provides an excellent introductory overview of this diverse area. Compounds are classified as ‘electron deficient’, ‘electron precise/classical’, or ‘electron-rich’. The presentation of the material under these headings, rather than by Groups of the Periodic Table, serves to highlight important similarities and patterns. The overwhelming emphasis of the text is on empirical details of preparation, properties, and structure. Occasional reference is made to the commercial significance of some of the species discussed - for example Se& ring compounds have applications as diverse as anti-dandruff shampoos, fireworks, and polymerization inhibitors. More detailed descriptions of the bonding in a few compounds - for example boranes, polyphosphazenes, and tetrasulphur tetranitride - are also discussed. There are numerous references to the primary literature. There is relatively little discussion of the techniques used to characterize the compounds, although there is a detailed analysis of a 2D-COSY NMR spectrum of anfiB,,H,,which seems somewhat incongruous. I found only a few errors (eg. on p. 34 Sn,*- is described as a ‘Zintyl’ anion and said to be isoelectronic with Big”). This book should certainly serve to stimulate interest in an all-too-often neglected area of chemistry. David G. Evans Creation - The Story of the Origin’ and Evolution of the Universe. By Barry Parker. Pp. 297. Plenum, New York. 7988. US$22.95.
ft has become a recurring motive of science to explain creation in terms of evolution. We now understand that complex life evolved from simple forms, life from non-living macromolecules, molecules from complex atoms that themselves were made from simpler atoms in the interiors of stars; in the early universe, simple atoms evolved from matter that was made in the first minute fraction of a second. Planets, stars, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies are the product of evolution operating on fluctuations present in the bigbang. We are even beginning to ask how and from what the big-bang itself evolved. and even if the answers are not yet clear, the question is no longer totally meaningless. This is the story that Parker sets out to tell, with emphasis roughly in inverse proportion to the rate of evolution. The balance is not unreasonable, since there are rather more accessible books on DNA and life than there are on cosmic strings and galaxy clustering, although some readers may be disappointed to find that planetary exploration has contributed only a single line to the story (the absence of life on Mars). The text is livened up with short interviews and biographical details which are very nicely written. They also highIight one of the problems of science popularization: science is not sufficiently embedded in everyday
96
language. It is helpful that, for example. ‘electron’, ‘atom’, ‘supersonic’ are part of common discourse, but it is impossible to write beautifully if one has to stop to explain the difference between a transverse and longitudinal wave, because the explanation grows out of proportion. Yet fine writing is essential if we are to communicate not only the rightness but the beauty of science, and if we are thereby to secure the resources for accelerators and telescopes with which we may answer the problem of creation. And so we come to the final problem: what is the place of God? Parker says that most scientists are not atheists. This is the subtle way of putting it: most are not Christians either. So far, the scientific universe has no place for a meaningful God, but the physical universe is incomplete. We do not know what made the laws because we do not know if there was any element of choice in their construction. As this book so wonderfully demonstrates, science does not require a belief in the answers it should give, but a belief that it is worth taking the trouble to find them out. D. J. Raine Crop Protection Chemicals Reference, 4th Edn. Chemical and Pharma~e~tical Press. Pp. 2722. Wiley, Chichester. 1988. f45.20.
For readers outside the United States it is important to recognize that this publication is based on a collection of United States labels of the products of 10 leading agrochemica1companies who are the major members of the National Agricultural Chemicals Association (NACA). Although the requirements of the EPA and other legalistic tendencies make US labels very comptex and somewhat indigestible, the wealth of information on the labels of over 600 products containing more than 200 different active ingredients - all of which are included in full in the publication is made reasonably accessible by crossreferencing and indexing. By consulting the pest use and crop use indices, the relevant control measures can be quickly determined and the appropriate products and their conditions of use identified. Extrapolation of US crops, pests, and agricultural practices to other situations can extend the usefulness of the publication. and advisers in the safe and efficient use of pesticides will undoubtedly find this compilation useful in their work. Although the contents list indicates that the various sections would be in different colours for easy identification, the reviewed copy was all on white paper - trivial but irritating. J. A. R. Bates Quasielastic Neutron Scattering: Principles and Applications in Solid State Chemistry, Biology and Materials Science. By M. Bee. Pp. 437. Adam ~ilger, Bristol. 1988. f60.00.
