When world-renowned physicist Paul Steinhardt began his career in the 1980s, scientists thought they had identified all the possible types of matter. But Steinhardt persisted in pursuing a wild fantasy he first imagined as a teenager, leading to a radical theory predicting an astonishing new form of matter that broke all the established rules. The breakthrough would launch him on a remarkable journey full of twists and turns that include international smugglers, corrupt scientists, secret diaries, fraudulent traders, political intrigue, and Russian security agents. The underlying science that Steinhardt and his team discover is deceptively simple, unexpectedly beautiful, and nothing short of revolutionary. Steinhardt's firsthand account is a scientific tale of suspense and adventure of the first order. -- Back cover.