13 things that don't make sense : the most baffling scientific mysteries of our time
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references (pages [213]-224) and index.

Based on Michael Brooks's popular article for New Scientist--one of the most forwarded articles in the magazine's online history--13 Things That Don't Make Sense tackles the most hotly debated topics in science today, from the placebo effect to life on Mars, and shows how these conundrums are changing the way scientists approach their work and why these issues will define science in the twenty-first century. Brooks covers such topics as: the missing universe: Ninety percent of the universe simply does not exist--at least, not in any detectable form. Will we find a way to identify this dark matter, or will Isaac Newton's laws of universal gravitation be proven incorrect? ; the wow signal: In 1977, an astronomer detected a radiation blast, with no known origin, that may have been a transmission from an alien civilization. Debate has raged ever since, but is there any way to know for certain? ; cold fusion: Theoretically, it's impossible. Experimentally, it works. It might also solve our energy crisis for good. How can we harness it?