Author Description

From the story behind Einstein's revolutionary theory of relativity to Oppenheimer's opposition to U.S. construction of the hydrogen bomb, from the prejudice against women that barred Lise Meitner from working in a major laboratory to the false nose worn by Tycho Brahe after his own was cut off in a duel, the lives of the world's great scientists form a fascinating backdrop to their stunning achievements. Now in its second edition, The Biographical Dictionary of Scientists offers in one convenient volume over 1,200 comprehensive and accessible introductions to the visionary men and women of astronomy, chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, engineering and technology, and geology. In addition to recounting basic biographical information, each entry details the significance of each scientist's landmark contributions while providing intriguing insights into the complicated process--including meditation, observation, experimentation, exploration, debate, and synthesis--that culminated in the theories and discoveries that often define our understanding of the world around us. Throughout, the dictionary stresses how each scientist operated in a unique historical and scientific context, and how their lives and work were affected by their relationships with other scientists as well as by personal, social, political, religious, and artistic concerns. Over 150 illustrations, seven chronological reviews of significant developments in major scientific fields, an extensive glossary with more than 2,000 definitions, complete lists of Nobel prizewinners in science and medicine, and a comprehensive index round out the dictionary. The new edition combines in one convenient volume the material originally published in six separate books, eliminating the need to know exactly which field a particular scientists may have practiced in before looking up their entry. Nearly 100 new entries have been added, expanding the dictionary's multicultural coverage, with an emphasis on the contributions of women and non-Western scientists.