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taylor's Reviews > The Hunt for Vulcan: ...And How Albert Einstein Destroyed a Planet, Discovered Relativity, and Deciphered the Universe
The Hunt for Vulcan: ...And How Albert Einstein Destroyed a Planet, Discovered Relativity, and Deciphered the Universe
by
This engaging book by the same author as my last review explores a topic I knew a bit about, which might explain why I didn’t give it the full five stars it likely deserves. The planet Mercury’s orbit defies the predictions of Newtonian physics, suggesting either a flaw in Newton’s theory of gravity or the existence of an undiscovered planet between the Sun and Mercury, causing a slight wobble in its path. Since Newton’s laws had successfully predicted the discovery of outer planets, astronomers leaned toward the idea of a hidden planet, dubbed Vulcan. The first part of the book chronicles the efforts of both amateur and professional astronomers who claimed to have spotted Vulcan. The latter half shifts to Einstein’s theories of special and general relativity, which accurately account for Mercury’s orbital quirk, proving Vulcan was a fiction.
The narrative delves into humanity’s tendency to perceive what we expect, even when it doesn’t exist—a phenomenon akin to what psychologists call confirmation bias. If “Vulcan� weren’t already tied to Spock’s home planet, it could aptly name this cognitive trap.
The book culminates in the triumph of relativity, which not only explains Mercury’s orbit but also predicts black holes, enables GPS, and reshapes our understanding of space and time. Yet, debates persist about whether relativity is complete or if a more comprehensive theory awaits discovery.
The author skillfully uses the tale of Vulcan to weave a broader, accessible history of science, transforming what could be dry material into a compelling story.
by
This engaging book by the same author as my last review explores a topic I knew a bit about, which might explain why I didn’t give it the full five stars it likely deserves. The planet Mercury’s orbit defies the predictions of Newtonian physics, suggesting either a flaw in Newton’s theory of gravity or the existence of an undiscovered planet between the Sun and Mercury, causing a slight wobble in its path. Since Newton’s laws had successfully predicted the discovery of outer planets, astronomers leaned toward the idea of a hidden planet, dubbed Vulcan. The first part of the book chronicles the efforts of both amateur and professional astronomers who claimed to have spotted Vulcan. The latter half shifts to Einstein’s theories of special and general relativity, which accurately account for Mercury’s orbital quirk, proving Vulcan was a fiction.
The narrative delves into humanity’s tendency to perceive what we expect, even when it doesn’t exist—a phenomenon akin to what psychologists call confirmation bias. If “Vulcan� weren’t already tied to Spock’s home planet, it could aptly name this cognitive trap.
The book culminates in the triumph of relativity, which not only explains Mercury’s orbit but also predicts black holes, enables GPS, and reshapes our understanding of space and time. Yet, debates persist about whether relativity is complete or if a more comprehensive theory awaits discovery.
The author skillfully uses the tale of Vulcan to weave a broader, accessible history of science, transforming what could be dry material into a compelling story.
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