Cambridge Visions of the Future: Chemistry and Life Science

What does the future of science hold? Who is making the discoveries that will help shape this future? What areas of research show the greatest promise? Find definitive and insightful answers to such questions as these in the three volumes of Visions of the Future: Astronomy and Earth Science, Chemistry and Life Science, and Physics and Electronics. Representing a careful selection of authoritative articles published in a special issue of Philosophical Transactions–the world's longest-running scientific journal–the chapters explore such themes as:

The Big Bang
Humankind's exploration of the solar system
The deep interior of the Earth
Global warming and climate change
Atoms and molecules in motion
New materials and processes
Nature's secrets of biological growth and form
Understanding the human body and mind
Quantum physics and its relationship to relativity theory and human consciousness
Exotic quantum computing and data storage
Telecommunications and the Internet Written by leading young scientists, the timely contributions convey the excitement and enthusiasm that they have for their research and a preview of future research directions. J.M.T. Thompson is Professor of Nonlinear Dynamics and Director of the Center for Nonlinear Dynamics at University College London. Professor Thompson has published widely on instabilities, bifurcations, catastrophe theory and chaos. He was a Senior SERC Fellow, served on the IMA Council, and, in 1985, was awarded the Ewing Medal of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Currently, he is Editor of the Royal Society's Philosophical Transactions (Series A) which is the world's longest running scientific journal.

Contents
Preface J. M. T. Thompson; Part I. Atoms and Molecules in Motion: 1. Laser snapshots of molecular motions Gareth Roberts; 2. Enzymology takes a quantum leap forward Michael J. Sutcliffe and Nigel S. Scrutton; Part II. New Processes and Materials: 3. World champion chemists: people versus computers Jonathan M. Goodman; 4. Chemistry on the inside: green chemistry in mesoporous materials Duncan J. Macquarrie; 5. Diamond thin films: a 21st century material Paul W. May; Part III. Biological Growth and Form: 6. The secret of nature’s microscopic patterns Alan R. Hemsley and Peter C. Griffiths; 7. Skeletal structure: synthesis of mechanics and cell biology Marjolein C. H. van der Meulen and Patrick J. Prendergast; Part IV. Understanding the Human Body: 8. The making of the virtual heart Peter Kohl, Denis Noble, Raimond L. Winslow and Peter Hunter; 9. Exploring human organs with computers Paul J. Kolston; Part V. Understanding the Human Mind: 10. Reverse engineering the human mind Vincent Walsh.

Contributors
J. M. T. Thompson, Gareth Roberts, Michael J. Sutcliffe, Nigel S. Scrutton, Jonathan M. Goodman, Duncan J. Macquarrie, Paul W. May, Alan R. Hemsley, Peter C. Griffiths, Marjolein C. H. van der Meulen, Patrick J. Prendergast, Peter Kohl, Denis Noble, Raimond L. Winslow, Peter Hunter, Paul J. Kolston, Vincent Walsh