Most of us have no idea about the physics that makes our modern world so convenient and comfortable. What is the simple science behind motion sensors, touch screens, and toasters? How do we find our way in unfamiliar places with GPS? How do smartphones, electric toothbrushes, digital data storage, and MRI machines work? How do hybrid vehicles, photocopiers, laser pointers, and Wi-Fi networks operate? How do airplanes and high-speed trains manage to stay airborne? How do ATMs work, how do high-speed elevators move, why is food allowed to be irradiated with ionizing rays, how do refrigerators keep food cold, and how can a fitness tracker on our wrist count our steps?

More precisely, what is the physics underlying all these technological wonders of our time? In this book, the author analyzes the world of things we encounter in a single day. Each explanation is accompanied by a story that reveals the interaction of the amazing invisible forces that surround us. With this "narrative physics," the book shows us that modern science—beyond the exotic realms of Higgs bosons, black holes, and gravitational waves—is also very practical. The author, with the clarity and ingenuity that characterize him, sparks our imagination and captivates us with the physical principles that govern our lives.

What they said about the book:

• "Physics, fundamentally, is nothing but the quest for the underlying fundamental principles, whether in the universe of laboratories, comics, or our daily lives. You won't find a better and more enjoyable tour of the laws of physics that explain the everyday world around us. [...]". — Sean M. Carroll, theoretical physicist, California Institute of Technology

• "Think how much richer your life would be if you understood the deeper workings of the favorite devices that govern your daily routine. [...] And you might be surprised to learn that even the most common devices—like smartphones and GPS—are based on the wonders of modern physics. A new world awaits you in this accessible and captivating book. [...]". — Lawrence M. Krauss, theoretical physicist, University of Arizona

• "…This analysis, certain to help readers gain a new awareness of the science operating beneath familiar surfaces, simultaneously opens a historical perspective on the modern inventions that have transformed our world—which once relied on poorly understood steam engines and today harnesses the ingenious craft of semiconductors. An exciting quest for the hidden science. [...]". — Booklist