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/sci/ - Science & Math

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6515356 No.6515356[DELETED]  [Reply] [Original]

Is there some pop science book about the currently most important problems in science?

I want to know what the big mysteries of contemporary science are, but I'm only a layman.

Pic is by Kitaj.

>> No.6516359

I can't refer you to any specific books but most of the "big name" research topics are listed on this Wikipedia page. Layman's explanations of all of it are more than available.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unsolved_problems_in_physics

>> No.6516377

>>6515356
Some of the biggest unsolved problems (2 per field):
P versus NP
Riemann Hypothesis

Mass Gap (this is kind of math though so I'll put in a third one for physics)
Entropy and the arrow of time (this has numerous questions associated)
Does a GUT exist?

Origin of life
Biological ageing

Room temperature superconductors? (Kind of physics so I'll add another for chemistry)
Protein folding problem
Mpemba effect explanation

>> No.6516433

>>6516377
>Mpemba effect explanation

Important how?
Plus, many possible causes have been identified, I think it's mainly a matter of how much each contributes to the total effect.

>> No.6516437

>>6516433
Yeah, ok, probably not one of the most important chem problems. Any suggestions for a replacement?

>> No.6516458

>>6516437
idk, not a chemist
Maybe abiogenesis? Sort of biochem/geology though.
Quantum chem is an active field, and I know some chemists who work on photovoltaics