The Magic of Physics. How to Control the Secret Forces of Matter, Create Substances from the Quantum World, and Invoke Crystals from Chaos

Imagine you have a crystal that starts to glow at your command — this is, of course, magic, and you are undoubtedly a wizard. However, this is not an exercise in imagination: you frequently use such spells in life. The modern name for witchcraft is condensed matter physics. It studies the world around us — the states of matter and how they arise from the quantum world. Thanks to this practical magic, we can create lasers that cut through solid metals, trains that levitate in the air, and crystals that illuminate our homes. This is one of the most reliably guarded secrets of science; although a third of all physicists work in this field, its history has never been told.
Let Oxford scholar Felix Flicker introduce you to the magic of condensed matter physics. In this journey, you will discover ingenious spells that summon crystals from chaos and create new particles that have never existed before. «The Magic of Physics» will revolutionize your understanding of physics and reality; you will never look at the world the same way again.
«The world is already telling you its spells; the aim of this book is to help you hear them.» (Felix Flicker)