Before The Beginning: Our Universe And Others (Helix Books) - Hardcover

Rees, Martin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0201151421 ISBN 13: 9780201151428

Publisher: Basic Books, 1997

Synopsis

Explores the repercussions of recent advances in astrophysics on the understanding of the universe and the possibility of life outside the Milky Way

About this title

Review:

"Although we cannot observe them (and they may be forever inaccessible), other universes are a natural expectation from current cosmology. Moreover, many features of our universe that otherwise seem baffling fall into place once we recognize this." Sir Martin Rees, the British Astronomer Royal, gives a vivid, occasionally acid tour of current astrophysics and cosmology, with insights into scientific politics, such as the enormous increase in the cost of the space telescope because of its association with the Space Shuttle. He also offers keen observations on personalities such as Subrahmayan Chandrasekhar and Isaac Newton, Yakov Zeldovich and Albert Einstein. Joseph Silk calls Before the Beginning "an unusual blend of wit, asperity and cosmology ... a combination of clarity and conciseness."

About the Author:

Matrin Rees is a leading researcher on cosmic evolution, black holes, and galaxies. He has himself originated many key ideas, and brings a unique perspective to themes discussed in this book. He is currently a Royal Society Research Professor, and Great Britain's Astronomer Royal. Through based in Cambridge University for most of his career, he travels extensively, and collaborates wit many colleagues in the U.S. and elsewhere. He is an enthusiast for international collaboration in research, and is a member of several foreign academies.

About this edition

• Publisher: Basic Books
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0201151421
• ISBN 13: 9780201151428
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304