Accompanying a landmark BBC television series, The story of science traces the breakthroughs in every area of science from classical times to today. Throughout, the award-winning authors show us the big historical picture too. Great science happens when brilliant minds collide with new discoveries and tools at specific points in time. These intriguing and sometimes quirky insights are summarized in unique 'Connections' diagrams throughout the book. And we see the powerful and poignant human stories behind the discoveries. Scientists have always struggled against prejudice and closed minds - often their own. It takes a great deal of evidence to shift our world view. Challenging many of our assumptions about the history of science this is the perfect guide to where science has come from and why it is so vital today.