In this book, Peter J. Bowler and Iwan Rhys Morus explore both the history of science itself and its impact on modern thought in general, documenting 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, the History of Modern Science covers a particularly broad range of scientific fields and examines contemporary themes, such as the relationship between science and religion, the popularization of science, the influence of war on the development of science, and the role of women in the history of science.

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.