The Shortest History of Reality

From ancient myths and quantum physics to cosmology and dark matter In The Shortest History of Reality, the idea of 'what's real' is traced from its everyday, common-sense beginnings to the mind-bending discoveries of modern physics. Along the way, we encounter the great shifts in thought that reshaped our view of existence - from ancient philosophy to the rise of science, from Newton's universe to the strange probabilities of the quantum world and beyond. Blending science, history and philosophy, this is a brisk and lucid tour through humanity's changing grasp of reality. With clarity and wit, it introduces key thinkers and turning points, revealing how each era has deepened - and complicated - our understanding of what's really out there. Rather than an encyclopaedia of everything that exists, this book is the compelling story of how we've tried to make sense of it all. With a foreword by Derek Muller (Veritasium) 'This book takes you from the tiniest quantum quirks to the grand sweep of the cosmos, all in one exhilarating ride.' -Dr Karl Kruszelnicki 'The Shortest History of Reality is more than history or science - it is a journey of humanity's attempts to answer one simple question: Is this real?' -Brad Tucker, astrophysicist, Australian National University 'A who's who of the history of physics, revealing the characters behind the discoveries that shook our conception of reality'-Tamara Davis, astrophysicist, University of Queensland 'A compact and lucid study that takes us right up to "dark matter" and the nature of consciousness itself.' -Sydney Morning Herald Table of Contents PART 1: EARLY IDEAS OF REALITY 1. What Was Reality? 2. The Nature of Reality PART 2: REALITY IN THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION 3. The Rules of Reality 4. Light, Colour and the Illusion of Reality 5. The Stuff of Nature PART 3: REALITY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY 6. What Is Reality Made Of? 7. The Second Theory of Relativity 8. The Biological Revolution 9. The Quantum Revolution 10. The Particle Zoo PART 4: EXPLORING THE QUANTUM WORLD 11. What Is a Quantum Wave Really? 12. The March of Unification 13. Symmetry and Antimatter PART 5: THE FUTURE OF REALITY 14. Where Is My Mind? 15. The Unfinished Symphony 16. Where and When Is Everything? 17. Closing Thoughts