Overview: Contains elements of memoir, history, and a solid, informative scientific core.Reflects three decades of collaborative research and analysis.Intended for a broad readership, but useful for the professIn the sixth century BC, Thales of Miletus, father of the Ionian Enhghtenment, setting aside the mythic views of Homer and Hesiod asked, "What is the world made of?" and thereby became the first physicist.^ He answered that water is the basis of all matter and thereupon became an often cited example of early Greek reasoning gone astray. However, not only did Thales initi ate scientific
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