Eureka! Scientific Breakthroughs that Changed the World

While the roads that lead to breakthrough scientific discovery can be as varied and complex as the human mind, the moment of insight for all scientists is remarkably similar. The word ?eureka!? attributed to the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes, has come to express that universal moment of joy, wonder?and even shock?at discovering something entirely new. In this collection of twelve scientific stories, Horvitz describes the drama of sudden insight as experienced by a dozen distinct personalities, detailing discoveries both well known and obscure. Eureka! perfectly illustrates Louis Pasteur?s quip that chance favours the prepared mind.

LESLIE ALAN HORVITZ is the author, coauthor, or editor of numerous books on science and the history of science, including Level 4: Virus Hunters of the CDC, with Dr. Joseph McCormick and Susan Fisher-Hoch; The Quotable Scientist; and Understanding Depression, with Dr. J. Raymond DePaulo, also from Wiley.