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The life of trailblazing physicist Mildred Dresselhaus who expanded our understanding of the physical world

As a girl in New York City in the 1940s Mildred Millie Dresselhaus was taught that there were only three career options open to women secretary nurse or teacher In Carbon Queen science writer Maia Weinstock describes how with curiosity and drive Dresselhaus defied expectations and forged a career as a pioneering scientist and engineer Dresselhaus made highly influential discoveries about the properties of carbon and other materials and helped reshape our world in countless waysfrom electronics to aviation to medicine to energy She was also a trailblazer for women in STEM and a beloved educator mentor and colleague

Her path wasnt easy Her graduate adviser felt educating women was a waste of time But Dresselhaus persisted finding mentors in Nobel Prizewinning physicists Rosalyn Yalow and Enrico Fermi Eventually Dresselhaus became one of the first female professors at MIT where she would spend nearly six decades Weinstock explores the basics of Dresselhauss work in carbon nanoscience accessibly and engagingly describing how she identified key properties of carbon forms leading to applications that range from lighter stronger aircraft to more energyefficient and flexible electronics