Candle Revisited - P Day

Since its foundation in 1799, the Royal Institution of Great Britain has aimed to inspire enthusiasm and excitement for science, as a means to understanding the world around us. The "Friday Evening Discourses of the Royal Institution", initiated by Michael Faraday in 1826, form one of the most prestigious series of lectures on science in the world. During these lecture-demonstrations famous scientists describe their work in language accessible to a general audience. Each year accounts of the discourses are brought together in proceedings. These proceedings provide some of the best popular writing by active scientists, and include occasional topics of a less scientific nature, but of interest to a scientific audience.;This volume of proceedings covers diverse areas of contemporary and historical interest. Topical issues include microbiological approaches to cleaning up oil-spills, the construction of the Channel Tunnel, advances in superconductor technology, the nature of the human genome and the role of the European Parliament. This volume also discusses the chemistry of candles, the creation of atomic pictures with scanning tunnelling microscopes and the history and applications of cryogenics.;This volume should appeal to the scientist and layman alike. Non-scientists wishing to learn about contemporary science and technology, and the history of these subjects, as well as scientists and technologists, who wish to learn about developments in fields outside their own, should find the book of interest.