Description

By the author of the best-selling, prize-winning Stuff Matters

‘A truly delightful read’ Jim Al-Khalili, author of Paradox

‘Exciting, anarchic and surprising’ Katy Guest, The Guardian

This fascinating new book by the bestselling scientist and engineer Mark Miodownik is an expert tour of the world of the droplets, heartbeats and ocean waves that we come across every day. Structured around a plane journey which sees encounters with substances from water and glue to coffee and wine, he shows how these liquids can bring death and destruction as well as wonder and fascination.

From Laszlo Biro’s revolutionary pen and Abraham Gesner’s kerosene to cutting-edge research on self-repairing roads and liquid computers, Miodownik uses his winning formula of scientific storytelling to bring the everyday to life. He reveals why liquids can flow up a tree but down a hill, why oil is sticky, how waves can travel so far, and how to make the perfect cup of tea. Here are the secret lives of substances that we rely on but rarely understand.

‘An exhilarating, eye-opening ride’ Philip Ball, science writer and author of H2O

‘A thrilling read, from start to finish’ Tim Radford, author of The Consolations of Physics

Publisher Review

Miodownik packs this delightful book with so much ‘well, I never knew that’ information. Not only does he know his stuff but, just as importantly, he knows how to tell a good story. A truly delightful read — Jim Al-Khalili, author of Paradox It’s a little known fact that liquids are the coolest state of matter. And if anyone can spread that message all around him, it’s Mark Miodownik. From ink to saliva, coffee to soap, this is an exhilarating, eye-opening ride. — Philip Ball, science writer and author of H2O: A Biography of Water A brilliantly navigated journey through the scientific marvels of the fluid world, from coffee to kerosene, from tea to tar, from honey to hydrophobia, from peanut butter to perfluorocarbons. A thrilling read, from start to finish — Tim Radford, author of The Consolations of Physics: Why the Wonders of the Universe Can Make You Happy Miodownik is a materials scientist, but really he is an alchemist; he transforms knowledge of everyday stuff into literary gold. His book on liquids oozes brilliance on every page — Alex Bellos, author of Alex Through the Looking Glass This book delivers exactly what it promises . . . It’s a treat. I lost count of the number of “but why?” questions it answers . . . This is a winning and hugely readable book — James McConnachie * The Sunday Times * Once again, Miodownik has written a book much like the substances it describes: exciting, anarchic and surprising. Like the sea, it covers a lot of ground. And like a perfectly made cup of tea, it is warm, comforting and very refreshing — Katy Guest * The Guardian * Enthralling . . . A mission to re-acquaint us with the wonders of the fabric that sustains our lives * Guardian on Stuff Matters * Insightful, fascinating. The futuristic materials will elicit gasps. Makes even the most everyday substance seem exciting * Sunday Times on Stuff Matters *