What does E=mc2 actually mean? Dr. Brian Cox and Professor Jeff Forshaw go on a journey to the frontier of twenty-first century science to unpack Einsteins famous equation. Explaining and simplifying notions of energy, mass, and lightwhile exploding commonly held misconceptionsthey demonstrate how the structure of nature itself is contained within this equation. Along the way, we visit the site of one of the largest scientific experiments ever conducted: the now-famous Large Hadron Collider, a gigantic particle accelerator capable of re-creating conditions that existed fractions of a second after the Big Bang. A collaboration between one of the youngest professors in the United Kingdom and a distinguished popular physicist, Why Does E=mc2? is one of the most exciting and accessible explanations of the theory of relativity.

Reviews

Blogcritics.org, 8/22/10
"Cox and Forshaw make a good point in stating that space, time, and even nature are contained within the equation...Although the theory might be tricky, the authors show they understand readers are not on their level. By going one step at a time, the buildup ensures each chuck is absorbed slowly rather than all at once."Booktrade.info, 8/24/10
"This book takes the world's most famous equation apart and puts it back together again in a way that is lively and understandable. We were delighted to find our knowledge of equations--long forgotten since leaving school for some of us--reinvigorated and felt ourselves rediscovering our enjoyment of mathematics." "Choice," September 2010"Thorough, engaging." "New Scientist," 8/28/10"Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw tackle the most famous equation of all time in a remarkable comprehensible way...The pair make some surprising points that I haven't seen expressed in quite the same way...Well worth a read." "January, " 8/