Tom McLeish's literary work delves into the intersection of science and the humanities. His writing explores the deeper philosophical and cultural implications of scientific understanding, leveraging his expertise in physics to illuminate complex natural phenomena. Through his texts, he aims to make intricate scientific concepts accessible to a broader audience, fostering critical thinking and encouraging dialogue between science and society. His approach is characterized by clarity, depth, and a commitment to finding common ground between seemingly disparate fields of human inquiry.
Tom McLeish delves into the growing field of soft matter - the study of materials such as polymers, colloids, liquid crystals, and foams. Looking beneath their appearance to their inner structure, he discusses their shared physical properties, the principle of Brownian Motion that underlies all soft matter, and the applications of these materials.
The Poetry and Music of Science examines aspects of science and art that bear close comparison - for example the art of the novel and the art of scientific experimentation. The book eavesdrops on conversations between scientists on how new theories arise, and listens to artists' and composers' witness of their own creative processes.