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"If the cosmos is vast," says astrophysicist Trinh Xuan Thuan, "it is by no means silent." Nature "delights in continuously sending us her notes of music."
In this book, originally published in English by Oxford University Press in 1995 and now back in print, Thuan explores the universe, life, and human consciousness in terms of a musical score.
As prelude, Thuan describes the many other cosmologies that preceded the big bang theory of creation: the magical universe of cavemen, the ancient Chinese concept of the universe, the mathematical universe introduced by Pythagoras, and the heliocentric universe of Copernicus. He then explores the work of Galileo, Thycho Brahe, and other early scientists before moving on to our current understanding of the universe, the ways in which modern astronomers study the universe, the equipment they use, and their major discoveries.
An examination of the origin and nature of the universe inevitably raises philosophical and religious questions. Thuan addresses these questions, presenting a provocative case for the anthropic principle and illuminating the place of God in a big bang cosmology.
Blending up-to-the-minute descriptions of the forefront of astronomy with thoughtful reflections on science's possible impact on philosophical and religious belief, this sweeping monograph explores the boundary between science and philosophy, science and art, and science and religion. With many beautiful and informative illustrations, The Secret Melody presents an enthralling look at our endless efforts
to understand the cosmos and to hear the music of the stars.
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