13.8: The Quest to Find the True Age of the Universe and the Theory of Everything
Popular science master John Gribbin tackles the very biggest question modern science has to answer.
The 20th century gave us two great theories of physics: the general theory of relativity, which describes the behaviour of things on a very large scale, including the entire Universe; and quantum theory, which describes the behaviour of things on a very small scale, the sub-atomic world. The refusal of the Universe to reveal an equation that combines these two great ideas has caused some people to doubt our whole understanding of physics.
In this landmark new book, popular science master John Gribbin tells the dramatic story of the quest that has led us to discover the true age of the Universe (13.8 billion years) and the stars (just a little bit younger). This discovery, Gribbin argues, is one of humankind's greatest achievements and shows us that physics is on the right track to finding the `Theory of Everything'.
13.8 provides an eye-opening look at this cutting-edge area of modern cosmology and physics, and tells the compelling story of what modern science has achieved - and what it can still achieve.
The twentieth century gave us two great theories of physics. The general theory of relativity describes the behaviour of very large things; quantum theory the behaviour of very small things.
In this landmark book, John Gribbin – one of the best-known writers of popular science over the past 30 years – presents his own version of the Holy Grail of physics, the search that has been going on for decades to find a unified ‘Theory of Everything’ that combines these ideas into one mathematical package, a single equation that could be printed on a T-shirt, containing the answer to life, the Universe and everything.
With his inimitable mixture of science, history and biography, Gribbin shows how – despite scepticism among many physicists – these two great theories are indeed very compatible, and point to a deep truth about the nature of our existence. The answer lies, intriguingly, with the age of the Universe: 13.8 billion years.
| Author | John Gribbin |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Icon |
| Place | London |
| Year | 2015 |
| ISBN | 9781785781087 |
| Binding | Paperback |
| Condition | Very Good |
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