Apollo's Fire: A Day on Earth in Nature and Imagination

Science News,  Sept 29, 2007  

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APOLLO'S FIRE: A Day on Earth in Nature and Imagination MICHAEL SIMS

Whether portrayed as a winged chariot blazing across the sky or a smiling golden presence, the sun has always been a source of fascination. Before humans understood the science behind the passage of days, this reliable marker was the subject of myth and legend. Sims follows the passage of the sun on a typical day, blending history, physics, and astronomy. He explores research into the sun's composition and the nature of sunlight, describes the emergence of scientific understanding of the passage of time, and even recounts the invention of the sundial. The account also covers the biological rhythms that correspond with sunlight--rhythms that dictate the sleep-wake cycles and feeding patterns of various organisms. Finally, the author focuses on the vast darkness that envelops Earth after the sun sets, chronicling people's fascination with stars and the notion that Earth hangs in a great void. viking, 2007, 296 p., hardcover, $24.95.

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