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Naomi BenaronRunning the Rift is the most recent winner of the PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, as awarded by Barbara Kingsolver. It's also an... Continue »
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1 Burnside - Bldg. 2 Astronomy- General

This title in other editions

Heavenly Errors: Misconceptions about the Real Nature of the Universe

by Neil F Comins

Heavenly Errors: Misconceptions about the Real Nature of the Universe Cover

 

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

One of the great paradoxes of modern times is that the more scientists understand the natural world, the more we discover that our everyday beliefs about it are wrong. Astronomy, in particular, is one of the most misunderstood scientific disciplines.

With the participation of thousands of undergraduate students, Neil F. Comins has identified and classified, by origin and topic, over 1,700 commonly held misconceptions. Heavenly Errors provides access to all of them and explores many, including:

  • Black holes suck in everything around them
  • The Sun shines by burning gas
  • Comets have tails trailing behind them
  • The Moon alone causes tides
  • Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, is the hottest planet
In the course of correcting these errors, he explains that some occur through the prevalence of pseudosciences such as astrology and UFO-logy and some enter the public conscience through the "bad astronomy" of Star Trek, Star Wars, and other science-fiction movies. Perhaps most important, Professor Comins presents the reader with the methods for identifying and replacing incorrect ideas ? tools with which to probe erroneous notions so that we can begin to question for ourselves . . . and to think more like scientists.

Review:

"A unique and entertaining way to learn how we have progressed from the ancient belief in an Earth-centered universe to our modern understanding of the cosmos. Along the way, Comins provides lessons about science and misconceptions that should be valuable to every teacher, student, and parent." Jeffery Bennett, author of The Cosmic Perspective and On the Cosmic Horizon

Review:

"Comins's delightful romp through both scientific and pseudoscientific errors through the ages will not only teach you more science than a year's worth of college courses, but you'll learn something even deeper about how the mind works and, more important, fails to work." Michael Shermer, Editor-in-Chief of Skeptic magazine, and columnist for Scientific American

Review:

"Although ostensibly about astronomy, Comins's Heavenly Errors effectively uses common (mis)conceptions about the subject to present an elegant tutorial on scientific thought ? as much about embarrassing holes in arguments as about black holes in space." John Allen Paulos, author of Innumeracy and A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper

Review:

"Anyone concerned with astronomy will find this book useful." Astronomy Now

Review:

"An interesting new look at how humans perceive nature. . . .A good primer on critical thinking and how science really works." Choice

Review:

"Debunking silly, frightening and grandiose beliefs, the University of Maine professor of physics and astronomy is reassuring and engaging." Publishers Weekly

Review:

"His relaxed style of discourse makes his book quite readable, and though his pedagogical approach is somewhat unconventional, he deserves a hearing. Recommended for academic and public libraries." Library Journal

Review:

"An easy-to-read guide to what science now knows about the universe." San Diego Union Tribune

Synopsis:

Astronomy is one of the most misunderstood scientific disciplines. With the participation of undergraduate students, Comins has identified and classified, by origin and topic, over 1,700 commonly held misconceptions. 20 illustrations.

About the Author

Neil F. Comins is the author of What if the Moon Didn“t Exist? He has contributed numerous articles to Astronomy magazine and has appeared on radio and television. He is professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Maine.

Product Details

ISBN:
9780231116459
Author:
Comins, Neil F
Publisher:
Columbia University Press
Author:
Comins, Neil F.
Subject:
Astronomy - General
Copyright:
Publication Date:
20030431
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Yes
Pages:
288
Dimensions:
9.12x6.06x.65 in. .78 lbs.

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Heavenly Errors: Misconceptions about the Real Nature of the Universe Used Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$5.95 In Stock
Product details 288 pages Columbia University Press - English 9780231116459 Reviews:
"Review" by , "A unique and entertaining way to learn how we have progressed from the ancient belief in an Earth-centered universe to our modern understanding of the cosmos. Along the way, Comins provides lessons about science and misconceptions that should be valuable to every teacher, student, and parent."
"Review" by , "Comins's delightful romp through both scientific and pseudoscientific errors through the ages will not only teach you more science than a year's worth of college courses, but you'll learn something even deeper about how the mind works and, more important, fails to work."
"Review" by , "Although ostensibly about astronomy, Comins's Heavenly Errors effectively uses common (mis)conceptions about the subject to present an elegant tutorial on scientific thought ? as much about embarrassing holes in arguments as about black holes in space."
"Review" by , "Anyone concerned with astronomy will find this book useful."
"Review" by , "An interesting new look at how humans perceive nature. . . .A good primer on critical thinking and how science really works."
"Review" by , "Debunking silly, frightening and grandiose beliefs, the University of Maine professor of physics and astronomy is reassuring and engaging."
"Review" by , "His relaxed style of discourse makes his book quite readable, and though his pedagogical approach is somewhat unconventional, he deserves a hearing. Recommended for academic and public libraries."
"Review" by , "An easy-to-read guide to what science now knows about the universe."
"Synopsis" by , Astronomy is one of the most misunderstood scientific disciplines. With the participation of undergraduate students, Comins has identified and classified, by origin and topic, over 1,700 commonly held misconceptions. 20 illustrations.
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