Black Bodies and Quantum Cats: Tales of Pure Genius and Mad Science

What do Terry Pratchett, Jackson Pollock, Star Trek, and Velcro have in common?

They are all invoked by science writer Jennifer Ouellette to shed vibrant new light upon some of the most revolutionary scientific developments in the history of mankind. The Addams Family Values illustrate Newton's laws, Back to the Future demonstrates the finer points of special relativity, and Jeannette Winterson's novel Gut Symmetries provides an elegant metaphorical framework for string theory.

Combining anecdote, analogy, and colourful historical details with literature, art, and music, Black Bodies and Quantum Cats is witty and entertaining proof that physics is not arcane or even very scary, but is instead an exciting human endeavour - and a fundamental part of our everyday world.