The Scientific American Book of the Cosmos
Books / Hardcover
Books › Science › Space Science › Astronomy
ISBN: 0312254539 / Publisher: St. Martin's Press, November 2000
Explores the mysteries of the universe in a collection of essays by some of the world's leading scientists, who address fundamental concepts of cosmology ranging from the Big Bang to the atomic structure of life on Earth
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Finally, the entire body of our scientific knowledge of the universe is available in one definitive volume. Scientific American, the oldest and most popular science magazine in the world, has prepared the most comprehensive and comprehensible book on the subject ever.Under the direction of renowned astronomer David H. Levy, thisspectacular book assembles the best minds in science to give clearand accessible explanations of the nature of the cosmos. Newlycommissioned essays by working scientists at the top of their fieldsand classic writings by such luminaries as Albert Einstein, FrancisCrick, and Carl Sagan take us to the frontiers of space and time-from sub-atomic particles to the edge of the universe.Both thoughtful and provocative, this book asks-and answers-the big questions, such as:o How did our solar system evolve? o What forces lie at the center of the atom? o What is the size of the universe? o What is dark matter? o What is the possibility of extraterrestrial life? o What is the importance of superstrings? o How do galaxies form?Dazzling full-color and black-and-white photographs aid in articulating the latest theories about the size, age, nature, and expansion of the universe, and make this book a delight to behold. Essays are grouped by topic, from the largest phenomena, such as the formation of the universe, down to the smallest detail, such as the makeup of an atom. In addition, each section contains an illuminating introduction by David Levy that binds the essays together and creates a whole picture. The Scientific American Book of the Cosmos is a valuable addition to the bookshelf of both professional astronomers and science enthusiasts alike.
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