Quotes
“Everything about neutrinos is fascinating. The various
dramas associated with their discovery, our efforts to understand their very
weird properties, and finally, what they have taught us about fundamental
physics, are remarkable. Ray Jayawardhana is the perfect person to convey
these exciting stories in Neutrino Hunters, which should
be of broad interest.” Lawrence M. Krauss, New York Times bestselling author of A Universe from Nothing
“With his typical
blend of scientific insight and storytelling verve, Ray Jayawardhana vividly,
colorfully, and humorously captures the often offbeat characters who, over the
past century, have pursued one of the most elusive—and significant—mysteries in
the history of physics.” Richard Panek, New York Times bestselling author of The 4% Universe
“Move over Neil deGrasse Tyson and Brian Greene! Ray
Jayawardhana is the new dean of popular science—a working scientist who can
explain even the most complex matters in a clear and entertaining way. In Neutrino
Hunters, he spins a thrilling tale that takes us from the deepest depths of
the Earth to the farthest reaches of the universe. A wonderful read from start
to finish.” Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award–winning author
“With clarity and wry humor, Jayawardhana relates how Wolfgang Pauli ‘invented’ the neutrino to explain where missing energy went during beta decay, then later bet a case of champagne that it would never be detected experimentally…Jayawardhana vividly illuminates both the particle that has ‘baffled and surprised’ scientists, and the researchers who hunt it.” Publishers Weekly
“Narrator Bronson Pinchot is well matched to this
remarkably approachable account of the hunt for the elusive neutrino…While the
topic of astrophysics research has the potential to present a challenge to any
narrator, Pinchot’s tone conveys a genuine interest in the topic and an
eagerness to engage the listener in this unusual detective story.” AudioFile
“When physicist Boris Kayser declares, “If neutrinos did not exist, we would not be here,” he identifies a compellingly immediate reason for investigating these mysterious subatomic particles. But as Jayawardhana teases out the tangled history of neutrino investigations, readers learn of many other reasons that scientists have expended tremendous energy pursuing these elusive gremlins…A tale of revolutionary science and of the colorful personalities of those who did it—must-reading for armchair physicists!” Booklist
“An astrophysicist explains why scientists are eager to learn more about the elusive, ‘pathologically shy’ neutrino…Jayawardhana includes a fascinating account of the disputes between the theorists and experimentalists in this epic scientific adventure story with—as of yet—no last chapter.” Kirkus Reviews
“In this richly detailed and nuanced book, scientist and
author Ray Jayawardhana captures the incredible story of one of nature’s most
ghostly yet vital ingredients. From the Earth’s core to exploding stars,
vanishing scientists, and the very essence of matter in the universe, it’s a
wild and immensely satisfying ride.” Caleb Scharf, author of Gravity’s Engines
“This is science
from the front lines: Ray Jayawardhana reports on the hunt for one of nature’s
most elusive particles, involving scientists around the world, from the frozen
plateaus of Antarctica to a nickel mine two kilometers below the forests of
northern Ontario. Their prey: a tiny, evanescent speck of energy—the
neutrino—that holds the key to some of the deepest puzzles in cosmology and
astrophysics. But it’s not just science: Neutrino Hunters also
illuminates the thinkers and tinkerers (some brilliant, some eccentric) who
have made the quest for the neutrino their life’s work. We are lucky to have
Dr. Jayawardhana—a first-rate storyteller who also knows the physics inside and
out—to guide us through the science and the personalities behind this
remarkable story.” Dan Falk, author of In Search of Time
“Ray Jayawardhana tells a whopping good ghost story. In
recent years, researchers have discovered that neutrino particles, the
poltergeists of physics that go right through us with nary a bump, promise to
reveal much about the Earth, stars, and our cosmic origins. Beautifully
written, Neutrino Hunters paints a vivid portrait of this new astronomy
for the twenty-first century and the fascinating scientists who put it into
place.” Marcia Bartusiak, author of The Day We Found the Universe
