Secrets of Infinity: 150 Answers to an Enigma
Secrets of Infinity examines infinity as it has been studied since antiquity, beginning with the classical figures from Greece and Rome. In an entertaining and practical way, readers will discover that infinity is not limited to the mathematical concept as represented by the symbol nor its metaphysical concept as the indefinable concept of eternity, but in fact, it resides in a variety of disciplines, a multitude of contexts and has a far-reaching influence on human existence.

Secrets of Infinity organizes the 150 articles into six subject areas:

  • Science: Henrietta Lacks — Her death in 1951 from uterine cancer at the age 31 did not end her existence. Her doctor took a tissue sample from the tumor and developed the first continuous culture of human cells and thus the first immortal cell line in history, known as HeLa.
  • Mathematics: Googol — Edward Kasner (1878-1955) devised the googol to show how huge infinity is through a number so large that it is unimaginable but still not even close to infinity.
  • Technology: TA-65 — Recently, researchers at Sierra Sciences discovered the TA-65, which could be the chromosomal catalyst to stopping, slowing or even reversing the aging process, bringing us closer to the myth of eternal youth.
  • Art: The Endless Stairs of the Vatican — Little did the Vatican Museums know in 1932, when the stairs were built, that this formation could represent life itself, with the discovery of the DNA double helix chain in 1953.
  • Philosophy: René Descartes, the Infinite and God — According to Descartes, the idea of infinity has been imposed by a nature that is higher than human, and can only come from this nature being infinite, so he interprets that the existence of infinity confirms the existence of God.
  • Symbology: The Labyrinth — A labyrinth is a route made up of streets and crossroads with an ingenious and complex structure whose design variations are endless, especially in the case of the rhizome labyrinth, which has infinite ramifications.

Engaging and free of jargon, Secrets of Infinity helps to demystify the elusive infinity and bring it closer to modern concepts and understanding. Thinking readers and students will find enjoyment and insight on its pages.

"1119118523"
Secrets of Infinity: 150 Answers to an Enigma
Secrets of Infinity examines infinity as it has been studied since antiquity, beginning with the classical figures from Greece and Rome. In an entertaining and practical way, readers will discover that infinity is not limited to the mathematical concept as represented by the symbol nor its metaphysical concept as the indefinable concept of eternity, but in fact, it resides in a variety of disciplines, a multitude of contexts and has a far-reaching influence on human existence.

Secrets of Infinity organizes the 150 articles into six subject areas:

  • Science: Henrietta Lacks — Her death in 1951 from uterine cancer at the age 31 did not end her existence. Her doctor took a tissue sample from the tumor and developed the first continuous culture of human cells and thus the first immortal cell line in history, known as HeLa.
  • Mathematics: Googol — Edward Kasner (1878-1955) devised the googol to show how huge infinity is through a number so large that it is unimaginable but still not even close to infinity.
  • Technology: TA-65 — Recently, researchers at Sierra Sciences discovered the TA-65, which could be the chromosomal catalyst to stopping, slowing or even reversing the aging process, bringing us closer to the myth of eternal youth.
  • Art: The Endless Stairs of the Vatican — Little did the Vatican Museums know in 1932, when the stairs were built, that this formation could represent life itself, with the discovery of the DNA double helix chain in 1953.
  • Philosophy: René Descartes, the Infinite and God — According to Descartes, the idea of infinity has been imposed by a nature that is higher than human, and can only come from this nature being infinite, so he interprets that the existence of infinity confirms the existence of God.
  • Symbology: The Labyrinth — A labyrinth is a route made up of streets and crossroads with an ingenious and complex structure whose design variations are endless, especially in the case of the rhizome labyrinth, which has infinite ramifications.

Engaging and free of jargon, Secrets of Infinity helps to demystify the elusive infinity and bring it closer to modern concepts and understanding. Thinking readers and students will find enjoyment and insight on its pages.

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Secrets of Infinity: 150 Answers to an Enigma

Secrets of Infinity: 150 Answers to an Enigma

Secrets of Infinity: 150 Answers to an Enigma

Secrets of Infinity: 150 Answers to an Enigma

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Overview

Secrets of Infinity examines infinity as it has been studied since antiquity, beginning with the classical figures from Greece and Rome. In an entertaining and practical way, readers will discover that infinity is not limited to the mathematical concept as represented by the symbol nor its metaphysical concept as the indefinable concept of eternity, but in fact, it resides in a variety of disciplines, a multitude of contexts and has a far-reaching influence on human existence.

