The Feynman Challenge

A poetry collection that leads the reader into the wonders of scientific discovery and the intricacies of the natural world.

The collection’s title? Richard Feynman, the 20th Century’s most dashing physicist, set poets a challenge: Science is not just mystery but truth, and they should tackle it. From the mating of sea slugs to the discovery of gravity waves, The Feynman Challenge sees James Thornton focus poetry on the realms of science and environment. Poems are sourced with the scientific articles and papers whose narratives and wonders they explore, to help readers whose interest is spiked to travel further. The collection opens with James’s essay that examines the interplay of science, poetry and the natural world, from Lucretius to now.