Farmer Buckley's Exploding Trousers
Summary
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Farmer Buckley's Exploding Trousers by New Scientist
In August 1931, New Zealand farmer Richard Buckley hit the local headlines - or rather his trousers did. One minute they were drying in front of the fire; the next there was a huge blast and a ball of flames. Farmer Buckley's trousers had exploded. The culprit? A popular pesticide of the day, which when combined with clothing fibres unexpectedly formed a highly combustible compound. This incendiary story is a striking example of how scientific advances meant to improve people's lives can sometimes backfire. Contrary to the widespread belief that science and technology move steadily on from one discovery to the next, the fascinating stories in this entertaining collection present some of the unfamiliar characters and events that litter the path of scientific progress, where setbacks and mishaps are the norm, and breakthroughs are the exception.
In Praise of the 'Last Word' series: 'You can unravel the secrets of life, the universe and everything in your own kitchen..brilliant. * News of the World *
a fascinating mix of the baffling, ridiculous and trivial...answers the scientific questions you never got round to asking. * Daily Express *
the answers to life's most perplexing questions...at last, the mysteries of the world are explained...the book everyone is talking about....science can be fun * Independent on Sunday *
Entertainingly told in clear, non-technical prose from the pages of the New Scientist -- David Bradbury * Daily Mail *
An enjoyable romp * BBC Focus *
Highly entertaining and enlightening... an excellent book for casual dipping. * Fortean Times *
A highly recommended read for those with a taste for the oddities of history * Cape Times, South Africa *
a fascinating mix of the baffling, ridiculous and trivial...answers the scientific questions you never got round to asking. * Daily Express *
the answers to life's most perplexing questions...at last, the mysteries of the world are explained...the book everyone is talking about....science can be fun * Independent on Sunday *
Entertainingly told in clear, non-technical prose from the pages of the New Scientist -- David Bradbury * Daily Mail *
An enjoyable romp * BBC Focus *
Highly entertaining and enlightening... an excellent book for casual dipping. * Fortean Times *
A highly recommended read for those with a taste for the oddities of history * Cape Times, South Africa *
Farmer Buckley's Exploding Trousers is compiled and edited by Stephanie Pain, a consultant for New Scientist with a PhD in deep-ocean biology. She created and for ten years edited New Scientist's popular 'Histories' column, where the stories in this book started out.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781846685088 |
| ISBN 10 | 1846685087 |
| Title | Farmer Buckley's Exploding Trousers |
| Author | New Scientist |
| Series | New Scientist |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Profile Books Ltd |
| Year published | 2011-05-26 |
| Number of pages | 224 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |