Choice Review

Vacca's daunting task, to identify and discuss the 20 greatest unsolved problems facing science in the 21st century, has, by almost any yardstick, been successful. Extensive talks with numerous practicing scientists identified both the problems to be included and the eminent practitioners in the field. Vacca consulted with 60 renowned scientists, many of them Nobel laureates, before writing the chapter on that particular topic. There are 20 chapters, one for each problem selected; they are grouped into seven broad areas of astronomy and cosmology, physics and astrophysics, biology and paleontology, neuroscience, geology, chemistry, and energy. Each chapter is crammed with facts, data, and quotes that are, for the most part, from scientists who have proposed the most current theories in the field. One example is Vacca's discussion with Alan Guth of MIT, who formulated the theory of inflationary universes. This is a very well-written text with useful references. Who would benefit from reading this book? Certainly science teachers and writers, students, and practitioners in the fields covered. But it may prove most valuable to that reader who, while not having a strong background in science, does possess a keen curiosity about the universe and its great diversity. A good read. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. General readers; upper-division undergraduates through professionals. C. G. Wood formerly, Eastern Maine Community College