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book cover for Physics Around the Clock

Physics Around the Clock

Adventures in the Science of Everyday Living

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Pub Date Apr 07 2026 | Archive Date Feb 02 2026
Globe Pequot | Prometheus

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Description

Physics not only shapes the cosmos but every aspect of our lives. Physics Around the Clock is an illuminating and fun journey through the physics of everyday life. From the thermodynamics of cooking the perfect pizza, or what ‘plate’ mechanics says about how to cut your fingernails, to the optimal way to board an airplane, this lively book explains what physics can reveal about so many seemingly ordinary aspects of everyday living.

In this fun and fascinating book, Physics World news editor Michael Banks follows a typical day, beginning at breakfast and the morning routine, and moving through typical daytime activities and evening pursuits, including sports, gardening, looking after pets, socializing and playing games, and enjoying a take-away and film. Binding it all together is physics and what physical theories or experimental techniques can reveal about our everyday situations.

So, whether you’re navigating rush-hour traffic or just trying to win at rock, paper, scissors, Physics Around the Clock shows that physics isn’t just about lab experiments and equations—it’s relevant to everything you do and is happening all around you, every second of every day. (Includes 9 B&W illustrations.) NOTE: Globe Pequot/Prometheus is only publishing the North American (US and Canada) edition of this new work.

Physics not only shapes the cosmos but every aspect of our lives. Physics Around the Clock is an illuminating and fun journey through the physics of everyday life. From the thermodynamics of cooking...


Advance Praise

Physics Around the Clock explains, in an easy and engaging way, how, from morning till night, we’re surrounded by fascinating physics that hides in plain sight.”

~James Kakalios, professor of physics at the University of Minnesota and author of The Physics of Everyday Things

“Physics is all around us—even as we go about our seemingly mundane daily lives, as Michael Banks ably demonstrates in Physics Around the Clock. Whether it's your morning coffee, daily commute, walking the dog, cooking dinner, playing Monopoly or Texas Hold 'Em, or debating whether it's better for gunslingers to draw first while watching classic spaghetti Westerns, a physicist somewhere has studied it. And Banks is here to explain it all to you in a truly compelling read.”

~Jennifer Ouellette, author of The Calculus Diaries

“A thoroughly enjoyable collection of physical curiosities that fill our everyday life from the volcano-like electrical activities of coffee grounds to bunching buses. Delightful.”

~Brian Clegg, author of Ten Days in Physics that Shook the World

“This is one of those brilliant books where there is an amazing fact on every page showing just how much science underpins our everyday world. I particularly liked the way that the fundamental physics being explored in high-tech laboratories around the world often ends up elucidating seemingly simple questions about cats, dogs and even football.”

~Mark Miodownik, author of It’s a Gas: The Magnificent and Elusive Elements that Expand our World

Physics Around the Clock explains, in an easy and engaging way, how, from morning till night, we’re surrounded by fascinating physics that hides in plain sight.”

~James Kakalios, professor of...


Marketing Plan

The author is based in the UK, and is the News Editor of Physics World.

Globe Pequot/Prometheus is only doing the US and Canada edition of the book, but we aim to coordinate our marketing/PR efforts with what is being done for PR on the UK edition (from The History Press).

University-based science magazines/websites that will be contacted for coverage include:

Science magazine (https://www.science.org/)
Popular Science (https://www.popsci.com/)
Scientific American (https://www.scientificamerican.com/)
Physics Today (https://pubs.aip.org/physicstoday)
Discover magazine (www.discovermagazine.com)
Ars Technica (https://arstechnica.com/)

The author is based in the UK, and is the News Editor of Physics World.

Globe Pequot/Prometheus is only doing the US and Canada edition of the book, but we aim to coordinate our marketing/PR efforts...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9781493094363
PRICE $24.95 (USD)
PAGES 304

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