Horizons of Cosmology
Details and Description
Description
Horizons of Cosmology: Exploring Worlds Seen and Unseen is the fourth title published in the Templeton Science and Religion Series, in which scientists from a wide range of fields distill their experience and knowledge into brief tours of their respective specialties. In this volume, highly esteemed astrophysicist Joseph Silk explores the vast mysteries and speculations of the field of cosmology in a way that balances an accessible style for the general reader and enough technical detail for advanced students and professionals.
Indeed, while the physical laws and origins of the universe can be endlessly complex, even Einstein once mused that they could be explained simply enough to be grasped by nonspecialists. To that end, Silk begins by introducing the basic story of the major discoveries in cosmology over the past century—wherein we learned that we live in an expanding universe populated with galaxies and stars. The middle chapters examine a number of contemporary puzzles such as dark matter and dark energy. The last third of the book looks at the human side of cosmology and moves to the more philosophical frontiers of the field, such as concepts of multiverses and time travel—areas of exploration where some crossover into speculative territory becomes unavoidable.
In the past century alone, our understanding of the universe has expanded exponentially, and it will be fascinating to see what discoveries the next hundred years hold. Few books will provide such a thorough understanding of where we have been and what might lie ahead as Horizons of Cosmology.
Table of Contents
Preface: A Wondrous Place / vii
Chapter 1: Cosmology Begins / 3
Chapter 2: Case for the Big Bang / 16
Chapter 3: Inflation Explained / 38
Chapter 4: How Stars Form / 52
Chapter 5: The Darkest Matters / 63
Chapter 6: Cosmic Archaeology / 74
Chapter 7: Detecting Dark Matter / 102
Chapter 8: Finding Dark Energy / 118
Chapter 9: Eminent Missteps in Cosmology / 132
Chapter 10: The Universe in Seven Numbers / 149
Chapter 11: Our Place in the Universe / 160
Chapter 12: Cosmology’s Future / 178
Glossary / 187
Bibliography / 193
Index / 197
Endorsements and Reviews
Endorsements
If you want to plunge into the complex and intriguing issues that engage modern cosmologists, rather than skim the surface of easy description, take this journey with Joseph Silk, who will lead you on a tour through dark matter, dark energy, black holes, galaxy formation, and the inflating and accelerating universe. Professor Silk, who knows these topics intimately from his long research career, does not hesitate to take his readers to the heart of the matter, allowing full comprehension to those who travel with him.
Reviews
The Sign
This is a serious (though accessible) history of modern cosmology and a good overview of the sum of human knowledge as it now stands, ‘on the verge of finding hordes of earth-like planets’.
Faith and Thought
A whirlwind tour of modern cosmology.
Journey Online (online review)
THIS IS an exciting book for anyone who is interested in nature and function of the universe. . . . Horizons in Cosmology is good solid stuff and will bring you up to date with recent developments in the area. —Rev Heather den Houting
Astronomy Now Online
This is not a book for beginners, but those with some grounding in stellar physics and also those who dislike equations can expect a delicious feast of mysteries and ways to solve them in store. I found it difficult, but incredibly rewarding, with some of the best “Eureka!” moments I've yet experienced, especially in understanding dark matter. —Alice Sheppard
Church Times—Issue 7678—14, May 2010
The discussion of some topics, such as galaxy formulation, on which Silk is an expert, is very detailed, in a manner that will be found insightful.
SciTech Book News
[P]opular writer on cosmology, Silk (U. of Oxford) takes on the task of explaining the puzzles and speculations of cosmology for general readers while retaining enough technical detail for advanced students and professionals.
To read the entire review, visit SciTech Book News