A History of Modern Planetary Physics

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The book delves into the historical debate surrounding the Earth's age, which is largely accepted as 4.55 billion years. It traces the evolution of theories on stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis, highlighting the radiometric methods used for age estimation. The narrative also examines the changing status of planetary sciences, which shifted from prominence to a perceived inferiority compared to atomic physics and cosmology. Professor Brush illustrates how geology exemplifies a scientific approach, offering a contrast to humanistic disciplines like history.