View from a Height
Asimov, with his characteristic clarity and enthusiasm, takes us on a journey across the landscape of scientific knowledge as it was understood in the early 1960s. He stands on a metaphorical height, offering us a broad view of the orchard of science.
Imagine a curious mind, much like a young reader first encountering the wonders of science fiction, but this time guided by a seasoned explainer of science – that is the experience of reading "View From A Height." Asimov, with his characteristic clarity and enthusiasm, takes us on a journey across the landscape of scientific knowledge as it was understood in the early 1960s. He stands on a metaphorical height, offering us a broad view of the orchard of science, rather than getting lost in the intricate details of a single tree.
The collection begins with biology, where Asimov explores concepts of size in the animal kingdom, from the colossal blue whale to the minuscule shrew, prompting us to reconsider our place in the scale of life. He delves into the fascinating compactness of life at the cellular and sub-cellular levels, comparing the complexity of a single cell to man-made machines. The ever-elusive definition of life itself is tackled, considering both functional and structural aspects, and even venturing into the realm of viruses, those peculiar entities at the border of life and non-life. Asimov then playfully contemplates "life not as we know it," sparking our imagination about the possibilities of life based on different chemical backgrounds in alien environments.
Moving into chemistry, Asimov shares the story behind the discovery of helium, an element first identified in the sun before being found on Earth, highlighting the interconnectedness of our understanding of the cosmos. He marvels at the "element of perfection," helium, particularly its crucial role in the emerging field of cryogenics and its potential future in advanced computing, even envisioning a future where a moon of Jupiter becomes a nerve centre powered by this unique element. The importance of accurate atomic weights in the development of chemistry is discussed, showcasing the collaborative efforts and occasional debates within the scientific community. Finally, Asimov delves into the world of isotopes, clarifying their nomenclature and touching upon the surprising prevalence of elements with even atomic numbers in the composition of our planet.
In the section on physics, Asimov starts by giving the ancient Greeks their due, acknowledging their early insights that sometimes get overshadowed by later scientific advancements. He then turns to the fascinating case of dolphins, exploring the evidence for their intelligence and suggesting that the Greeks might have already recognized their unique abilities. The nature of sound waves and their diffraction is explained, leading to a discussion of how bats and even humans can sense their environment through echolocation. Asimov then presents a novel idea: applying the concept of "light-years" to ultra-short intervals of time, creating "light-seconds," "light-miles," and even "light-fermis" to provide a new perspective on the fleeting lifespans of subatomic particles. He introduces various unstable particles like mesons and hyperons, giving a sense of the dynamic and ephemeral world at the smallest scales. The fundamental concept of entropy, often shrouded in mystery, is tackled with Asimov's characteristic demystification, explaining the laws of thermodynamics in simple terms. He even revisits the famous "Maxwell's demon" thought experiment to illustrate the inevitable increase of disorder in the universe, while also addressing seemingly contradictory examples of order arising, like the creation of Shakespearean plays or the development of life through evolution guided by "Darwin's demon" (natural selection). Finally, Asimov explores the limits of temperature, both hot and cold, in the context of Newtonian and Einsteinian physics.
The final part of the collection focuses on astronomy, beginning with the story of how Asimov's speculation on maximum temperature inadvertently sparked the interest of a young physicist, leading to a new theory of supernova formation involving neutrinos. This highlights the often unexpected ways in which scientific progress can occur. Asimov then discusses our understanding of the Earth's interior, from the crust to the core, and how scientists use earthquake waves to probe these hidden layers. He playfully suggests a "recipe for a planet," imagining the primordial processes that might lead to a world capable of supporting life. The asteroid belt, often romanticized in fiction, is presented in a more realistic light, revealing the vast distances between these rocky bodies. Asimov explains the phenomenon of Trojan asteroids, trapped in stable gravitational points in Jupiter's orbit, and their intriguing naming convention based on characters from the Iliad. He then turns his attention to the outer planets, particularly Jupiter, challenging the conventional view that they are unlikely to harbour life and exploring the possibility of life existing in Jupiter's vast, deep oceans. Finally, Asimov considers the possibilities of colonizing and utilizing other celestial bodies, calculating their surface areas and even imagining the potential for hollowing out asteroids to create vast new living spaces, driven by the ever-increasing demand for resources and energy.
Throughout these diverse essays, Asimov's voice remains consistent: clear, engaging, and imbued with a sense of wonder. He takes complex scientific ideas and breaks them down into understandable components, often using analogies and everyday examples to illuminate abstract concepts. His writing is logical, building from basic principles to more intricate details, much like constructing a coherent narrative. Even though it's a collection of essays, there's a sense of progression as Asimov moves from the very small to the very large, from fundamental principles to their grand applications in the cosmos.
The overarching theme that ties these essays together is the human quest for understanding the universe and our place within it. Asimov showcases the power of scientific inquiry, the beauty of scientific theories, and the ever-evolving nature of our knowledge. He encourages a sense of curiosity and critical thinking, inviting the reader to share in his intellectual explorations. While the scientific landscape has undoubtedly shifted since these essays were written, the underlying principles and Asimov's approach to explaining them remain relevant and insightful. "View From A Height" offers not just a snapshot of science in the 1960s, but a timeless demonstration of how to make the wonders of the universe accessible and captivating to all.
Contributors to Wikimedia projects
Follow
