Strange Matters: Undiscovered Ideas at the Frontiers of Space and Time (Science) Book + PRICE WATCH * Amazon pricing is not included in price watch

Strange Matters: Undiscovered Ideas at the Frontiers of Space and Time (Science) Book

Scientists studying the universe find strange things in two places—out in space and in their heads. This is the story of how the most imaginative physicists of our time perceive strange features of the universe in advance of the actual discoveries.It is almost a given that physics and cosmology present us with some of the grandest mysteries of all. What weightier questions to ponder than, "How does the universe work?" or "What is the universe made of?" There are any number of bizarre phenomena that could provide clues or even answers to these queries. The strangeness ranges from unusual forms of matter and realms of existence to wild ideas about how time and space are related to one another. Many of these proposals may well turn out to be wrong. But how many will be proven to be right?This book speaks for the scientific theorists who are bold enough to imagine and predict the impossible. New ideas are percolating in their heads every day. One physicist may dream of subatomic particles that could resolve a variety of cosmological conundrums while another may study the likes of "funny energy," which may explain how rapidly the universe is expanding. This is the stuff of Strange Matters.In broad terms, this book is about a variety of discoveries that theorists of the past imagined before the observers and experimenters actually saw them. Moreover, it is about the things that today’s are now imagining—but haven't yet been discovered or confirmed by the observers. Strange Matters artfully mixes the present with the past and future, reporting from the frontiers of research where history is in the process of being made.Each chapter examines a different step along the twisted path we've walked to gain our rudimentary understanding of the universe, incorporating historical examples of successful "prediscoveries" with current stories that relate brand new ideas. We come to see the universe not only in terms of what has already been discovered, but also in terms of what has yet to be observed.Strange Matters is a guide to the discoveries of the twenty-first century, a series of visions dreamt by the most imaginative scientists of our time merged with the achievements of the past—to point the way towards even greater accomplishments of the future.Read More

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  • Product Description

    From mirror matter, super matter, and cosmic bubbles to branes, ghosts, and two-timing universes, theoretical physicists dream up the most bizarre concepts imaginable. New and radical ideas abound -- science fiction on the verge of becoming scientific fact. One scientist may envision a whole new subatomic particle that finally explains a nagging cosmological conundrum while another may be chasing "funny energy," which could be the key to the accelerating universe. These are indeed Strange Matters. A fantastic tour of the wonders of modern physics and cosmology, Strange Matters begins with a wild romp through the cosmos hosted by leading theorists of the past. We see how their ideas blossomed from imagined to proved as observers and experimenters gradually provided verification of once-crazy hypotheses. We then hitch a ride with today's physicists to learn what twenty-first century science has to offer in the way of cutting edge theories -- ideas that even now eagerly await confirmation.

    Author Tom Siegfried artfully mixes the present with the past and future, reporting from the frontiers of research where history is in the process of being made. As we follow the first bold steps taken by geniuses like Einstein, Riemann, and Oppenheimer, we get a sense of where this gloriously twisted path, paved with scientific musings of Guth, Witten, and Randall might lead us. Ultimately, Strange Matters is a guide to the prediscoveries of the 21st century, a series of visions dreamt by the most creative scientists of our time paired with the achievements of the past -- pointing the way towards even greater wonders yet to come. So sit back, set your mind for warp drive, and plunge into weird world of quark nuggets, selectrons, quintessence, and quantum cosmology. It is, indeed, a long, strange trip.

  • 0309084075
  • 9780309084079
  • Tom Siegfried
  • 9 August 2002
  • Henry (Joseph) Press
  • Hardcover (Book)
  • 224
  • illustrated edition
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