Bang! : The Complete History of the Universe

by May, Brian

• ISBN13: 9780801889851
• ISBN10: 0801889855
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-04-10
• Publisher: Johns Hopkins Univ Pr

Summary

Who knows what Brian May was thinking when he wrote "We Will Rock You" for Queen? As a lifelong astrophysics aficionado, he may have been thinking about the origins of the universe. He's certainly been thinking about it lately. May, a freshly minted astrophysics Ph.D., joins forces with legendary astronomer Patrick Moore and astrophysicist Chris Lintott in Bang! to consider the history of the universe from the Big Bang to Heat Death.Space, time, and matter were birthed 13.7 billion years ago and will continue on longer than we are able to comprehend. Infinitesimally small at first, the Universe is immense and ever expanding. Bang! explains how it all started, takes you on a tour of what is known about the evolution of the Universe, and posits how the end of time will come about.This fascinating book includes photographs, short biographies of key figures, an at-a-glance timeline, a glossary of terms, and suggested resources for further exploration.Based on the work of history's most brilliant scientific minds, this amazing story features clear, straightforward discussions of the most perplexing and compelling aspects of existence -- from the formation of stars, planets, and other galactic bodies to black holes, quasars, anti-matter, and dark matter to the emergence of life and the possibility that it could exist elsewhere.Pick up a copy of Bang! It will, it will rock you.

Author Biography

Brian May is the founding guitarist of the rock band Queen and a longtime astrophysics enthusiast. He recently was awarded a Ph.D. in the field by the University of London. Patrick Moore has been studying astronomy since long before mankind made it into space and was knighted for his service to the science. He is the host of The Sky at Night, the author of more than 70 astronomy books, and the co-founder and former president of the Society for Popular Astronomy. Chris Lintott is an astrophysicist who specializes in star formation.

Table of Contents

Prefaces	p. 8
The Lure of the Skies	p. 14
Genesis: In the Beginning	p. 24
And Then There Was Light	p. 42
The Evolving Universe	p. 70
Stars and Planets	p. 90
The Emergence of Life	p. 110
Into the Future	p. 128
The End of the Universe	p. 148
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.