(1888PressRelease)
December 22, 2006 - In today's world of global competition, science is a major asset for individuals and countries. Actually, many problems the western world faces today, could be solved on the base of scientific achievements: Just look at energy and how our need for it has got us involved in all kinds of geostrategic squeezes. Unfortunately, it seems to be rather difficult to lighten up excitement for subjects like physics and to entice people to develop a mindset necessary for scientific innovation.
Other energy ressources than oil, coal, and nuclear fission energy are needed today, and mankind does have the basic insights where to dig. There is progress in the use of a broad spectrum of alternative energy sources, like wind and solar energy, biodiesel, and many more. And the more these technologies are employed, the cheaper and the more efficient they get. But energy is just one of the problems which can only be tackled with scientific minds and the support of an understanding public. There are many more like e. g. drinking water supply or catastrophe prevention. That's why an initiative has been started towards broadening the knowledge of physics in the general public, in the form of a series of easily digestible e-books "Physics and Our Everyday World". Now the first volume is published: "Helium and More" actually is a kind of "tour de force" assuming only the most basic physics knowledge and nevertheless shedding light on a rather specialised and advanced field of science. Link: http://physics.global-momentum.net . Why Helium? Because of its interesting properties. The other 13 reasons are given inside the e-book. The decision on which volumes to publish next will be based on the resonance this first volume gets. If a demand develops, maths helpers might as well be included in the series.
Science is the only means we can employ to tackle some of today's most pressing problems. But aside from an increased number of people who don't shy away from grasping and using its insights, we need a general public which is supportive to rational solutions - the only existing solutions. The new e-book "Helium and More" and the entire series of e-books to come, do not only help students of all ages, but also alleviate the negative feelings many people have towards science in general and physics in particular.
