India's contributions in the field of science have been very influential in the development of human civilisation. The decimal place value system and the Ayurvedic way of life are just two well-known legacies of this ancient culture. Yet there are only a few books which provide an unbiased and authentic view of this world. One reason for this is that the study of Indian science through the ages involves the complex integration of the knowledge of many languages and diverse scientific disciplines. Through the years, there has been growing interest in this study as an important aspect in understanding man's interaction with nature, his material life and cultural patterns. The Indian National Science Academy, through its History of Science Board (1958) and the National Commission for the Compilation of History of Sciences in India (1967) renamed in 1989 as the Indian National Commission for History of Science sought further means to stimulate this interest among universities and scholars. The result was the publication of A Concise History of Science in India.

This book attempts to present a brief account of the development of science from early times to Independence, in one of the most ancient civilisations of the world. After nearly four decades since its publication, A Concise History of Science in India remains one of the most extensive and authentic account of Indian science through the ages. Yet further studies in the field have brought to light new material. This revised edition, taken up by B V Subbarayappa, one of the three original editors, seeks to integrate the new information with the knowledge already at hand.

On October 4, 1957 the Soviet Union launched the world's first man-made satellite Sputnik-1, opening the doors to a new cosmic era. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of this momentous occasion 50 Years of Space: A Global Perspective gathers in a single volume, brief histories of all the major space agencies of the world written by people of impeccable credentials. In the past 50 years, many countries have found their own, unique paths to orbit. The objectives were multi-dimensional – an opportunity for investigating and understanding outer space; a means of showcasing technological superiority; a means to solve social problems. The essays assembled in this book illustrate the many different solutions that each country or organisation has developed. But today, the countries have realised that to move forward, international cooperation is necessary. This book affords us a means to look backward, learn from our failures, and surge forward in a direction which will benefit all humanity.

SCIENCE is about 6,000 years old, while physics emerged as a distinct branch some 2,500 years ago. As scientists discovered virtually countless facts about the world during this great span of time, the manner in which they explained the underlying structure of that world underwent a philosophical evolution. A History of Physics provides the perspective needed to understand contemporary developments in physics in relation to philosophical traditions as far back as ancient Greece. Roger G Newton presents a history of physics from the early beginning to our day—with the associated mathematics, astronomy, and chemistry. Along the way, he gives brief explanations of the scientific concepts at issue, biographical thumbnail sketches of the protagonists, and descriptions of the new instruments that enabled scientists to make their discoveries. He traces a profound transformation from a deterministic explanation of the world—accepted at least since the time of the ancient Greek and Taoist Chinese civilizations—to the notion of probability, enshrined as the very basis of science with the quantum evolution at the beginning of the twentieth century. This brought about a fundamental shift in the focus of physicists—from dynamics or motion to the underlying architecture of the universe. Their new goal—to explain being rather than change—may well be the defining characteristic of physics in the twenty-first century.

Humankind has been drawn to space for a number of reasons – the urge to expand beyond our boundaries and to explore the unknown; the desire of nations to compete for technological superiority; the desire to understand our natural world and the Universe around us. But today there is no single imperative sufficient to motivate the investments and national willpower required for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit. The purpose of this book is to provide one possible vision for the scientific exploration of space in the first half of the 21st Century. It identifies a set of useful and achievable destinations – first the Moon, then the Sun–Earth Libration Point L2, Near-Earth Objects and finally Mars, the ultimate destination for humans in the next 50 years. This stepping-stone approach will gradually build the required capabilities and maintain interest and support by achieving important scientific discoveries at every step. The study that formed the basis for this book was chartered by the International Academy of Astronautics and conducted on a volunteer basis by a small number of individuals, independent of any government space agency. It is not a strategic implementation plan for any national space program; rather, it is intended to be a vision for the future that can be considered by interested space agencies, hopefully in the context of an international cooperative endeavor. Publishing of this book is supported by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Dates have an important place in our lives – not only are they historical occasions that we observe every year but they are also milestones to measure our growth in age, prosperity and wisdom. Therefore, dates in the scientific field can be used as a measure of progress in our quest for the unknown – dates when some important scientific discovery was made or some famous scientist was born. There are also dates that mark important breakthroughs in our understanding of the universe around us – new discoveries and new inventions that have changed our life.

This book can be considered a diary of scientific events – both Indian and international – including dates related to scientists and their works; inventors and their inventions; scientific organisations; and important scientific occurrences.

The entries are arranged chronologically. An entry for the date of birth of a scientist or inventor gives a brief biography of the person, while an entry for the date of founding or inauguration of a scientific institution gives a brief summary of the activities and achievements of the institution. All the entries are cross-referenced for easy navigation.

India’s contributions to science and technology are among the most ancient and influential in the world. In mathematics, the decimal place value system with zero as a numeral, used universally today, owes its origin to India. The science of Ayurveda, which has been practised for millennia in India, is now gaining wider acceptance even as many ancient remedies are turned into modern drugs. Indian astronomical computations, ritual geometry, brick technology and metallurgical innovations have been among the finest achievements in the world of science and technology.

This Encyclopaedia of Classical Indian Sciences is an attempt to provide an authentic account of natural science, technology and medicine as practised by Indians and other South Asians. It also includes biographical articles on many ancient Indian scientists, and some articles (polemic in nature) on the history of Indian science and technology, such as the essay on the effects of colonialism. All articles are contributions of acknowledged authorities on their subject drawn from across the world.