When The Universe Took A U Turn

This book addresses some of the baffling questions encountered at the final frontier of space and time related to particle physics and cosmology in the context of recent iconoclastic observations and developments. When particle physics stagnated in the early seventies, a new development emerged OCo String Theory. For the past 25 years, String Theory, popularly called the OC Theory of EverythingOCO, has mesmerized not just scientists, but also the general public. Yet a closer scrutiny today reveals that it is no more than a mathematical marvel. It has neither predicted anything nor has it been anywhere near verification. We are essentially where we were in the early seventies. Another chronic problem that Einstein had abandoned was the unified description of his theory of General Relativity that deals with the Universe at large and Electromagnetism which is to do with particles. Such a description is necessary even if it warrants a radical departure from our time-honoured ideas of space and time. A bright spot has now appeared in Cosmology. Iconoclastic observations in the past years have shown that the Universe is actually accelerating, driven by a mysterious Dark Energy. This book takes the lay reader through these uncharted waters and mind-boggling developments on an unimaginable journey from the ultra small to the farthest stretches conceivable, via such imagination defying concepts as extra dimensions and multiple universes. Sample Chapter(s). Chapter 1: The Lord is subtle, but defies commonsense! (120 KB). Contents: The Lord is Subtle, But Defies Commonsense!; You Can Be Younger Than Your Grandson; God Does Not Play Dice, or Does He?; Time is Running Backwards Isn''t It?; On a Collision Course; Law Without Law; When the Universe Took a U Turn. Readership: Students and academics interested in theoretical physics and history of science.

Michael Berry is a theoretical physicist who has contributed to a wide variety of areas in quantum mechanics, optics and related mathematics, linked by the geometrical aspects of waves, especially phase. This collection of his selected published and unpublished papers, reviews, tributes to other scientists, speeches and other works ranges from the technical to the popular. It is organized by the themes of his significant scientific contributions. Detailed introductions emphasize the rich connections between the different themes. An essential read for physicists, mathematicians, students and philosophers of science.

Voyages Through the Universe, Second Edition, provides students and professors with the best of both worlds. It is written by two distinguished research scientists (Morrison and Wolff) and an award-winning astronomy educator (Fraknoi). This author team combines the latest science with classroom-tested teaching strategies.Voyages Through the Universe is adopted at a wide range of schools: elite private four-year universities, state schools of all levels, and a variety of two-year schools. It is extremely authoritative and up-to-date as well as approachable and accessible to all students.Besides the full text, volume one (Voyages to the Planets) and volume two (Voyages to the Stars and Galaxies) are now stand-alone, complete texts. This enables instructors to choose the book that best fits their needs for any length course on either or both subjects.