The public's appetite for science has grown dramatically over the past 15 years but such is the speed and frequency of new scientific discoveries that many readers feel daunted. This breathtaking book aims to change all that. 250 of the most significant milestones in the history of scientific discovery are presented through short lucid essays by some of the most important and well-known contemporary scientists and science writers. Each is accompanied by a single striking image and together they offer a unique introduction to our unfolding view of the universe.