Secrets of Infinity organizes the 150 articles into six subject areas:

  • Science: Henrietta Lacks — Her death in 1951 from uterine cancer at the age 31 did not end her existence. Her doctor took a tissue sample from the tumor and developed the first continuous culture of human cells and thus the first immortal cell line in history, known as HeLa.
  • Mathematics: Googol — Edward Kasner (1878-1955) devised the googol to show how huge infinity is through a number so large that it is unimaginable but still not even close to infinity.
  • Technology: TA-65 — Recently, researchers at Sierra Sciences discovered the TA-65, which could be the chromosomal catalyst to stopping, slowing or even reversing the aging process, bringing us closer to the myth of eternal youth.
  • Art: The Endless Stairs of the Vatican — Little did the Vatican Museums know in 1932, when the stairs were built, that this formation could represent life itself, with the discovery of the DNA double helix chain in 1953.
  • Philosophy: René Descartes, the Infinite and God — According to Descartes, the idea of infinity has been imposed by a nature that is higher than human, and can only come from this nature being infinite, so he interprets that the existence of infinity confirms the existence of God.
  • Symbology: The Labyrinth — A labyrinth is a route made up of streets and crossroads with an ingenious and complex structure whose design variations are endless, especially in the case of the rhizome labyrinth, which has infinite ramifications.

Engaging and free of jargon, Secrets of Infinity helps to demystify the elusive infinity and bring it closer to modern concepts and understanding. Thinking readers and students will find enjoyment and insight on its pages.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780228103936
Publisher: Firefly Books, Limited
Publication date: 08/15/2022
Edition description: Now in paperback
Pages: 320
Sales rank: 1,032,223
Product dimensions: 7.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Antonio Lamúa has a background in science and is a regular contributor to international magazines. He is also the author of The Secrets of Science.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

SCIENCE
COMPONENTS OF LIFE ON EARTH MAY HAVE ARRIVED HERE FROM THE INFINITE
EINSTEIN AND PARALLEL UNIVERSES
THE NEUROPLASTICITY OF THE HUMAN BRAIN
PASCAL'S TRIANGLE
THE OSCILLATING UNIVERSE AND THE BIG BOUNCE
RAYLEIGH-JEANS ULTRAVIOLET CATASTROPHE
CORNU SPIRAL
THE MOST REMOTE AND DEEPEST IMAGE OF THE UNIVERSE
OLBERS' PARADOX
THE HUBBLE TELESCOPE
WILLIAM PEPPERELL MONTAGUE AND ETHER
THE PARADOX OF THE UNSTOPPABLE FORCE
THE VACUUM FLUCTUATION
THE OLDEST ORGANISM IN THE BIOSPHERE
FOUCAULT'S PENDULUM
THE RING THAT CROSSES THE MILKY WAY
THE IMMORTAL JELLYFISH
DARK MATTER, INFINITE PROPULSION
APEIROPHOBIA
THE DIRAC SEA
THE INFINITE UNIVERSE OF ISAAC NEWTON
THE SPACE-TIME DIMENSION
THE INFINITE COOPERATION
THE CHAOS THEORY
PLANCK UNITS
WHITE HOLES
HALLEY'S COMET
ZERO-POINT ENERGY
THE SUPERFLUIDITY OF HELIUM
THE QUANTUM VACUUM
DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID, AN INFINITE HELIX
BLACK HOLES
STRING THEORY
THE INFINITE MICROBIOTA
THE ULTRACENTRIFUGE
DIVISIBILITY OF THE ATOM
QUANTUM TUNNELING
RUTHERFORD-BOHR ATOMIC MODEL
MENDEL'S LAWS
DARK MATTER
CHARLES DARWIN AND EVOLUTION
THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS
WAVES
THE INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF MATTER
THE CARBON CYCLE
THE GAIA HYPOTHESIS
THE TARDIGRADE
COLORS

MATHEMATICS
LEIBNIZ'S INFINITESIMAL CALCULUS
MENGER'S SPONGE
NUMBER e
THE FOUR COLOR THEOREM AND INFINITE COUNTRIES
THE INFINITE MONKEY THEOREM
GEORG CANTOR AND THE THEORY OF SETS
THE GOLDEN NUMBER
THE MÖBIUS STRIP
THE ARCHIMEDEAN SPIRAL
THE DÜRER SPIRAL
THE LOGARITHMIC SPIRAL
THE FIBONACCI SEQUENCE
MANDELBROT FRACTALS
THE PARADOX OF THE GRAND HOTEL
TORRICELLI'S TRUMPET
PEDRO NUNES AND THE LOXODROME
AVOGADRO'S NUMBER
THE GOSPER CURVE
THE LEMNISCATE
DIVISION BY ZERO
THE THEORY OF PROBABILITY
LEGO, INFINITE INTERCONNECTABILITY
THE GOOGOL AND GOOGOLPLEX
EUCLID'S THEOREM
THE MERSENNE PRIMES
SQUARING THE CIRCLE
THE UNPUBLISHED THEOREM BY PIERRE DE FERMAT
L'HOPITAL'S RULE-DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS
FERMAT'S SPIRAL
MARKOV CHAINS
THE POINCARÉ HYPERBOLIC PLANE
THE LEVIATHAN NUMBER
LAKES OF WADA
A LEGEND ABOUT CHESS
GÖDEL'S INCOMPLETENESS THEOREMS
KOCH SNOWFLAKE

