How physics shaped the world This account of 12 significant discoveries in physics is detailed yet pacy –and has a cheering takeaway for the future, says

the quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness. 
"we can detect no ambiguity in this section of the Act" 
 
quantum - plural noun: quanta 
PHYSICS - a discrete quantity of energy proportional in magnitude to the 
frequency of the radiation it represents. 
an analogous discrete amount of any other physical quantity, such as 
momentum or electric charge. 
 
lay /leɪ/ 
used with an abstract noun so that the phrase formed has the same meaning as 
the verb related to the noun used, e.g. ‘lay the blame on’ means ‘to blame’. 
"she laid great stress on little courtesies" 
 
confirmation /ˌkɒnfəˈmeɪʃn/ noun noun: confirmation; plural noun: 
confirmations 
the action of confirming something or the state of being confirmed. 

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"high unemployment figures were further confirmation that the economy was 
in recession" 
 
from scratch : phrase of scratch 
from the very beginning, especially without making use of or relying on any 
previous work for assistance. 
"he built his own computer company from scratch" 
 
unacknowledged /ˌʌnəkˈnɒlɪdʒd/ adjective 
existing or having taken place but not accepted, recognized, or admitted to. 
"her unacknowledged feelings" 
 
conscience /ˈkɒnʃns/ noun noun: conscience; plural noun: consciences 
a person's moral sense of right and wrong, viewed as acting as a guide to one's 
behaviour. 
"he had a guilty conscience about his desires" 
 
tackle /ˈtakl/ verb ; 3rd person present: tackles; past tense: tackled; past 
participle: tackled; gerund or present partici