The Infinite Cosmos Questions From The Frontiers Of Cosmology

This book addresses foundational questions raised by observational and theoretical progress in modern cosmology. As the foundational volume of an emerging academic discipline, experts from relevant fields lay out the fundamental problems of contemporary cosmology and explore the routes toward finding possible solutions, for a broad academic audience.

"The book describes our up-to-date knowledge of the Universe and suggests a new theory, the "Theory of the Chain Reaction", which explains the creation and the functioning of the material part of our Universe and the whole Cosmos. The first five chapters described herein cover the evolution of human knowledge about the Universe, the Universe as it is known today, the elementary particles and the fundamental forces, the theory of the big bang and the other existing cosmological theories about the creation. After the above, the author presents the "Theory of the Chain Reaction", a revolutionary theory that explains in an original and innovative way the creation and the evolution of our Cosmos. Next the reader will find the answers, according to the "Theory of the Chain Reaction", to some questions that still remain unanswered today about the creation such as where have the huge amounts of energy that exist in the universe been found? Does antimatter exist and, if so, where is it? Etc. The last chapter is a brief summary of the theory of the unification of the fundamental forces and physical theories. This chapter, in any case, is an introduction to the subject of the unifications and was written for readers who want to know more about this issue"--

From time immemorial, poets and philosophers have looked in awe and wonder at the Universe. Such awe is shared by astrophysicists, too, as they seek to understand its nature, and whether it has any limits. In The Infinite Cosmos, Joseph Silk, Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford University, cosmologist and well-known science writer, brings together the modern understanding of the Universe, its structure, its evolution, and its possible fate, combining the latest from theory and observation. The narrative is peppered with quotations from literature and philosophy, and reflects, too, on the process of scientific discovery, and the implications of our discoveries.

The book describes our up-to-date knowledge of the Universe and suggests a new theory, the "Theory of the Chain Reaction", which explains the creation and the functioning of the material part of our Universe and the whole Cosmos. The first five chapters described herein cover the evolution of human knowledge about the Universe, the Universe as it is known today, the elementary particles and the fundamental forces, the theory of the big bang and the other existing cosmological theories about the creation.After the above, the author presents the "Theory of the Chain Reaction", a revolutionary theory that explains in an original and innovative way the creation and the evolution of our Cosmos. Next the reader will find the answers, according to the "Theory of the Chain Reaction", to some questions that still remain unanswered today about the creation such as where have the huge amounts of energy that exist in the universe been found? Does antimatter exist and, if so, where is it? Etc.The last chapter is a brief summary of the theory of the unification of the fundamental forces and physical theories. This chapter, in any case, is an introduction to the subject of the unifications and was written for readers who want to know more about this issue.

Cosmology is the study of the origin, size, and evolution of the entire universe. Every culture has developed a cosmology, whether it be based on religious, philosophical, or scientific principles. In this book, the evolution of the scientific understanding of the Universe in Western tradition is traced from the early Greek philosophers to the most modern 21st century view. After a brief introduction to the concept of the scientific method, the first part of the book describes the way in which detailed observations of the Universe, first with the naked eye and later with increasingly complex modern instruments, ultimately led to the development of the "Big Bang" theory. The second part of the book traces the evolution of the Big Bang including the very recent observation that the expansion of the Universe is itself accelerating with time.

This book is a gentle introduction for all those wishing to learn about modern views of the cosmos. Our universe originated in a great explosion – the big bang. For nearly a century cosmologists have studied the aftermath of this explosion: how the universe expanded and cooled down, and how galaxies were gradually assembled by gravity. The nature of the bang itself has come into focus only relatively recently. It is the subject of the theory of cosmic inflation, which was developed in the last few decades and has led to a radically new global view of the universe. Students and other interested readers will find here a non-technical but conceptually rigorous account of modern cosmological ideas - describing what we know, and how we know it. One of the book's central themes is the scientific quest to find answers to the ultimate cosmic questions: Is the universe finite or infinite? Has it existed forever? If not, when and how did it come into being? Will it ever end? The book is based on the undergraduate course taught by Alex Vilenkin at Tufts University. It assumes no prior knowledge of physics or mathematics beyond elementary high school math. The necessary physics background is introduced as it is required. Each chapter includes a list of questions and exercises of varying degree of difficulty.

A scientist’s inspiring vision of our return to the Moon as humanity’s next thrilling step in space exploration Just over half a century since Neil Armstrong first stepped foot on the lunar surface, a new space race to the Moon is well underway and rapidly gaining momentum. Laying out a vision for the next fifty years, Back to the Moon is astrophysicist Joseph Silk’s persuasive and impassioned case for putting scientific discovery at the forefront of lunar exploration. The Moon offers opportunities beyond our wildest imaginings, and plans to return are rapidly gaining momentum around the world. NASA aims to build a habitable orbiting space station to coordinate lunar development and exploration, while European and Chinese space agencies are planning lunar villages and the mining of precious resources dwindling here on Earth. Powerful international and commercial interests are driving the race to revisit the Moon, but lunar infrastructures could also open breathtaking vistas onto the cosmos. Silk describes how the colonization of the Moon could usher in a thrilling new age of scientific exploration, and lays out what the next fifty years of lunar science might look like. With lunar telescopes of unprecedented size situated in permanently dark polar craters and on the far side of the Moon, we could finally be poised to answer some of the most profound questions confronting humankind, including whether we are alone in the Universe and what our cosmic origins are. Addressing both the daunting challenges and the immense promise of lunar exploration and exploitation, Back to the Moon reveals how prioritizing science, and in particular lunar astronomy, will enable us to address the deepest cosmic mysteries.