{"product_id":"half-life-by-frank-close","title":"Half Life by Frank Close","description":"\u003cp\u003eHalf Life\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuthor: Frank Close\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHard cover with dust jacket. Very good condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHalf-Life: The Divided Life of Bruno Pontecorvo, Physicist or Spy by Frank Close is a meticulously researched biography published in 2015, examining the extraordinary life of Italian-born physicist Bruno Pontecorvo (1913–1993), one of the twentieth century’s most talented nuclear scientists. A protégé of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Enrico Fermi, Pontecorvo made important contributions to nuclear physics, particularly the study of neutrinos, and worked on Allied nuclear research during the Second World War. In 1950, at the height of Cold War tensions, he disappeared from Britain with his family, eventually re-emerging in the Soviet Union in 1955. His sudden departure prompted enduring questions about whether he had passed atomic secrets to the Soviet government or fled because of his political beliefs and fear of persecution. Drawing on previously restricted intelligence documents, personal correspondence, interviews with family members and scientific records, Close investigates the evidence surrounding Pontecorvo’s disappearance while explaining the scientific achievements that shaped his career. The book combines scientific biography with political history and espionage, offering a compelling account of a brilliant but enigmatic figure whose life was deeply affected by the nuclear age and the ideological divisions of the Cold War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; color: #1f2124;\"\u003eThis item is second-hand and is sold as is. If you would like more details please \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/fairtradeandgiftshop.com\/pages\/contact-fair-trade-and-gift-shop\" style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif';\"\u003econtact us\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; color: #1f2124;\"\u003e or visit us in store.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-bottom: .0001pt;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif'; color: #1f2124;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: 'Segoe UI','sans-serif';\"\u003e100% of profits raised from the sale of our goods will assist Fair Trade and Gift Shop in helping the many charities we support which make lasting change in the lives of disadvantaged people.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"FAIR TRADE AND GIFT SHOP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67808223887513,"sku":"13824","price":20.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0400\/7536\/2457\/files\/IMG_8624_7ea82f74-4eb1-48e7-8e0e-ddaa607728ed.jpg?v=1793175773","url":"https:\/\/fairtradeandgiftshop.com\/products\/half-life-by-frank-close","provider":"FAIR TRADE AND GIFT SHOP","version":"1.0","type":"link"}