Quasielastic neutron scattering (QNS) is a uniquely powerful spectroscopy in the inves-
tigation of atomic/molecular motions (reorientations. translations) with characteristic times lo-“- IO-‘” set in condensed matter. QNS is particularly applicable to hydrogenous systems and, in principle, yields both characteristic times and the detailed geometry of the dynamical process. This monograph incorporates the very latest developments in the field, and will be welcomed by practitioners, potential new users, and those interested solely in understanding results. The coverage of the range of phenomena investigated to date is meticulous, as is the clear presentation of the theoretical background to data reduction. Phenomena (and results) discussed range from purely reorientational motions to translational motions (localized and self-diffusion) and include the possibilities of investigation of biomolecules (studied in their infancy). Theoretical aspects have often appeared a smoke-screen (potentially discouraging to new users) to the non-physicist. this text goes some way toward removing that smoke-screen. The author is to be congratulated on the production of this’ text. In particular, the presentation may encourage an increasing number of materials chemists/scientists and biologists to consider QNS. The increasing worldwide investment in neutron scattering should increase accessoutside Europe. R. C. T. Slade
Irreversible Thermodynamics: Theory and Applications. By K. S. F&land, T, F&and and S. K. Ratkje. Pp. 281. Wiley, Chichester. 1988. f45.00.
This beautifully produced book has much to commend it, but mainly to the specialist rather than the interested researcher. As the publishers claim, irreversible thermodynamics is an area of growing importance in a variety of fields and this is well reflected in this text. Using a minimum of mathematics, the authors derive the basic equations of the subject for simple systems, before proceeding to more complex situations by example. They then use this theoretical background to consider a variety of fascinating applications - many of which, however, require specialist knowledge to be appreciated fully. It is useful to find references listed at the end of each chapter but, where books are concerned, it would have been helpful to find relevant page numbers given. Again, in the derivation of Onsager’s relations, the Einstein fluctuation formula is obtained by inverting the Boltzmann principle. As has been pointed out previously (Lavenda and Scherer, Rev&a de1 Nuovo Cimenro, 11, 1, 1988), this procedure is questionable. As an introduction to the subject, this book does not rival the more detailed text by de Groat and Mazur. However, it may be recommended but for the interested reader, as distinct from the specialist, the price is too high. 1. Dunning-Davies
ft has become a recurring motive of science to explain creation in terms of evolution. We now understand that complex life evolved from simple forms, life from non-living macromolecules, molecules from complex atoms that themselves were made from simpler atoms in the interiors of stars; in the early universe, simple atoms evolved from matter that was made in the first minute fraction of a second. Planets, stars, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies are the product of evolution operating on fluctuations present in the bigbang. We are even beginning to ask how and from what the big-bang itself evolved. and even if the answers are not yet clear, the question is no longer totally meaningless. This is the story that Parker sets out to tell, with emphasis roughly in inverse proportion to the rate of evolution. The balance is not unreasonable, since there are rather more accessible books on DNA and life than there are on cosmic strings and galaxy clustering, although some readers may be disappointed to find that planetary exploration has contributed only a single line to the story (the absence of life on Mars). The text is livened up with short interviews and biographical details which are very nicely written. They also highIight one of the problems of science popularization: science is not sufficiently embedded in everyday
96
language. It is helpful that, for example. ‘electron’, ‘atom’, ‘supersonic’ are part of common discourse, but it is impossible to write beautifully if one has to stop to explain the difference between a transverse and longitudinal wave, because the explanation grows out of proportion. Yet fine writing is essential if we are to communicate not only the rightness but the beauty of science, and if we are thereby to secure the resources for accelerators and telescopes with which we may answer the problem of creation. And so we come to the final problem: what is the place of God? Parker says that most scientists are not atheists. This is the subtle way of putting it: most are not Christians either. So far, the scientific universe has no place for a meaningful God, but the physical universe is incomplete. We do not know what made the laws because we do not know if there was any element of choice in their construction. As this book so wonderfully demonstrates, science does not require a belief in the answers it should give, but a belief that it is worth taking the trouble to find them out. D. J. Raine Crop Protection Chemicals Reference, 4th Edn. Chemical and Pharma~e~tical Press. Pp. 2722. Wiley, Chichester. 1988. f45.20.
