Greek Adventure

"A witty and accessible treasure trove of scientific discoveries that goes to the heart of our human quest to understand who we are. This book doesn't dumb down or gloss over imponderables but will leave you marvelling at the science and asking for more." - Professor Rebecca Fitzgerald, Director of Medical Studies at Trinity College Cambridge "Has the bug bitten you? Are you curious? Curious to know how the Universe evolved from the Big Bang? How matter arranges itself into objects ranging from atomic nuclei to human beings, planets, and stars? Are you curious to know why all these things are the way they are? Science is good for the 'how' questions but does not necessarily have the answers on the 'why' questions. Can science and religion talk to each other? Enjoy this series and learn more about science and the enriching dialogue between science and faith." - Professor Rolf Heuer, Director General of CERN 2009-2015; President of the German Physical Society and SESAME Council "The brilliant and entertaining illustrations in this series enliven a clear and enjoyable text that should stimulate serious thought about the world and our place in it." - Lord Rees, Astronomer Royal, President of the Royal Society 2005-2010 "Too often science and faith are pitted against each other. This book breaks down that split in a creative and engaging way. It shows the scope of science in our lives and how the study of science and the study of God feed and magnify each other. Human beings have always been hungry for understanding and meaning, and this book beautifully shows how this has worked out from the earliest time. It is a book that leaves me in awe at the 'art' of science: for the way it unveils the magnificence of God our Creator, who stretches out the canvas." - Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury "Here is a wonderful and wittily written introduction to science as the art of asking open questions and not jumping to conclusions. It's also an amusing excursion through evolution and anthropology which packs in a lot of learning with the lightest of touches. A much-needed antidote to the bludgeoning crudity of so much writing in both science and religion." - Reverend Doctor Malcolm Guite, poet, singer-songwriter, priest, academic, and chaplain at Girton College Cambridge

Julia Golding is a multi-award winning childrens author who has been awarded both the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and the Nestl Smarties Book Prize. A former British diplomat and Oxfam policy adviser, Golding also has a doctorate in English Literature from Oxford University, and was writer-in-residence at the Royal Institution in 2019. An avid Jane Austen fan, her Jane Austen-themed podcast 'What Would Jane Do?' offers a 19th century take on modern life. Golding is the successful author of The Curious Science Quest series, The Tigers in the Tower and the Jane Austen Investigates series. Andrew Briggs is Professor of Nanomaterials in the Department of Materials at the University of Oxford. He is best known for his early work in acoustic microscopy, and his current work in materials for quantum technologies. He is co-author of The Penultimate Curiosity. Roger Wagner is a prolific artist and author, with works spanning three decades. He works across many creative genres, including portrait, illustrated books, and stained glass. He is co-author of The Penultimate Curiosity.

Contents Introduction 7 1 Adventures in Ancient Greece 11 2 Athens Takes to the Stage 43 3 And the Academy Award Goes to 60 4 Have You Met the Brain? 72 5 Science on the Nile 86 6 BC to AD 102 7 The Forgotten Hero of Science 114