In this 2nd edition of this leading handbook, Peter J. Bowler and Iwan Rhys Morus explore both the history of science itself and the impact it has had on modern thought in general, recording all the major developments that have taken place in the field of scientific thought, from the revolutionary ideas of the 17th century to the issues raised today by the theory of evolution, genetics, nuclear physics, and modern cosmology.

Written by two experienced historians of science, A History of Modern Science covers a particularly wide range of scientific fields and examines contemporary themes, such as the relationship of science to religion, the popularization of science, the impact of war on the evolution of science, and the role of women in the history of science.

This enhanced and updated edition includes two new chapters: one exploring the impact of computers on the development of science, and a second showing how the West has used science and technology as tools for geopolitical expansion.

The book encourages readers to view the history of science not as a series of disconnected names and dates but as a complex web of relationships between science and modern society.