Beschreibung
Research projects are often considered under the aspect of concrete applicability only. However, history teaches us that since antiquity fundamental new findings have often been playfully (ludic) developed from the curiosity inherent to human beings. This book tells the story of inventions out of games a priori without the intention of producing something useful. A vase rubbing against the skin became the first electric capacitor, which was later used in a much smaller form in trillions of smartphones. A skillfully bent wire resulted in a patent for the first paper clip. An unsuccessful substitute for car-tire-rubber became the first marketed chewing gum This book is also available in German.
Autorenportrait
Mario Markus was born in Chile in 1944 as the son of German-Jewish refugees. He studied physics in Heidelberg, where he also obtained his doctorate in 1973. He then worked as a research group leader at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology in Dortmund and as a professor at the university there. He has written numerous publications in international journals on self-organization in physical, biological and chemical systems and has written books on the fusion of science and art. Further information is available at www.mariomarkus.com.