TECHNOLOGY
STORAGE OF SOLAR ENERGY
FUEL FROM PHOTOSYNTHESIS
THE ATMOS CLOCK
TA-65, LIVING INFINITELY
INFINITE LOOP PROGRAMMING
THE INKLESS METAL PEN
THE BULB THAT NEVER GOES OUT
THE ITER NUCLEAR FUSION REACTOR
WIND ENERGY
THE LARGE HADRON COLLIDER
SOLAR ROADWAYS
RUBIK'S CUBE
NANOTECHNOLOGY
QR CODES
USB MEMORY WITH INFINITE CAPACITY
ATOMIC PRECISION
TISSUE ENGINEERING
ISAAC ASIMOV AND THE GROUP MIND
GRAPHENE
THE SOUND BARRIER

ART
THE INFINITE WORKS OF M.C. ESCHER
THE ENDLESS STAIRS OF THE VATICAN
WAGNER'S INFINITE MELODY
ANDREA POZZO AND THE INFINITE
EDGAR ALLAN POE'S EUREKA
THE METRONOME
EDVARD MUNCH'S INFINITE SCREAM
THE DROSTE EFFECT
LEOPARDI'S INFINITE
CARDINAL POINTS AND THE INFINITE DIRECTIONS
PARALLELS AND PROJECTIVE GEOMETRY
THE PAINTER OF NUMBERS
THE INFINITY OF JORGE LUIS BORGES
NICCOLÒ PAGANINI AND PERPETUUM MOBILE
SOLOMON'S KNOT
YAYOI KUSAMA AND HER INFINITY NETS

PHILOSOPHY
ANAXIMANDER AND THE INFINITE COSMOLOGY
COPERNICUS AND THE HELIOCENTRIC VIEW
GIORDANO BRUNO AND THE INFINITE
KANT AND THE ANTINOMY OF INFINITY
THE HEGELIAN DIALECTIC AND THE INFINITE
PASCAL AND THE TWO INFINITES
RENÉ DESCARTES, THE INFINITE AND GOD
ZENO OF ELEA AND THE INFINITE PARADOX
EPICURUS, THE VOID AND THE INFINITE
SPINOZA AND THE THEORY OF THE INFINITE MODES
ARISTOTELIAN PHYSICS OF INFINITY
VOLTAIRE AND INFINITY
INTUITIONISM
THE TAO
SCHOPENHAUER AND WILL
THE ETERNAL RETURN

SYMBOLOGY
THE TIBETAN BUDDHIST ENDLESS KNOT
MANDALAS
THE LABYRINTH
AZTEC SUN STONE
OUROBOROS
THE BORROMEAN RINGS
THE EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHIC EYE OF HORUS
THE CELTIC TRISQUEL
ISLAM AND THE INFINITE
HEH, THE GOD OF ETERNITY
LIMBO
KARMA: HE WHO SOWS, REAPS
THE PHOENIX
THE FOUNTAIN OF ETERNAL YOUTH

PHOTO CREDITS
INDEX

Preface

INTRODUCTION

The concept of infinity is a highly complex enigma, and its meaning has been considered by many disparate approaches. Thus the best method to elucidate the topic for the general reader is to explore infinity as it is studied by particular fields, including science, mathematics, technology, art, philosophy and symbology.

One useful starting point, one we find at the heart of any discussion of infinity, is the notion that what is infinite is never-ending, although beyond that starting point the arguments and ideas diverge in seemingly endless ways.

In antiquity, the idea of infiinity was studied by classical philosophers from Greece and Rome, such as Zeno of Elea, Parmenides, Archimedes and Pythagoras. Aristotle was the primary figure who, around 350 BC, established a school of thought regarding infinity that would be further articulated by succeeding scholars.

One of Aristotle's greatest contributions to the study of infinity was the idea that "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." In more recent times, mathematician Georg Cantor used set theory to further explore this concept, now known as Cantor's Theorem.

Yet no single theorem or thinker has proven capable of forming a "complete" vision of infinity. Analysis of multiple approaches from varied sources is necessary to begin to capture its true scope.

This book offers 150 different angles from which to consider the unresolved enigma that is infinity. And though the discussion remains unresolved, this exploration is sure to be illuminating.

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