Lightning in a Bottle

The book explores the science of electricity and magnetism from antiquity to the start of the twentieth century. Readers will learn how 19th-century scientists created sparks of several feet in length, where electricity in our homes comes from, the real inventions of Nikola Tesla (which were far more useful than a 'death ray'), and what is contained in a mobile phone charger. They will discover why mass is equivalent to energy, the link between sunburn and quantum theory, and who Albert Einstein's archenemy was. They will also learn how the greatest minds of the past grappled with the puzzles of the universe, and how their insight, determination and plain luck enabled the development of the technology-dependent world we live in today. Finally, readers will enjoy carrying out the simple experiments described at the end of most chapters. The book has over 140 colorful illustrations which facilitate understanding.

1. Amber and Lodestones.
2. The great magnet Earth.
3. A tale of two fluids.
4. The showmen.
5. Dangerous games.
6. The man who weighed the world.
7. Dr. Galvani's monster.
8. The grand unification.
9. Measuring the invisible.
10. The bookbinder's apprentice.
11. World wide web.
12. And there was light.
13. Radioheads.
14. Cashing in the chips.
15. AC/DC.
16. Atoms of electricity.
17. Running at the speed of light.
18. The quantum revolution.