Accessory to War

Accessory to War The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military

In this fascinating foray into the centuries-old relationship between science and military power, acclaimed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and writer-researcher Avis Lang examine how the methods and tools of astrophysics have been enlisted in the service of war. "The overlap is strong, and the knowledge flows in both directions," say the authors, because astrophysicists and military planners care about many of the same things: multi-spectral detection, ranging, tracking, imaging, high ground, nuclear fusion, and access to space. Tyson and Lang call it a "curiously complicit" alliance. "The universe is both the ultimate frontier and the highest of high grounds," they write. "Shared by both space scientists and space warriors, it's a laboratory for one and a battlefield for the other. The explorer wants to understand it; the soldier wants to dominate it. But without the right technology--which is more or less the same technology for both parties--nobody can get to it, operate in it, scrutinize it, dominate it, or use it to their advantage and someone else's disadvantage."Spanning early celestial navigation to satellite-enabled warfare, Accessory to War is a richly researched and provocative examination of the intersection of science, technology, industry, and power that will introduce Tyson's millions of fans to yet another dimension of how the universe has shaped our lives and our world.
Sign up to use

Reviews

Photo of Abhishek
Abhishek@starquake_82
5 stars
Feb 16, 2023
Photo of Christopher Wheeler
Christopher Wheeler@woolgatherist
3 stars
Aug 12, 2022
Photo of Cindy Lieberman
Cindy Lieberman@chicindy
4 stars
Mar 26, 2022
Photo of Pedro Pinheiro
Pedro Pinheiro @norbert
4 stars
Mar 22, 2022
Photo of Ryan B Harvey
Ryan B Harvey@codeanddata
5 stars
Jan 8, 2022
Photo of Moray Lyle McIntosh
Moray Lyle McIntosh@bookish_arcadia
3 stars
Dec 5, 2021
Photo of Alexandra
Alexandra@ale_nm
2 stars
Oct 24, 2021
Photo of Ricardo Figueira
Ricardo Figueira@rpsfigueirw
4 stars
Sep 29, 2021
Photo of Adam
Adam@adam
3 stars
Aug 17, 2021
Photo of Tyler Jefford
Tyler Jefford@tjefford
3 stars
Jun 10, 2021