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Houston, Texas, 1985. Two industrious chemists
discover a previously unknown form of carbon and christen
it buckminsterfullerene, for its striking resemblance to
American architect Richard Buckminster Fuller's geodesic
domes. This unusual molecule -- also known as the buckyball
-- is composed of 60 carbon atoms arranged in a hollow sphere,
with hexagonal and pentagonal configurations similar to
those found on a soccer ball. Its near-perfect symmetry
is just one reason why scientists have since dubbed it "the
most beautiful molecule."
The discovery of buckminsterfullerene --
by American physicist and chemist Richard Smalley and British
physical chemist Harry Kroto -- rocked the scientific community.
After all, generations believed graphite and diamond to
be the only pure forms of carbon. How had this third form
gone undetected?
In fact, the actual discovery was merely
the beginning of an intense -- and ongoing -- quest to master
this newest form of the most basic of elements. Confirmation
would take five years and launch an unprecedented flood
of investigation and investment. The unique physical structure
of buckminsterfullerene -- a "cage" into which
atoms of other materials may be inserted -- had huge commercial
potential and inspired scientists, industrial laboratories,
and corporations alike. Backed by such giants as AT&T,
DuPont, Exxon, and IBM, a highly competitive search for
practical applications began -- and continues. Possibilities
range from the creation of a revolutionary rocket fuel to
nanotechnology -- the construction of microscopic "molecular
machines" -- to developments in the fight against AIDS.
Here, then, is a fascinating, multi-layered
look at one of the most important scientific findings of
our time. The Most Beautiful Molecule is a brain-teasing
detective story, a marvelously detailed, inside look at
the workings of the scientific community, and an exciting
contemplation of what lies ahead. From the forefront of
research in modern chemistry, author Hugh Aldersey-Williams
offers, in his own words, "a celebration of the intimate
world of physical science and its practitioners."
Hugh Aldersey-Williams graduated from
Cambridge University with a degree in natural sciences,
majoring in chemistry. He has since written widely on both
science and technology in newspapers and magazines ranging
from Popular Science and New Scientist to
The Independent, The Guardian, and The
Daily Telegraph. He lives in London.
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