Topics (318k) Articles (329k) Users (399) Discussions (237) Comments (383) Files (10k) New article
"The Meaning of Relativity" is a book written by Albert Einstein, published in 1921. It was based on a series of lectures Einstein gave at Princeton University. In this work, Einstein elucidates his theory of relativity, which fundamentally changed our understanding of space, time, and gravity.
"The 4 Percent Universe" is a term often associated with the exploration of dark matter and dark energy in the field of cosmology. It refers to the idea that only about 4 percent of the universe is composed of ordinary matter—such as stars, planets, and galaxies—made up of atoms. The remaining 96 percent is composed of dark matter (about 27 percent) and dark energy (about 69 percent).
"Radium, and Other Radioactive Substances" is a work by Marie Curie, published in 1904. In this book, Curie details her research into radium and other radioactive materials, including the methodology of their discovery and study, as well as their properties and potential applications. Marie Curie, along with her husband Pierre Curie, conducted pioneering work on radioactivity, a term she coined.
"QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter" is a book written by physicist Richard P. Feynman, published in 1985. The book is based on a series of lectures Feynman gave in 1979 and is aimed at a general audience. It provides an accessible introduction to the concepts of quantum electrodynamics (QED), which is the quantum theory that describes how light and matter interact.
The "Principles of Philosophy" typically refers to a foundational work by the French philosopher René Descartes, written in 1644. In this book, Descartes seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for understanding the world through reason and scientific inquiry. The work is divided into several parts, covering a range of topics including metaphysics, epistemology, and the philosophy of science.
"Physica Speculatio" is a work attributed to the 17th-century philosopher and scientist, Johannes Kepler. Although the title could be translated to "Speculations on Physics," it is not as widely known as some of Kepler's other works, such as "Astronomia Nova," "Harmonice Mundi," or "Lunar Astronomy.
Phase transitions and critical phenomena refer to the behavior and properties of materials as they undergo transitions between different phases (e.g., solid, liquid, gas) and near critical points where these transitions occur.
"Imagining the Elephant" is a term that may refer to various concepts and projects, depending on the context. However, one noteworthy reference is the project and organization aimed at enhancing understanding and cooperation among individuals and groups with different perspectives or beliefs, particularly in discussions around contentious social, political, or cultural issues. The name likely derives from the metaphor of "elephants in the room," which refers to significant issues or problems that are obvious but ignored or overlooked in conversations.
Higgs discovery refers to the detection of the Higgs boson, a fundamental particle associated with the Higgs field, which is crucial for the Standard Model of particle physics. The Higgs boson is responsible for giving mass to other fundamental particles through the Higgs mechanism. The discovery of the Higgs boson was announced on July 4, 2012, by scientists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research.
"Experiments and Observations on Electricity" is a significant work by Benjamin Franklin, published in 1751. In this book, Franklin details a series of experiments he conducted to study the nature of electricity, building on earlier theories and observations. Franklin is best known for his kite experiment, where he famously flew a kite during a thunderstorm to demonstrate that lightning is a form of electricity.
"Critical Mass" is a novel by the writer and philosopher Philip Ball, published in 2009. The story revolves around themes of science, culture, and societal structures, exploring the interconnectedness of human experiences and the consequences of collective actions. The title refers to the point at which a sufficient amount of material (in a scientific context) is necessary to sustain a chain reaction, which is metaphorically linked to the novel's exploration of social dynamics and individual choices.
"Cosmic Evolution: The Rise of the Multiverse" is a popular science book authored by the astrophysicist and cosmologist Lawrence M. Krauss. Generally, the book explores the concept of cosmic evolution, which outlines how the universe has developed from the Big Bang to its current state, and discusses implications for the future of the cosmos.
"Categories: On the Beauty of Physics" is a work by the physicist and philosopher of physics, "M. A. M. (Mark) West". It explores the deep connections between the concepts of category theory and the foundations of physics. Category theory is a branch of mathematics that deals with abstract structures and relationships between them, providing a powerful framework for understanding and formalizing various mathematical and physical theories.
The CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics is a comprehensive reference book that provides key data and information in the fields of chemistry and physics. Published by the CRC Press, it has been a trusted resource for scientists, researchers, and students for many years since its first edition was released in 1913. The handbook is typically updated every few years to include new findings and advancements in various scientific fields.
"BCS: 50 Years" likely refers to the 50th anniversary celebration of the British Computer Society (BCS), which is a professional body and learned society for IT professionals in the UK. Founded in 1957, BCS aims to promote the study and practice of computer science and to inspire people to engage with technology.
"Alpha & Omega" is a novella by Patricia Briggs, set in her Mercy Thompson universe. It serves as a companion to the main series featuring the shapeshifter Mercedes Thompson. The story focuses on characters Charles Cornick, the son of the Marrok (the leader of the North American werewolves), and Anna Latham, an Alpha wolf who has recently discovered her identity and abilities.
"About Time" is a non-fiction book written by philosopher and historian David A. J. Richards, published in 1995. The book explores the concept of time, its significance in human life, and how our understanding of time has evolved throughout history. Richards delves into philosophical, scientific, and cultural perspectives on time, examining how different societies perceive and measure it.
String theory is a theoretical framework in physics that attempts to reconcile general relativity and quantum mechanics, proposing that the fundamental constituents of the universe are not point-like particles but rather one-dimensional "strings." These strings can vibrate at different frequencies, and their vibrational modes correspond to different particles.
Popular physics books aim to make complex concepts in physics accessible to a general audience, often blending scientific insight with engaging storytelling. Here are some well-known titles in this category: 1. **"A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking** - A classic that explores concepts related to the universe, time, and black holes. 2. **"The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene** - This book introduces string theory and the quest for a unified theory of physics.
Physics textbooks are educational books that cover the concepts, principles, theories, and applications of physics. They are designed for students, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the fundamental laws governing the physical universe. These textbooks typically include a variety of features to aid learning, such as: 1. **Content Structure**: Organized chapters that often begin with fundamental concepts (like mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, optics, and modern physics) and progressively delve into more complex topics.
Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project
Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
Intro to OurBigBook
. Source. We have two killer features:
- topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculusArticles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
- a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
- a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.Figure 1. Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page. View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivativeVideo 2. OurBigBook Web topics demo. Source. - local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
- to OurBigBook.com to get awesome multi-user features like topics and likes
- as HTML files to a static website, which you can host yourself for free on many external providers like GitHub Pages, and remain in full control
Figure 2. You can publish local OurBigBook lightweight markup files to either OurBigBook.com or as a static website.Figure 3. Visual Studio Code extension installation.Figure 5. . You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally. Video 3. Edit locally and publish demo. Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension. - Infinitely deep tables of contents:
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact





