But this opinion is nearly impossible to hold after reading anything written by Mark Miodownik. 'It's probably fair to say that most people don't find materials science an inherently exciting topic. Just as in Stuff Matters, Mark Miodownik’s unique brand of scientific storytelling brings liquids and their mysterious properties to life in a captivating new way.

We come to see liquids as substances of wonder and fascination, and to understand their potential for death and destruction. Throughout the trip, we encounter fluids within the plane-from a seemingly ordinary cup of tea to a liquid crystal display screen-and without, in the volcanoes of Iceland, the frozen expanse of Greenland, and the marvelous California coastline. Set over the course of a flight from London to San Francisco, Liquid Rules offers readers a fascinating tour of these formless substances, told through the language of molecules, droplets, heartbeats, and ocean waves. But do we really understand how much we rely on liquids, or the destructive power they hold? We all know that without water we couldn’t survive, and that sometimes a cup of coffee or a glass of wine feels just as vital. Just as in his bestselling, award-winning Stuff Matters, Mark Miodownik’s unique brand of scientific storytelling brings his subject to life in ways that will inform and amuse science buffs and lay readers alike.Sometimes explosive, often delicious, occasionally poisonous, but always interesting: the New York Times best-selling author of Stuff Matters show us the secret lives of liquids: the shadow counterpart of our solid 'stuff.' We come to see liquids with wonder and fascination, and to understand their potential for death and destruction. We encounter fluids within the plane-from hand soap to liquid crystal display screens-and without: in the volcanoes of Iceland, the frozen expanse of Greenland, and the marvelous California coastline.

But do we really understand how much we rely on liquids, or their destructive power? Set on one of the author's transatlantic flights, Liquid Rules offers readers a tour of these formless substances, told through the language of molecules, droplets, heartbeats, and ocean waves. We know that we need water to survive, and that, for some of us, a cup of coffee or a glass of wine can feel just as vital. Sometimes explosive, often delicious, occasionally poisonous, and always fascinating: the New York Times bestselling author of Stuff Matters offers an 'entertaining discussion of the various ways our lives are enriched by fluids” ( The Wall Street Journal).

Liquid rules mark miodownik