Overview
Alchemy, the flat earth theory, lost worlds, and aliens among us: these ideas once seemed plausible—but now we know they’re just plain wrong. Take a fun journey through the history of science as it transforms from a field of wild speculation into a powerful tool of understanding. Explore the world in upheaval as Earth changed from center of the universe to a smallish planet orbiting an average star. Find out about hidden races and unknown creatures (like Yetis); early and bizarre thoughts on evolution; ancient astronauts and UFO crazes; the music of the spheres; the acquisition of virtues through cannibalism, and much more!Synopsis
Alchemy, the flat earth theory, lost worlds, and aliens among us: these ideas once seemed plausible—but now we know they’re just plain wrong. Take a fun journey through the history of science as it transforms from a field of wild speculation into a powerful tool of understanding. Explore the world in upheaval as Earth changed from center of the universe to a smallish planet orbiting an average star. Find out about hidden races and unknown creatures (like Yetis); early and bizarre thoughts on evolution; ancient astronauts and UFO crazes; the music of the spheres; the acquisition of virtues through cannibalism, and much more!
School Science Review
Defunct science, pseudoscience, the ideological corruption of science, conspiracy theories, hoaxing, fraud...' and '...just plain, straightforward, honest mistakes...' are carefully explored with intellectual rigor. The text is wide ranging in its past and contemporary targets, for example: Ptolemaic cosmologies, the humours, phlogiston, perpetual motion, IQ studies, aliens, creationism, intelligent design - and much more. If there are any members of the Flat Earth Society left, they will not find this an acceptable read. Anyone interested in the history, development, and the refinement of scientific ideas, methods, and thinking will be engrossed by this book.