For readers outside the United States it is important to recognize that this publication is based on a collection of United States labels of the products of 10 leading agrochemica1companies who are the major members of the National Agricultural Chemicals Association (NACA). Although the requirements of the EPA and other legalistic tendencies make US labels very comptex and somewhat indigestible, the wealth of information on the labels of over 600 products containing more than 200 different active ingredients - all of which are included in full in the publication is made reasonably accessible by crossreferencing and indexing. By consulting the pest use and crop use indices, the relevant control measures can be quickly determined and the appropriate products and their conditions of use identified. Extrapolation of US crops, pests, and agricultural practices to other situations can extend the usefulness of the publication. and advisers in the safe and efficient use of pesticides will undoubtedly find this compilation useful in their work. Although the contents list indicates that the various sections would be in different colours for easy identification, the reviewed copy was all on white paper - trivial but irritating. J. A. R. Bates Quasielastic Neutron Scattering: Principles and Applications in Solid State Chemistry, Biology and Materials Science. By M. Bee. Pp. 437. Adam ~ilger, Bristol. 1988. f60.00.
Quasielastic neutron scattering (QNS) is a uniquely powerful spectroscopy in the inves-
tigation of atomic/molecular motions (reorientations. translations) with characteristic times lo-“- IO-‘” set in condensed matter. QNS is particularly applicable to hydrogenous systems and, in principle, yields both characteristic times and the detailed geometry of the dynamical process. This monograph incorporates the very latest developments in the field, and will be welcomed by practitioners, potential new users, and those interested solely in understanding results. The coverage of the range of phenomena investigated to date is meticulous, as is the clear presentation of the theoretical background to data reduction. Phenomena (and results) discussed range from purely reorientational motions to translational motions (localized and self-diffusion) and include the possibilities of investigation of biomolecules (studied in their infancy). Theoretical aspects have often appeared a smoke-screen (potentially discouraging to new users) to the non-physicist. this text goes some way toward removing that smoke-screen. The author is to be congratulated on the production of this’ text. In particular, the presentation may encourage an increasing number of materials chemists/scientists and biologists to consider QNS. The increasing worldwide investment in neutron scattering should increase accessoutside Europe. R. C. T. Slade
Irreversible Thermodynamics: Theory and Applications. By K. S. F&land, T, F&and and S. K. Ratkje. Pp. 281. Wiley, Chichester. 1988. f45.00.
This beautifully produced book has much to commend it, but mainly to the specialist rather than the interested researcher. As the publishers claim, irreversible thermodynamics is an area of growing importance in a variety of fields and this is well reflected in this text. Using a minimum of mathematics, the authors derive the basic equations of the subject for simple systems, before proceeding to more complex situations by example. They then use this theoretical background to consider a variety of fascinating applications - many of which, however, require specialist knowledge to be appreciated fully. It is useful to find references listed at the end of each chapter but, where books are concerned, it would have been helpful to find relevant page numbers given. Again, in the derivation of Onsager’s relations, the Einstein fluctuation formula is obtained by inverting the Boltzmann principle. As has been pointed out previously (Lavenda and Scherer, Rev&a de1 Nuovo Cimenro, 11, 1, 1988), this procedure is questionable. As an introduction to the subject, this book does not rival the more detailed text by de Groat and Mazur. However, it may be recommended but for the interested reader, as distinct from the specialist, the price is too high. 1. Dunning-Davies