Truth and Beauty. World History symmetry 2010

For centuries, the symmetry remains a key concept for artists, architects and musicians, but in the XX century, it was rated as the deeper meaning of physics and mathematics.

It now lies in the symmetry of the basis of such fundamental physical and cosmological theories, the theory

relativity, quantum mechanics and string theory. Starting from ancient Babylon and ending with the most advanced frontiers of modern science, Ian Stewart, British mathematician of world renown, the study traces the path of symmetry and the opening of its fundamental laws. Eccentric Girolamo Cardano - the player and the bully of the Renaissance, the first decided cubic equation, the neurotic genius and revolutionary Evariste Galois loser, single-handedly created the theory of groups, drunkard William Hamilton, natsarpavshy his greatest discovery in the stonework of the bridge, and, of course, the great Albert Einstein - the fate of these extraordinary people and brilliant scientists are so dramatic backdrop, which takes place one of the most exciting scenes in the history of science.