Biography Science, Mathematics & Technology Books

This Open Access biography chronicles the life and achievements of the Norwegian engineer and physicist Rolf Widerøe. Readers who meet him in the pages of this book will wonder why he isn't better known. The first of Widerøe's many pioneering contributions in the field of accelerator physics was the betatron, the second, the linear accelerator, both summarized in a 27 page PhD. The betatron revolutionized the fields of cancer treatment through radiation therapy and also nondestructive testing; hospitals worldwide installed Widerøe's machine and today’s modern radiation treatment equipment is based on his inventions. The most recent renaissance of the linac provides unprecedented x-ray intensities at Free Electron Laser (FEL) facilities in operation and construction worldwide. .Widerøe’s story also includes a fair share of drama, particularly during World War II when both Germans and the Allies vied for his collaboration. Widerøe held leading positions in multinational industry groups and was one of the consultants for building the world's largest nuclear laboratory, CERN, in Switzerland. He gained over 200 patents, received several honorary doctorates and a number of international awards.The author, a professional writer and maker of TV documentaries, has gained access to hitherto restricted archives in several countries, which provided a wealth of new material and insights, in particular in relation to the war years. She tells here a gripping and illuminating story.

To Tweet or not to Tweet... that is the question."Facebook Diaries" journals Brian Shell's initial foray into Facebook both before and after publishing his first book. It explores his social media learning curve while being a chronological chronicle of his hopes and frustrations with Facebook as he copes with a friend going through cancer treatments and the grief of his grandmother's death.Brian shares many of the delicate etiquette nuances involved... such as becoming fb friends with people you've never met... and then how meeting them for the first time in person almost seems creepy with the way they treat you.With over a billion Facebook users and growing, this book is a must-read for anyone involved in social media to any degree.