UID:
kobvindex_ZLB34480040
ISBN:
9781982103569
Content:
" [A] pleasure...I found it helpful not reassuring, certainly, but mind-expanding to be reminded of our place in a vast cosmos. James Gleick, The New York Times Book Review A thrilling tour of potential cosmic doomsdaysBeyond her deep expertise, Ms. Mack's infectious enthusiasm for communicating the finer points of cosmological doom elevates The End of Everything over any other book on the topic I have read. The Wall Street Journal From one of the most dynamic rising stars in astrophysics, an accessible and eye-opening look at five ways the universe could end, and the mind-blowing lessons each scenario reveals about the most important concepts in cosmology. We know the universe had a beginning. With the Big Bang, it expanded from a state of unimaginable density to an all-encompassing cosmic fireball to a simmering fluid of matter and energy, laying down the seeds for everything from black holes to one rocky planet orbiting a star near the edge of a spiral galaxy that happened to develop life as we know it. But what happens to the universe at the end of the story? And what does it mean for us now? Dr. Katie Mack has been contemplating these questions since she was a young student, when her astronomy professor informed her the universe could end at any moment, in an instant. This revelation set her on the path toward theoretical astrophysics. Now, with lively wit and humor, she takes us on a mind-bending tour through five of the cosmos's possible finales: the Big Crunch, Heat Death, the Big Rip, Vacuum Decay (the one that could happen at any moment!), and the Bounce. Guiding us through cutting-edge science and major concepts in quantum mechanics, cosmology, string theory, and much more, The End of Everything is a wildly fun, surprisingly upbeat ride to the farthest reaches of all that we know."
Content:
Biographisches: "Dr. Katie Mack is a theoretical astrophysicist, exploring a range of questions in cosmology, the study of the universe from beginning to end. She is currently an assistant professor of physics at North Carolina State University, where she is also a member of the Leadership in Public Science Cluster. She has been published in a number of popular publications, such as Scientific American , Slate , Sky &,Telescope , Time , and Cosmos magazine, where she is a columnist. She can be found on Twitter as @AstroKatie." Rezension(2): "〈a href=http://www.kirkusreviews.com target=blank〉〈img src=https://images.contentreserve.com/kirkus_logo.png alt=Kirkus border=0 /〉〈/a〉: April 1, 2020 A theoretical astrophysicist surveys five possible scenarios for the end of the universe, backed by the latest research in physics and cosmology. Acknowledging the end of the universe is a grim proposition. But after accepting the fact that our universe cannot persist unchanged, forever, thinking through the science of end times is actually a thrill, an opportunity to dig deep into the question of where it's all going, what that all means, and what we can learn about the universe we live in by asking these questions. Mack uses humor, metaphor, and personal experience to offset her often technical descriptions, creating a delightfully unsettling narrative that explains big ideas in modern physics and cosmology through the lens of end times. Whether or not the world is falling apart from a political perspective, she writes, scientifically, we're living in a golden age. In physics, recent discoveries and new technological and theoretical tools are allowing us to make leaps that were previously impossible...the scientific exploration of how the universe might end is just now undergoing its renaissance. In accessible yet precise language, Mack details how these modern scientific approaches suggest five apocalyptic scenarios: the Big Crunch, Heat Death, the Big Rip, Vacuum Decay, and the Bounce. Each is creative in its demise, giving the author an excuse to expound on the latest theories about dark energy and the expanding universe, the Higgs boson, and the multiverse. She celebrates that the near future will be filled with knowledge and discovery, even if the far future is doomed. Work on the cutting edge of physics is already pointing us toward a universe far stranger than we even could have imagined, she writes. Drawing on the wisdom of a variety of pioneering physicists, the author delivers a sleek narrative of discovery. Mack's pleasing writing style makes speculating about the death of the universe unexpectedly entertaining. (b/w illustrations) COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. " Rezension(3): "〈a href=http://www.publishersweekly.com target=blank〉〈img src=https://images.contentreserve.com/pw_logo.png alt=Publisher's Weekly border=0 /〉〈/a〉: Starred review from April 20, 2020 Mack, a theoretical astrophysicist who has written for Scientific American and Cosmos , debuts with a fascinating tour of the cosmic forces—quantum vacuums, dark matter, dark energy, entropy, and gravitation among them—that may conspire to end the universe. Excelling at providing just enough scientific detail, Mack sets the scene with an exceptionally lucid history of the universe from the big bang to the present. As to how the end might occur, Mack reveals a surprising number of competing theories, including that the mysterious dark energy will rip the cosmos apart, or, conversely, that the universe will collapse in on itself. In the currently most favored theory, it will be the victim of entropy, a long, cold demise paradoxically named “heat death,” and in another scenario, which could happen at any moment, the all-pervading Higgs energy field will become unstable. (In this eventuality, Mack is careful to assure readers, the process will be painless and instantaneous.) In outlining the reasoning behind each theory, she also acknowledges opposing arguments and provides context for how astrophysicists found the supporting data. Despite the seemingly frightening topic, Mack’s endlessly entertaining survey is infused with a palpable love of her subject, and will transmit to readers the same joy she finds in exploring the wide and fascinating universe. Agent: Mollie Glick, CAA. " Rezension(4): "〈a href=http://lj.libraryjournal.com/ target=blank〉〈img src=https://images.contentreserve.com/libraryjournal_logo.png alt=Library Journal border=0 /〉〈/a〉: May 1, 2020 As theoretical astrophysicist Mack (physics, North Carolina St. Univ.) notes, while the universe we know will probably end, scientists cannot agree on the details of its demise. A formerly proposed Big Crunch is not supported by current evidence,Heat Death, Big Rip, and the Bounce are still considered possible. Vacuum Decay could even occur in the next minute, obliterating everything else that exists. The irreverent names are not Mack's creations, but fit perfectly with her frequent, playful asides about physics and physicists as she describes how much we still need to learn about the cosmos. Although the author's expertise as a science communicator is evident throughout, at times the complexity of topics requires her to oversimplify and acknowledge that readers may lack sufficient knowledge of math and physics to best understand a particular phenomenon. VERDICT Readers with some background in physical sciences, philosophers of science, and anyone wondering what to read after Brian Greene's Until the End of Time will relish this blend of wit and deep thought. --Nancy R. Curtis, Univ. of Maine Lib., OronoCopyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission. "
Language:
English
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