A history of the imaginary demons of science won the jury, while students chose a physicist’s meditation on time.
The Premio Cosmos 2022 was awarded on 3 October at the Teatro Francesco Cilea in Reggio Calabria, with a closing concert by Oscar-winning composer Nicola Piovani.
From a shortlist of five, the scientific committee chose L’ombra del diavolo by historian of science Jimena Canales, which tells the story of the thought experiments, from Descartes’ demon to Maxwell’s, that have haunted science.
The students’ prize, voted by juries in schools across Italy and among Italians abroad, went to physicist Guido Tonelli for Il Tempo. Il sogno di uccidere Chrònos.
The winning books
- Premio Cosmos: L’ombra del diavolo. Una storia dei demoni della scienza, Jimena Canales, translated by Andrea Migliori and Gianna Cernuschi (Bollati Boringhieri)
- Premio Cosmos degli Studenti: Il Tempo. Il sogno di uccidere Chrònos, Guido Tonelli (Feltrinelli)
The jury and organisers on stage as the winner is announced. Photo: [credit]
