Car drivers or bicycle riders who have experienced flat tyres will be familiar with the kilopascal, the decimal unit of air pressure. The unit derives its name from the famous French scientist, Blaise Pascal (1623–1662). As will be evident from the dates, his life was tragically short but, in addition to a brilliant scientific career, Pascal wrote on philosophical and theological issues, many of them hugely relevant to our own troubled times. Other than letters to various people (he…
