6.10 Books and Arts MH

books and arts as is the description of the nature of the BCS ally, a lot. Far too often the history of science on population cycles may find that it does theory (with a debt here to Victor Weisskopf, confines itself to bare facts — when it pays not cover the literature as fully as they might whose explanation is quoted). attention to them at all. I like in a book with ambitions of providing The story thereafter becomes sketchy Philip W. Anderson is in the Department of a synthesis of the field. I preferred the indeed,and misses many vital points.I might Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, second part of the book, which covers both suggest that the authors’ relative unfamili- New Jersey 08544-0708, USA. phenomenological (time series-based) and arity with the anglophone world, and their mechanistic modelling — the latter more weakness in theory, begin here to warp the fully than the former. coverage. There is emphasis on Pierre-Gilles The section on case examples is good de Gennes’group in France,with its remark- for the systems that Turchin has worked on able collective ethos and a significant num- The rise and fall himself, but is rather shallow for some of the ber of detailed applications of the BCS ideas other systems described, a good exception to its credit, but does this work stand out of populations being the chapter on grouse.However,I think so much relative to many things that at the Complex Population Dynamics: A that this book contributes profoundly to time seemed more important? And I cannot Theoretical/Empirical Synthesis the literature, in particular with its emphasis let pass the authors’ failure to note that by Peter Turchin on integrating statistical analysis, theoretical although Alex Müller’s great discovery of Princeton University Press: 2003. 456 pp. modelling and experiments, rather than high-temperature superconductivity in the $75, £52 (hbk); $29.95, £19.95 (pbk) relying solely on experimental work. I fully cuprates was unquestionably motivated by Nils Chr. Stenseth agree with Turchin’s conclusion that eco- bipolaron theory (not an original concept logical investigations of population cycles of Benoy Chakraverty, by the way), that People have been fascinated and puzzled for and similar phenomena should start with theory is nonetheless generally thought to centuries by the profound variations from statistical data analysis, aimed at describing be wrong. This is far from the first time since one year to the next in the abundance of the patterns to be explained, and end with Christopher Columbus that a wrong concept lemmings and populations of hares and experimental work to discriminate between motivated a great discovery. lynxes. The archbishop of Uppsala, for alternative mechanistic explanations. In this In the discussion of the state of theory in example, wrote about the phenomenon as respect the book may have a huge impact this field, my words in a 2001 article for a long ago as the fifteenth century. And on the field, not necessarily because every- Nobel symposium are quoted out of context, hunters and other rural people such as the body agrees with Turchin’s conclusions, but misreading or misunderstanding the mes- Sami of northern Scandinavia have their because he provides examples of what a sage that the article was meant to convey, own theories to explain the burgeoning research programme ought to look like. namely, that the source of high-temperature populations of lemmings, for instance, in Turchin’s book covers many of the same superconductivity is not a mystery, and that some years. But it was the Oxford zoologist elements as Population Cycles (Oxford Uni- theory has not been pointless and futile. The Charles Elton who built the scientific plat- versity Press), which was published last year. reasons why the misleading popular impres- form for the modern study of population Edited by Alan Berryman, who contributed sion of chaos and controversy in this field is cycles with a 1924 publication in the British an opening chapter and a postscript,Popula- so hard to dispel is not explored here, which Journal of Experimental Biology. That paper tion Cycles comprises seven chapters written is a pity. Still, in these final chapters the and his 1942 book Voles, Mice and Lem- by specialists in the field,each considering an authors make some telling points about the mings have been key references ever since. example of a population cycle. These chap- overselling of the hopes for practical applica- Much of this work has focused on verte- ters, although somewhat variable both in tions that characterized this period. But this brates of the north, but similar phenomena form and quality, display great enthusiasm critical observation is never balanced against have been observed for species in other in attempting to understand why some the value of the