Virtual Event: Cumrun Vafa

Harvard Book Store's virtual event series, the Harvard University Division of Science, and the Harvard Library welcome CUMRUN VAFA—Professor of Physics and the the Hollis Professor of Mathematicks and Natural Philosophy at Harvard University—for a discussion of his latest book, Puzzles to Unravel the Universe.

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While payment is not required, we are suggesting a $3 contribution to support this author series, our staff, and the future of Harvard Book Store—a locally owned, independently run Cambridge institution. In addition, by purchasing a copy of Puzzles to Unravel the Universe on harvard.com, you support indie bookselling and the writing community during this difficult time.

About Puzzles to Unravel the Universe

Beneath all of the complex and formidable mathematical structures that formulate physical laws rest simple but deep nuggets of truth. It is these simple truths, and not the complicated technical details, that scientists strive for when uncovering the laws of nature. Fortunately, these core ideas can often be illustrated with simple mathematical puzzles. These puzzles are so simplified that one can tackle them and appreciate their meaning without using any complicated math. This book aims to take the reader on a journey to unravel the laws of the universe through fun puzzles.

This book includes over a hundred puzzles and their solutions, along with discussion about how they relate to deep ideas in physics and math. Examples are drawn from classical physics, such as Newton's laws and Einstein's theory of relativity, as well as from modern physics, including black holes and string theory. This book is designed for the general public, and it does not require extensive background in mathematics or physics—just a sense of curiosity!