 This long-awaited work from one
of the
world's most respected scientists presents a series
of dramatic discoveries never before made public. Starting from a collection of simple
computer experiments--illustrated in the book by striking computer
graphics--Stephen Wolfram shows how their unexpected
results force a whole new way of looking at the operation of our universe.
Wolfram uses his approach to tackle a remarkable array of
fundamental problems in science,
from the origins of apparent randomness in physical systems,
to the development of complexity in
biology, the ultimate scope and limitations of
mathematics, the possibility of a truly
fundamental theory of physics, the interplay between free will
and determinism, and the character of intelligence in the universe.
Written with exceptional clarity, and illustrated by nearly a
thousand original
pictures, this seminal book allows scientists and nonscientists alike to participate in
what promises to be a major intellectual revolution.
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Stephen Wolfram was born in London and educated at Eton, Oxford,
and Caltech. He received his Ph.D. in theoretical physics in 1979
at the age of 20, having already made lasting contributions to particle
physics and cosmology. In 1981 his work was recognized by a MacArthur
award. In the early 1980s he made a series of classic discoveries
about systems known as cellular automata, which have yielded many
new insights in physics, mathematics, computer science, biology,
and other fields. In 1986 he founded Wolfram Research, Inc. and
began the creation of Mathematica, now the world's leading
software system for technical computing and symbolic programming,
and the tool that made A New Kind of Science possible. Over
the past decade Wolfram has divided his time between the leadership
of his company and his pursuit of basic science.
Published by Wolfram Media, Inc., 2002
ISBN 1-57955-008-8
Hardcover, 1197 pages
$44.95 (US)
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