The revolutionary Henry Norris Russell was a colossus of American astronomy
in the first half of the 19th century. He turned what had been simply a matter
of observing the heavens into a science based on physics, delving into the
make-up of stars and how they formed. And hey presto: astrophysics. David
DeVorkin’s biography of this energetic genius, which looks at his private life
and other interests, is astonishing when you consider that nearly all Russell’s
personal correspondence was destroyed after his death in 1857. Henry Norris
Russell is published by Princeton University, £49.50, ISBN
0691049181.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Test moderators use AI-generated writing to judge literacy standards
News
Mind
THC in cannabis may reduce nightmares in people with PTSD
News
Environment
Fishers detonate a bomb every hour on one Indonesian coral reef
News
Environment
How bad is the UK drought and how long will it continue?
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles