The Second Kind of Impossible

The Extraordinary Quest for a New Form of Matter

By: Paul J. Steinhardt

Narrated by: Peter Larkin

Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

One of the most fascinating scientific detective stories of the last 50 years, an exciting quest for a new form of matter. The Second Kind of Impossible plays like James Gleick’s Chaos combined with an Indiana Jones adventure.

When leading Princeton physicist Paul Steinhardt began working in the 1980s, scientists thought they knew all the conceivable forms of matter. The Second Kind of Impossible is the story of Steinhardt’s 35-year-long quest to challenge conventional wisdom. It begins with a curious geometric pattern that inspires two theoretical physicists to propose a radically new type of matter - one that raises the possibility of new materials with never-before-seen properties but that violates laws set in stone for centuries. Steinhardt dubs this new form of matter “quasicrystal”. The rest of the scientific community calls it simply impossible.

The Second Kind of Impossible captures Steinhardt’s scientific odyssey as it unfolds over decades, first to prove viability and then to pursue his wildest conjecture - that nature made quasicrystals long before humans discovered them. Along the way, his team encounters clandestine collectors, corrupt scientists, secret diaries, international smugglers, and KGB agents. Their quest culminates in a daring expedition to a distant corner of the Earth, in pursuit of tiny fragments of a meteorite forged at the birth of the solar system.

Steinhardt’s discoveries chart a new direction in science. They not only change our ideas about patterns and matter but also reveal new truths about the processes that shaped our solar system. The underlying science is important, simple, and beautiful - and Steinhardt’s firsthand account is an engaging scientific thriller.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Paul J. Steinhardt (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

A Practical Approach toward New Discoveries

In contrast to other popular science books, which provide information on "How Things Work", this title offers a practical approach toward science, the way it is done following rigorous scientific procedures, isolate facts from fantacy, searching for experts in different fields, coming out of one's own field of research and striding toward 99.---% uncertainty, but still those leftout tiny (100-99.---)% parts can unfold a 100% true reality on "What makes Things Work".

An Armchair physicist (most probably), Steinherd comes out of his comfort zone, intrudes into theoretical and experimental solid state physics, and then to geology, field studies, using cutting edge technological tools, finding experts in all relevant areas, and coming out victorious, is a tale and inspiration to many daydreamers who do not understand how hard science is.

Truly, an eye opener.

not what I expected

it is a great story about scientific investigation. I expected more general science. I precieved new "form of matter" as related to "dark matter." my bad.

Not a typical type of Mystery

This book for me was background noise while working in the garden. Technical. Not cumbersome, but Technical. If you like how the earth was made then this book would be a good read.

The story is presented like a story, Not like a lecture. kudos to Steinhardt and Larkin to accomplish this. Steinhardt even used with skill a Russian accent. his performance was good.

Steinhardt is a science man's science man, no doubt. Theoretical Physics is his bread and butter. Yet, he was into geology, astro-geology and probably a bunch of other '-logies' on his quest of the next imlossible. He is able to balance out this superb training and intellect, part of his of his personality, of his life I dare say, to be able to present this topic persons more of a informed nature. Yes, dumb it down a few notches, but no so much to really appreciate the struggle he and his teams had gone through to unravel a mystery as old as the cosmos.

I am not recommending this book to the general population. Most of the general population will become quickly bored, because they just don't want to learn of subjects so infinitely technical and across so many specialized genre of specialties. I recommend this book to people who have an unwritten mantra to never stop learning. I think it is brilliant of Steinhardt to write a story to provide the credits to all of his dedicated, smart, and fun team members and even the greedy characters he was forced to interview.

Scientific Thrill ride. Loved it!

It wasnt what I expected at all....dry at first - a little over my head with all the technical jargon but I stayed with it and really glad I did. I learned a lot. Excellent story. very inspiring to never give up.

A fascinating exploration of one aspect of solid state physics

For me this was a great break from the fiction I often read. One unexpected pleasure was the discussion of Penrose tiles, something I’d read about many years ago in Scientific American.
The story odd humanized in many ways. It is a very well told tale.

brilliant!

A catchy fun science exploration. I couldn't get enough, especially with all the references to Richard Feynman who is also one of my heroes.

Interesting Story, but too Slow and too Long

Enjoyed lots. Nice presentation of topics that I have been interested in for decades. Nice presentation of what it means to be a star professor. Nice memories of Feinman.

The voice of the narrator, although nice, is more appropriate for a macho explorer than that of a scientist. Hard to ignore. Also several yucky mispronounciations that drove me crazy. You MUST stop this type of error, as it is a severe distraction. Get a coach or a proof listener or prepare for the hate mail.

Nearly impossible to find the right image! At a minimum, at least put the number of the chapter next to the image. Even better, put the image number in the text.

BOTTOM LINE: If you like Science magazines and are patient, you will enjoy this book, which today costs less that a good magazine.

In anticipation of low review marks...

I was tempted to give this book low marks when I finished it, simply because I had high hopes that a theoretical physicist would've shed a lot more light on the deep physics than he did; but there was little to no deep physics discussed, just a few mentions of crystal symmetries, diffraction, etc. The majority of the book is a story of the author's personal/professional quest (in the literal sense of the word "quest") to find naturally forming quasi-crystals.

Once I sat back to take a second look at how this book was advertised, from the Audible summary down to even the book's title, I realized I allowed myself to be fooled - by myself. And I am the easiest person for myself to fool! The book delivers just as its summary suggests, and in my opinion it's a great story!

could have been shorter/tighter

Fascinating story of a decades long search but overly melodramatic. But fun story nonetheless.

Fascinating and Engrossing!

I'm not a scientist, but I found this story fascinating and informative, and more understandable than I thought it would be. There was humor, frustration, occasional edge-of-your-seat tension, and elation. And it comes with bears! It was a good book to listen to during my daily commute, often leaving me wanting just a few moments more. Well-read in the Audible version, with only a few bumps with the insert referrals to the accompanying pdf (and thank you for the pdf!). Give it a try-you can stretch your brain and be entertained at the same time!