Understanding Science through History Essay Example for Free

Understanding Science through History Essay The inquisitive of science and its blend in history is important in understanding the book â€Å"E=mc2: A biography of the World’s Most Famous Equation† written by David Bodanis. It is seen that in order to understand the empirical evidences of a technical concept, it is important to go back to the history of the concept and put this in the context of the events. Thus, it is seen that history plays an important part in understanding science. The book traces the historical events, the same as a biography would do, in order to understand the said formula. It proceeds from the time where this formula is created by Albert Einstein and proceeds to the important events in history which are related to the said formula. In gaining understanding, the author also mentions events such as the Second World War and mentions women such as Cecille Payne and Lise Meitner. Moreover, the author makes use of ordinary examples in order to relate to the birth of the formula. The author slowly made his way into defining the E, M, C, and 2 components of the formula through these examples. The connection of the present and the past is immediately established by the author as he mentions that â€Å"the world of 1905 seems distant to us now, but there were many similarities to life today† (Bodanis 4). It is with much realization that the author wishes to make a connection between what is present in today’s society with that of the past. Moreover, there is the establishment of the foundations of the present to be rested on the past. This is further emphasized by the author where he recognizes the importance of the past to the present. In the words of the author, â€Å"the year 1905 was also when Einstein wrote a series of papers that changed our view of the universe forever† (Bodanis 4). In bringing about this particular information, the author shows that there is always something in the past that led to what is in today. This is especially true for science where there are constant developments that are made in order to enhance the theories and the field of research. This book is definitely a must-read for those who are interested in understanding and gaining further knowledge of the formula. Despite the complexity of the concept, it becomes easier to read because of the relationship to more familiar concepts. Thus, the familiarity makes understanding a better experience in reading the life of a formula. Work Cited Bodanis, David. E=mc2: A Biography of the World’s Most Famous Equation. New York, NY: The Berkley Publishing Group.