How did one elegant theory incite a scientific revolution?
Physicists have been exploring, debating, and questioning the
general theory of relativity ever since Albert Einstein first
presented it in 1915. Their work has uncovered a number of the
universe s more surprising secrets, and many believe further
wonders remain hidden within the theory s tangle of equations,
waiting to be exposed. In this sweeping narrative of science and
culture, astrophysicist Pedro Ferreira brings general relativity to
life through the story of the brilliant physicists, mathematicians,
and astronomers who have taken up its challenge. For these
scientists, the theory has been both a treasure trove and an
enigma, fueling a century of intellectual struggle and triumph.
Einstein s theory, which explains the relationships among
gravity, space, and time, is possibly the most perfect intellectual
achievement of modern physics, yet studying it has always been a
controversial endeavor. Relativists were the target of persecution
in Hitler s Germany, hounded in Stalin s Russia, and disdained in
1950s America. Even today, doctorate students are warned that
specializing in general relativity will make them unemployable.
Despite these pitfalls, general relativity has flourished,
delivering key insights into our understanding of the origin of
time and the evolution of all the stars and galaxies in the cosmos.
Its adherents have revealed what lies at the farthest reaches of
the universe, shed light on the smallest scales of existence, and
explained how the fabric of reality emerges. Dark matter, dark
energy, black holes, and string theory are all progeny of Einstein
s theory.
We are in the midst of a momentous transformation in modern
physics. As scientists look farther and more clearly into space
than ever before, "The Perfect Theory" reveals the greater
relevance of general relativity, showing us where it started, where
it has led, and where it can still take us."
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