Gravity's Ghost and Big Dog: Scientific Discovery and Social Analysis in the Twenty-First Century
Jan 2014 · University of Chicago Press
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About this ebook
"In part an account of sociological fieldwork among scientists in the field and part astronomy-history mystery. . . . a terrific read." — Nature
Gravity's Ghost and Big Dog brings to life science's efforts to detect cosmic gravitational waves. These ripples in space-time are predicted by general relativity, and their discovery will not only demonstrate the truth of Einstein's theories but also transform astronomy. Although no gravitational wave has ever been directly detected, the previous five years have been an exciting period in the field. Sociologist Harry Collins offers readers an unprecedented view of the research and explains what it means for an analyst to do work of this kind.
Collins was embedded with the gravitational wave physicists as they confronted two possible discoveries—"Big Dog," fully analyzed in this volume for the first time, and the "Equinox Event," which was first chronicled by Collins in Gravity's Ghost. Collins records the agonizing arguments that arose as the scientists worked out what they had seen and how to present it to the world, along the way demonstrating how even the most statistical of sciences rest on social and philosophical choices. Gravity's Ghost and Big Dog draws on nearly fifty years of fieldwork observing scientists at the American Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory and elsewhere around the world to offer an inspired commentary on the place of science in society today.
"The physics junkie or philosophy of science enthusiast . . . will find lots to mull over." — Science News
"Makes for very entertaining reading." —Daniel Kennefick, University of Arkansas, author of Traveling at the Speed of Thought
Gravity's Ghost and Big Dog brings to life science's efforts to detect cosmic gravitational waves. These ripples in space-time are predicted by general relativity, and their discovery will not only demonstrate the truth of Einstein's theories but also transform astronomy. Although no gravitational wave has ever been directly detected, the previous five years have been an exciting period in the field. Sociologist Harry Collins offers readers an unprecedented view of the research and explains what it means for an analyst to do work of this kind.
Collins was embedded with the gravitational wave physicists as they confronted two possible discoveries—"Big Dog," fully analyzed in this volume for the first time, and the "Equinox Event," which was first chronicled by Collins in Gravity's Ghost. Collins records the agonizing arguments that arose as the scientists worked out what they had seen and how to present it to the world, along the way demonstrating how even the most statistical of sciences rest on social and philosophical choices. Gravity's Ghost and Big Dog draws on nearly fifty years of fieldwork observing scientists at the American Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory and elsewhere around the world to offer an inspired commentary on the place of science in society today.
"The physics junkie or philosophy of science enthusiast . . . will find lots to mull over." — Science News
"Makes for very entertaining reading." —Daniel Kennefick, University of Arkansas, author of Traveling at the Speed of Thought
"In part an account of sociological fieldwork among scientists in the field and part astronomy-history mystery. . . . a terrific read." — Nature
Gravity's Ghost and Big Dog brings to life science's efforts to detect cosmic gravitational waves. These ripples in space-time are predicted by general...
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About the author
Harry Collins is the Distinguished Research Professor of Sociology and director of the Centre for the Study of Knowledge, Expertise, and Science at Cardiff University, and a fellow of the British Academy. Among his numerous books are Gravity's Shadow, Rethinking Expertise, and Tacit and Explicit Knowledge, all published by the University of Chicago Press. He lives in Cardiff, UK.
Harry Collins is the Distinguished Research Professor of Sociology and director of the Centre for the Study of Knowledge, Expertise, and Science at Cardiff University, and a fellow of the British Academy. Among his numerous books are Gravity's Shadow, Rethinking Expertise, and Tacit and Explicit ...
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