Jan H. van Bemmel (Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands)
The author is completely perplexed by the wonders in this world and far beyond. At the same time he realizes that this impressive beauty often goes together with incredible human and animal suffering and misery. His reflections are summarized in four different chapters: on Nature, the Universe, Intelligence, and the ultimate question: Why we are here. Of course, his answers are very personal and far from complete. Perhaps, more questions are asked than answers can ever be given. The material for his reflections was borrowed from the scientific literature, his own research, mainly in the...
The author is completely perplexed by the wonders in this world and far beyond. At the same time he realizes that this impressive beauty often goes to...
Jan H. van Bemmel (Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands)
In the waning years of the Soviet Union scientific research falls far behind. Vasili, head of KGB, tries to gain Western knowledge by espionage. He persuades Dmitri, a physicist, to defect to the USA. Dmitri obtains a position at NSF and later at FermiLab, while remaining entangled in the KGB web. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union Vasili becomes very powerful and wants to strengthen science in the new Russia. He asks Dmitri to return home, because Russian knowledge needs upgrading. Dmitri is appointed director of IHEP in Moscow. He is not successful, because the best Russian...
In the waning years of the Soviet Union scientific research falls far behind. Vasili, head of KGB, tries to gain Western knowledge by espionage. He pe...
