Where Did the Universe Come From? And Other Cosmic Questions

Starred review from July 1, 2021
Our understanding of how the universe works is governed by two models: relativity and quantum mechanics. Both models have proven their accuracy time and again, but we also know that both can't be true. The quest to marry the two into a single coherent model remains the ultimate goal of physicists. In Where Did the Universe Come From? two physicists explore the various ways our universe is governed by both relativity and quantum mechanics, from its origins in the big bang to the evolution of galaxies, from the death of stars to the heat death of the universe. They also summarize the history of how these concepts developed. They identify the gaps in our understanding and examine ideas for how a ""theory of everything"" might be forged. The authors do an exceptional job of explaining quantum-physical concepts in layperson's terms, using examples and metaphors to illuminate the important ideas without the need to understand the mathematics. This is incredibly complicated stuff and it can only be simplified so far. Where Did the Universe Come From? is one of the most accessible summaries of the present state of cosmology on the market.

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September 27, 2021
Physicists Ferrie (Quantum Physics for Babies) and Lewis (The Cosmic Revolutionary’s Handbook) lead a tour through space and time in this accessible exploration of the universe’s greatest mysteries. In an effort to show how quantum science (about “the world of the very small”) and the cosmos (“the whole shebang”) are closely connected despite being “the two extremes of human understanding,” the authors cover a wealth of cosmological phenomena and scientific concepts. Thermodynamics (in the answer to “Why is the universe so smooth?”) and chemistry (“Where did the elements come from?”) are up first and serve as a foundation for understanding and appreciating more theoretical concepts, such as quasars, which help to explain how “we unravel the chemistry of the heavens”; a discussion of why every star doesn’t become a black hole; and a deep-dive into dark energy, which plays a role in whether “the end of the universe is really the end.” Though the early, more basic explanations are often choppy and repetitive, the authors hit their stride in later chapters as they get into knottier topics. Historical anecdotes, dashes of humor, and the authors’ passion keep things moving. Readers curious about cosmology will find this a good place to start.