Overview
"The molecule, buckminsterfullerene, is beautiful physically andintellectually. Its qualities, and even some of its properties, canbe appreciated instantly and intuitively by nonscientists. Itsuniqueness is bound to lead to novel applications-superconductivityis the leading contender at the moment."
"The commercial potential of buckminsterfullerene has heightenedthe excitement and controversy in recent years, while the exactnature of the discovery process in 1985 has been the subject of aheated feud between the British and American scientistsinvolved."-Hugh Aldersey-Williams
Ten years ago, the discovery of buckminsterfullerene, a previouslyunknown form of carbon, stunned the scientific community, as muchfor the discovery itself as for the manner in which it came about.In the words of author Hugh Aldersey-Williams, it was an example of"classic bootleg science". The work was done on the back of other,funded projects, and when time would allow. Yet its commercialimplications are probably immense.
Now, with objectivity and insight, The Most Beautiful Moleculerecounts the events leading up to this momentous discovery andchronicles the ongoing, often frenzied aftermath. HughAldersey-Williams leads us on a thrilling expedition to the veryforefront of modern chemistry research.
Houston, Texas, 1985. Two industrious chemists discover apreviously unknown form of carbon and christen itbuckminsterfullerene, for its striking resemblance to Americanarchitect Richard Buckminster Fuller's geodesic domes. This unusualmolecule-also known as the buckyball-is composed of 60 carbon atomsarranged in a hollow sphere, with hexagonal and pentagonalconfigurations similar to those found on a soccer ball. Itsnear-perfect symmetry is just one reason why scientists have sincedubbed it "the most beautiful molecule."
The discovery of buckminsterfullerene-by American physicist andchemist Richard Smalley and British physical chemist HarryKroto-rocked the scientific community. After all, generationsbelieved graphite and diamond to be the only pure forms of carbon.How had this third form gone undetected?
In fact, the actual discovery was merely the beginning of anintense-and ongoing-quest to master this newest form of the mostbasic of elements. Confirmation would take five years and launch anunprecedented flood of investigation and investment. The uniquephysical structure of buckminsterfullerene-a "cage" into whichatoms of other materials may be inserted-had huge commercialpotential and inspired scientists, industrial laboratories, andcorporations alike. Backed by such giants as AT&T, DuPont,Exxon, and IBM, a highly competitive search for practicalapplications began-and continues. Possibilities range from thecreation of a revolutionary rocket fuel to nanotechnology-theconstruction of microscopic "molecular machines"-to developments inthe fight against AIDS.
Here, then, is a fascinating, multilayered look at one of the mostimportant scientific findings of our time. The Most BeautifulMolecule is a brain-teasing detective story, a marvelouslydetailed, inside look at the workings of the scientific community,and an exciting contemplation of what lies ahead. From theforefront of research in modern chemistry, author HughAldersey-Williams offers, in his own words, "a celebration of theintimate world of physical science and its practitioners."
This book title, The Most Beautiful Molecule (The Discovery of the Buckyball), ISBN: 9780471193333, by Hugh Aldersey-Williams, published by Wiley (October 21, 1997) is available in paperback. Our minimum order quantity is 25 copies. All standard bulk book orders ship FREE in the continental USA and delivered in 4-10 business days.
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