A short history of nearly everything. Anyone read it? Read the first few chapters last night, some of the figures are mind blowing.
Aye, read it a couple of times. Good wee, general science guide written in an easy to understand way.
Sure is. He was saying that if you are looking at the earth from Pluto, I think, with a powerful enough telescope you are seeing the earth as it was 200 years ago as it takes that long for the image to reach you. It's hard to comprehend how massive the Universe is.
Some of the stories about the scientists are amazing. Some right unlucky ****s and some amount of back stabbing. The one with the French bloke and the solar eclipse is funny as ****.
Most of them did in those days. They could afford to devote themselves to things like chemistry, biology etc. and cared little for the consequences to other people. Or themselves in some cases. The geologists were particularly ****ed up. Some of the explanations they came up with about the earth to make it fit in with a creationist beginning ps Wait until you get to the bit about Richard Owen. Brilliant scientist but a complete **** of a man
Aye Pluto is no where near 200 light years away, maybe a few light hours. Bill Bryson 'At Home' is quite good for easy reading as well.
The place wasn't important. He was saying that the law of averages meant that there would be civilisations so far apart and the nearest place where there would be thinking life would be 200 light years away.
We talking about the Drake equation? I can remember reading the book and enjoying it - yet can't now remember almost anything it said. I ****ing hate that.
