Suzie Sheehy

"Beginning with the discovery of s, Sheehy... continues... through a series of experiments that led to the discoveries of the electron (1897), atomic nucleus (1911), and measurement of the (1923). By the end of the first third of the book the theory that the atom is the smallest piece of matter is in tatters and the remaining chapters of the book describe the fascinating experiments physicists designed to better understand the particles that make up an atom."

"Later sections... describe the gargantuan instruments that enabled scientists to detect... elusive particles at the heart of the standard model... as the and... Higgs boson. Through each tale, The Matter of Everything explores how the pursuit of basic science has led to unexpected discoveries... These findings now underpin cancer treatments, personal electronics, and... how scientists investigate the way lava flows deep below Earth’s surface. Sheehy carefully considers each of these breakthroughs through the lens of the people who defied the odds to uncover the mysteries of our universe."