Asimov Isaac. X Stands for Unknown

Doubleday, 1984. — 218 p. — ISBN 978-0385189156, 038518915X.Discusses a wide range of topics from the fields of physics, chemistry, mathematics, and astronomy, analyzing such areas as the laws of electromagnetism, the light spectrum, astronomical phenomena, computer chips, and more.
”If all questions were answered, all riddles solved, every fold unfolded, every wrinkle in the fabric of the Universe smoothed — the greatest and noblest game in the Universe would be ended, and there would be nothing left for the mind to do but console itself with trivia. Unbearable! May X always be with us to afford us pleasure!” — Isaac Asimov
Asimov is once again at his best: exploring, inspiring, hypothesizing, and teaching. Whether he’s imagining a world in which silicon molecules would serve as the basis for life, speculating on the limits (in both directions) of the electromagnetic spectrum, or simply fiddling around with algebraic equations, Asimov presents his characteristically brilliant essays on physics, chemistry, mathematics, and astronomy with the wit and wisdom that have made him the most popular writer of science today.Introduction
Physics
Read out your good book in verse
Four hundred octaves
The three who died too soon
X stands for unknown
Chemistry
Big brother
Bread and stone
A difference of an «E»
Silicon life after all
Astronomy
The long ellipse
Change of time and state
Whatzisname's orbit
Ready and waiting
Dead center
Out in the boondocks
Mathematics
To Ungild refined gold
The Fringe
The circle of the Earth
The armies of the night