How 17 Equations Changed the World

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May 8, 2012 a project of ServiceSpace Politics is for the present, but an equation is for eternity. - Albert Einstein - How 17 Equations Changed the World When legendary theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking was setting out to release A Brief History of Time, one of the most influential science books in modern history, his publishers admonished him that every equation included would halve the book's sales. Undeterred, he dared include E = mc^2, even though cutting it out would have allegedly sold another 10 million copies. The anecdote captures the extent of our culture's distaste for, if not fear of, equations. And yet, as mathematician Ian Stewart argues in his book: In Pursuit of the Unknown: 17 Equations That Changed the World, equations have held remarkable power in facilitating humanity's progress and, as such, call for rudimentary understanding as a form of our most basic literacy. { read more } Be The Change "The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena." A short passage called "A Pale Blue Dot," by Carl Sagan. { more } COMMENT | RATE               Related Good News 5 Ways of Spending Time -- toward Happiness The Neuropsychology of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" Save Energy by Breathing High Schooler Devises Potential Cancer Cure Connecting for Good: Social Networks in 2015 Whiz Kids: 5 Amazing Young Inventors 10 Points on the Science of Spreading Good The Economics of Trust DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers "good news" to 114,280 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here. Other ServiceSpace projects include: HelpOthers  //  CF Sites  //  KarmaTube  //  Conversations  //  More