Science secrets: the truth about Darwin's finches, Einstein's wife, and other myths
Alberto A. Martinez"Accessibly written in an engaging style, this book examines classic popular stories in the history of science. Some of the myths discussed include Franklin's Kite, Newton's Apple, and Thomson's plum pudding model of the atom. Martn̕ez successfully holds readers' attention by relying on rich documentation from primary sources to debunk speculations that have become reified over time. He argues that although scientists have disagreed with one another, the disagreements have been productive. Features includes extensive primary source documentation and detailed explanations of how to compare contradictory sources in order to determine which accounts are truly valid"--
Abstract: Was Darwin really inspired by Galapagos finches? Did Einstein's wife secretly contribute to his theories? Did Franklin fly a kite in a thunderstorm? Did Galileo drop objects from the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Did Einstein really believe in God? This answers these questions and many others. It is a unique study of how myths evolve in the history of science.