The Evidence for Modern Physics

How We Know What We Know

By: Professor Don Lincoln, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Professor Don Lincoln

How do we know the universe is 13.8 billion years old? How do we know the speed of light is 299,792,458 meters per second? How do we know there are subatomic particles that live less than a trillionth of a trillionth of a second? Studying how physicists make discoveries is the best way to understand key developments in modern physics - from quantum mechanics, to the theory of relativity, to cosmology.

In this 24-lesson course aimed at non-scientists, noted particle physicist Dr. Don Lincoln of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory covers more than a century of progress in physics, describing exactly how scientists reach the conclusions they do. He starts with the atom, which was long hypothesized, but wasn’t definitively proven until a paper by Albert Einstein in 1905. That was just the beginning, as researchers probed ever deeper into the atom’s complex structure, leading to the weird findings of quantum mechanics. Meanwhile, Einstein’s more famous work in relativity overturned conceptions of time and space, especially in the realm of the super-fast and ultra-massive.

Relativity and quantum theory are notoriously counterintuitive, but Dr. Lincoln shows why their conclusions must be true. He does the same for cosmology, which has advanced from the view that the Milky Way galaxy is all that exists, to the realization that there are likely a trillion of galaxies in the observable universe. Along the way, he deals with the Big Bang, black holes, dark matter, dark energy, and cosmic inflation, among other ideas. Some are purely speculative, but he points out what it would take to prove them.

The Evidence for Modern Physics is an intellectual roller-coaster ride that will amaze and enlighten. As Dr. Lincoln says, “You must wonder how we can say with such certainty that the world of the super-fast and ultra-small follow such bizarre rules. Well, you’re in luck, because that’s exactly what this course is about.”

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2021 The Great Courses (P)2021 The Teaching Company, LLC

Fun physics and cosmology

Professor Don Lincoln is an exceptionally entertaining teacher, with a remarkable gift for making esoteric aspects of physics and cosmology accessible to the non-professional. A delightful course!

Excellent and all regards.

Professor Lincoln did an exceptional job answering the numerous questions that I’ve had unanswered in physics. His style is interesting and comfortable I recommend it to anyone interested in the subject.

Great course

I really enjoyed this course as presented by Professor Don Lincoln. Great stories of discovery from the past to modern times.

wonderful educator

Dr. Lincoln does a great job of breaking down complex concepts into understandable bits. Just the facts, man.

Fabulous

This was a fabulous book for me primarily because it explained "how" scientists have demonstrated and validated" their claims. So many other books simply make broad wondrous claims but fail to mention how this has been validated.
Additionally, this book really helped to bring me up to the state of the art in physics today. So much of my knowledge is from physics circa 1970s and this book described a lot of what has happened in the last 50 years.

Excellent overview of modern physics

Highly recommended !
Impressive detail, clarity, and scope!
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book!
I wish there is a part two that dives a little deeper and cover a little more 👍

Pleasant voice, will read, very interesting.

I found Don Lincoln originally on YouTube and as soon as I saw this audiobook I just went ahead and got it. With a regular book the most important thing obviously is that it’s well written, but for audiobooks it’s equally important that it be well read also. Don just has a really good pleasant easy to listen to voice and way of speaking that makes it a pleasure to listen to him. In addition to good clear, interesting and well laid out content. Even his attempt at humor are funny and that he really is trying to be funny but it’s all not that funny which is actually kind of enduring that he’s at least trying! Ha ha.!!

Did not disappoint

Great narrator, very detailed content, fun. at last a course which doesnt insult the intelligence of the listener

Excellent course

Well organized, interesting, and understandable. The professor has a good speaking voice,, and he interjects just the right amount of humor and colloquial speech.

Not a good bedtime story --

I was looking for an insomnia treatment so boring it would put me right out. This was the worst choice ever. It kept me up all night enthralled with mind-blowing ideas and the geniuses that proved them. The professor, Don Lincoln, is masterful at bringing the weirdest concepts to life. His sense of humor and his own awe and appreciation of the ability it took for human minds to conceive of and solve (or get close to solving) great physics problems opened an astonishing world to me. Thank you, Don. You enriched this nonscientist greatly.