Beyond Human Sight
Order and Chaos in the World of Atoms. By B. C. Saunders and R. E. D. Clark. The English Universities Press. 8s 6d.:
IN these hard times it is no doubt natural that many who talk or write about natural science should lay great emphasis upon the material aspects of its impact upon society. There is, however, some danger that an ill-informed, unbalanced view of the scientist as a mere ministrator to material needs may develop if natural science is not also presented as a search for truth which stimulates and satisfies the mind. The authors of this book are therefore to be warmly commended for writing a popular book which is con- cerned primarily with scientific principles. It is true that they describe many applications of the principles to practical problems and venture to predict others. This, however, is necessary in such a book, in order to help the reader bridge the gap between his sphere of experience and that of the pure scientist who is interested in the elucidation of principles as an end in itself.
The field of knowledge which the authors treat is one which has developed especially rapidly in the last thirty years: it is the detailed explanation of the macroscopic properties of matter in terms of the properties of the intermediate particles called molecules and atoms, and of these in turn by those of the ultiniate articles called electrons, protons, neutrons, positrons and mesotrons. It is a vast one, so the authors wisely make no attempt at a comprehensive treatment ; their aim is to illustrate, not to saturate. In the early chapters they explain how ideas about the structure of the atom have developed, how the present distribution of the elements in the earth has come about, and how atoms can cohere. Then, taking as their theme the building up of molecules from atoms and of macroscopic assemblages from molecules, they discuss the various ways in which these processes can be promoted, guided, or reversed,
and some of the practical consequences. There is also an excellent chapter on the chemical principles of photography, and there are some interesting, though not too appetising, speculations about foods of the future.
Altogether, this book is a delightful survey, written with skill and with authority. The reader is expected to know the elementary facts and ideas of physics and chemistry, but the standard required is not high, and the barrier could be made even less formidable if a glossary of some of the technical terms were included. To all who have this modest minimum of knowledge, and who wish to know something of what scientists have been doing in a very interesting field of research, this book is strongly recommended.
L. E. Surrou.
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