Every scientific field has its mysterious corners, white spots on the map, unresolved mysteries, problems that have long resisted even the best minds on our planet – and this may be especially true for physics. Since ancient times, we have been trying to understand how our world and universe work, yet we must admit that there are still many things we do not understand. However, what we do understand is continually increasing. German physicist and writer Ilja Bohnet converses in the pages of this book with a selection of European scientists, presenting them with 42 carefully chosen puzzles from twelve 'canonical' areas of physics and discussing their solutions, the current state of knowledge, and the latest discoveries. Together, they present a vivid picture of the current state of this beautiful and challenging field, from both theoretical and practical experimental perspectives. So what’s new in astrophysics, cosmology, particle physics, or quantum theory? When will we have quantum computers? Will we discover another Higgs boson? Will there ever be a need to revise Einstein's theories? Can we foresee the end of the universe? And why are there actually 42 puzzles?
