Plastic Fantastic: How the Biggest Fraud in Physics Shook the Scientific World: The Astonishing Story of Failed Genius Jan Hendrik Schon and His Fake Superconductor

New
Hardcover
2009
$16.80

This book presents an investigation of a celebrated scientific discovery that was revealed to be fraudulent from a journalist with a unique insight into the case. It is expected that the book will be extensively reviewed due to the author's media connections, as she has written for the New Scientist and many other popular publications within the scientific community. It will also be advertised in Nature and Scientific American . There are no competing works examining the extent of this fraud and the effects it had on the scientific community. It is written by a journalist with unprecedented access to this infamous case of major scientific fraud that hit headlines worldwide.Schon's discovery of a plastic that worked as a superconductor was noted as a scientific triumph before revelations that his discoveries were fake. This book analyzes the fraud and considers pressures that force unscrupulous behaviour from science's rising stars.

Synopsis

This book presents an investigation of a celebrated scientific discovery that was revealed to be fraudulent from a journalist with a unique insight into the case. It is expected that the book will be extensively reviewed due to the author's media connections, as she has written for the "New Scientist" and many other popular publications within the scientific community. It will also be advertised in "Nature and Scientific American". There are no competing works examining the extent of this fraud and the effects it had on the scientific community. It is written by a journalist with unprecedented access to this infamous case of major scientific fraud that hit headlines worldwide.Schon's discovery of a plastic that worked as a superconductor was noted as a scientific triumph before revelations that his discoveries were fake. This book analyzes the fraud and considers pressures that force unscrupulous behaviour from science's rising stars.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 272
Edition: 1
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Published: 19 May 2009
ISBN 10: 0230224679
ISBN 13: 9780230224674

Media Reviews

'There are probably still more secrets under lock-and-key at Murray Hill and elsewhere, but for now Reich's engrossing book will be the last word on the matter.' - Peter Rodgers, Chief Editor, Nature Nanotechnology '...Reich's journalistic persistence and technical thoroughness yield a largely complete, often dramatic account of Schon's roguery and downfall.' - Booklist 'Eugenie Samuel Reich unpicks the tale with meticulous care.' - Philip Ball, Sunday Times '...a wonderful piece of forensic writing.' - Clive Cookson, Financial Times 'It is gripping stuff: a surprising page-turner that is well worth reading.' - New Scientist 'The book's real strength is the way it uses a journalistic approach to document what was happening on a week-by-week basis at Bell Labs...In doing so Reich uncovers a wealth of detail...that has not been published before. There are probably still more secrets under lock-and-key at Murray Hill and elsewhere, but for now Reich's engrossing book will be the last word on the matter.' - Peter Rodgers, Nature Nanotechnology 'A brilliant case study of research fraud.' - Clive Cookson, Financial Times

Author Bio

EUGENIE REICH has worked as a science and technology reporter for many years specifically as a researcher for the BBC, on the science documentary Vanished and as a correspondent and a features editor for the New Scientist.