The true history of seven heavens and the eighth that it's the Earth

From the moment Einstein solved the puzzle of the mass difference between helium and hydrogen, people quickly began to think about how this energy could be harnessed—and not precisely for humanitarian purposes. Fortunately, at the time this was impossible: the necessary conditions existed only in the Sun. That is why, when the chain reaction that made a nuclear reaction with an unprecedented release of energy possible was discovered, research quickly turned toward the development of the bomb. Induced fission was discovered shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. This coincidence would launch both sides into a race to get there before the other. On one side, Germany, the birthplace of quantum physics, appeared to have an advantage. This would be one of the main reasons why the Allies placed engineers and scientists at the service of the war machine, providing them with all the material resources they needed and allowing them to take part in the greatest scientific challenge...

In a culture that rewards shortcuts, perseverance is too often mistaken for foolishness. We live in an age that celebrates the "smart ones." Not the genuinely intelligent, but those who boast about getting the greatest reward for the least effort. Somewhere along the way, we've confused ingenuity with deceit and intelligence with a complete lack of scruples. Success—usually measured in money or fame—has become an end that justifies almost any means. If lying gets you there, lie. If cheating pays off, cheat. The only thing that seems to matter is crossing the finish line first. No one bothers to ask how. Back in the 1980s, the television series Fame opened with a line that now feels almost revolutionary: " You want fame? Well, fame costs. And right here is where you start paying—in sweat. " It was a simple reminder of an uncomfortable truth: talent alone is never enough. The students at New York's prestigious performing arts school dreamed of making a living...