About the book
The thrilling and terrifying seventy-year story—\"kinetic, dramatic, and compulsively readable\" (Patchen Barss)—of the physicists that deciphered the atom and created the hydrogen bomb
A Guardian Best Book of the Year
Although Henri Becquerel didn’t know it at the time, he changed history in 1896 when he left photographic plates and some uranium rocks in a drawer. The rocks emitted something that exposed the plates: it was the first documented evidence of spontaneous radioactivity. So began one of the most exciting and consequential efforts humans have ever undertaken.
As Frank Close recounts in Destroyer of Worlds, scientists confronting Becquerel’s discovery had three questions: What was this phenomenon? Could it be a source of unlimited power? And (alas), could it be a weapon? Answering them was an epic journey of discovery, with Ernest Rutherford, Enrico Fermi, Irene Joliot-Curie, and many others jockeying to decipher the dance of particles in a decaying atom. And it was a terrifying journey as well, as Edward Teller and others pressed on from creating atom bombs to hydrogen bombs so powerful that they could destroy all life on earth.
The deep history of the nuclear age has never before been recounted so vividly. Centered on an extraordinary cast of characters, Destroyer of Worlds charts the course of nuclear physics from simple curiosity to potential Armageddon.
Editions of Destroyer of Worlds
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781541605893
- EBook
- ISBN 9781541605916
Read an Excerpt
The thrilling and terrifying seventy-year story—\"kinetic, dramatic, and compulsively readable\" (Patchen Barss)—of the physicists that deciphered the atom and created the hydrogen bomb
A Guardian Best Book of the Year
Although Henri Becquerel didn’t know it at the time, he changed history in 1896 when he left photographic plates and some uranium rocks in a drawer. The rocks emitted something that exposed the plates: it was the first documented evidence of spontaneous radioactivity. So began one of the most exciting and consequential efforts humans have ever undertaken.
As Frank Close recounts in Destroyer of Worlds, scientists confronting Becquerel’s discovery had three questions: What was this phenomenon? Could it be a source of unlimited power? And (alas), could it be a weapon? Answering them was an epic journey of discovery, with Ernest Rutherford, Enrico Fermi, Irene Joliot-Curie, and many others jockeying to decipher the dance of particles in a decaying atom. And it was a terrifying journey as well, as Edward Teller and others pressed on from creating atom bombs to hydrogen bombs so powerful that they could destroy all life on earth.
The deep history of the nuclear age has never before been recounted so vividly. Centered on an extraordinary cast of characters, Destroyer of Worlds charts the course of nuclear physics from simple curiosity to potential Armageddon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Destroyer of Worlds about?
The thrilling and terrifying seventy-year story—\"kinetic, dramatic, and compulsively readable\" (Patchen Barss)—of the physicists that deciphered the atom and created the hydrogen bomb
A Guardian Best Book of the Year
Although Henri Becquerel didn’t know it at the time, he changed history in 1896 when he left photographic plates and some uranium rocks in a drawer. The rocks emitted something that exposed the plates: it was the first documented evidence of spontaneous radioactivity. So began one of the most exciting and consequential efforts humans have ever undertaken.
As Frank Close recounts in Destroyer of Worlds, scientists confronting Becquerel’s discovery had three questions: What was this phenomenon? Could it be a source of unlimited power? And (alas), could it be a weapon? Answering them was an epic journey of discovery, with Ernest Rutherford, Enrico Fermi, Irene Joliot-Curie, and many others jockeying to decipher the dance of particles in a decaying atom. And it was a terrifying journey as well, as Edward Teller and others pressed on from creating atom bombs to hydrogen bombs so powerful that they could destroy all life on earth.
The deep history of the nuclear age has never before been recounted so vividly. Centered on an extraordinary cast of characters, Destroyer of Worlds charts the course of nuclear physics from simple curiosity to potential Armageddon.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Destroyer of Worlds?
Mathematics and Science > Science: general issues > History of science
Where can I read a sample of Destroyer of Worlds?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781541605893
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Destroyer of Worlds?
Frank Close
Who is the Publisher of the book Destroyer of Worlds?
Basic Books
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Destroyer of Worlds is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781541605893) and ebook(ISBN 9781541605916)
Where can I buy Destroyer of Worlds online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Destroyer of Worlds?