MRI industry and other regions, such as the larch budmoth found in species and populations exhibit extensive applications of superconductivity — by no the Alps. The scientific literature on popu- population cycles whereas others do not. means a unique story in the history of lation cycles is vast and has to some extent A concluding chapter is written by ecolo- tensions between research and technology, been characterized by heated debates. So a gists Xavier Lambin, Charley Krebs, Robert where hitting the jackpot is a rarity but adds book that aims to synthesize this rather Moss and Nigel Yoccoz, who favour the enormous value when it happens. chaotic field and make it more accessible to experimental approach over statistical data This year’s Nobels bring out both the outsiders is to be welcomed. analysis. Together with the postscript by strengths and the weaknesses of the book. Complex Population Dynamics, written Berryman, this provides a good balance On the one hand, it is an excellent source by Russian-born ecologist Peter Turchin, is regarding methodological approaches — a for the background of the physics prizes to split into three parts: theory, data and finally balance that I am convinced is needed if we Vitaly Ginzburg and Alexei Abrikosov. But a series of six case studies. The theory part are to find the solution to the cycle puzzle. the intricate history of helium-3, now the provides an excellent synthesis of the work Both of these books show that the study of source of yet a second physics Nobel, to by Turchin and colleagues, but specialists population cycles is a stimulating field, with Tony Leggett, is barely mentioned. I have much data and several plausible hypotheses already noted the absence of MRI,the subject needing to be tested by specifically designed of the physiology prize,from their horizon. and well-planned experiments. Although The intriguing piece of scientific history both books will provide active scientists in in Cold Wars has not been as well presented the field with much to think about — and elsewhere, and the book is worth the atten- to disagree with — I would not recommend tion of layman as well as scientist. But caveat either of them as textbooks, as they both HELLIO & VAN INGEN/NHPA VAN HELLIO & emptor: the real inside story is not here if seem too biased or narrow to serve a general you’re interested in what actually happened educational purpose. or in just who did what. But I found it They both express rather similar perspec- refreshing to find judgements as to the broad tives, for instance in emphasizing feedback trends of socio-scientific history, even if Now you see it… Many suggestions have been interactions between different trophic levels some of these were off by a little or,occasion- made to explain the lemming’s disappearing act. (between plant and herbivore, predator and 18 © 2003 Nature Publishing Group NATURE | VOL 426 | 6 NOVEMBER 2003 | www.nature.com/nature books and arts Exhibition Old Red Sandstone (1841), Footprints of the Creator (1849) and Testimony of the Rocks Force of nature (1857),were successful in Victorian times. The photograph shown here, called Even so,Miller never adhered to the pre- Forces #7, is one of a series staged darwinian evolutionary views of his time. S. BRAAS and shot by New York-based artist To both Miller and his mentor,the palaeon- Sonja Braas. Braas is interested in tologist Louis Agassiz, evolution, if it the way that we perceive our natural occurred at all,was merely a form of degen- environment, particularly those eration. In The Cruise of the Betsey, Miller uninhabitable landscapes where danger rarely alludes to this; most of his scientific is a counterpart to beauty. For the considerations are about geology, its bear- Forces series she built models ings on our knowledge of the vastness of depicting the raw violence of nature. time, and its moral or physical benefits. Once Braas had photographed the Thanks to his popular style, this book has models, she destroyed them. long increased people’s interest in geology, Forces #7 is a compelling, hence the importance of this new edition. ambiguous image, with a reality that Readers not from Scotland might have becomes less clear the more closely been lost in Miller’s allusions to church and one looks. It reflects the fading of the land politics without the book’s excellent romantic notion that parts of nature will introduction. This explains that the Free always remain pristine and inaccessible Church of Scotland was created by the to humans. ‘disruption’, in which Miller played a role Some of the Forces series can be as the editor of the evangelical newspaper seen at the Tanit Gallery in Munich, The Witness. The ‘clearances’ were a little- Germany, from 6 November to known (outside Scotland) form of ‘soft’ 13 December 2003.

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