How does a scientist go about solving problems? How do scientific discoveries happen? Why are cold fusion and parapsychology different from mainstream science? What is a scientific worldview? In this wide-ranging book, Gregory Derry talks about these and other questions as he introduces the reader to the process of scientific thinking. From the discovery of X-rays and semiconductors to the argument for continental drift to the invention of the smallpox vaccine, scientific work has proceeded through honest observation, critical reasoning and sometimes just plain luck. Derry starts out with historical examples, leading readers through the events, experiments, blind alleys and thoughts of scientists in the midst of discovery and invention. Readers at all levels should come away with a greater appreciation of how science operates and how it connects with our daily lives. Science involves a particular way of thinking about the world, and Derry shows the reader that a scientific viewpoint can benefit most personal philosophies and fields of study.With an eye to both the power and limits of science, he explores the relationships between science and topics such as religion, ethics and phi