About this item
In Calculating the Cosmos, Ian Stewart presents an exhilarating guide to the cosmos, from the solar system to the Galaxy and the entire universe. He describes the architecture of space and time, dark matter and dark energy, how galaxies form, why stars implode, how everything began, and how it's all going to end. He considers parallel universes, the fine-tuning of the cosmos for life and what forms this might take, and the likelihood of life on Earth being snuffed out by an asteroid. Mathematics has been the driving force in astronomy and cosmology since the ancient Babylonians. Stewart describes how Kepler's work on the orbits of the planets led Newton to formulate his theory of gravity, and how two centuries later tiny irregularities in the motion of Mars inspired Einstein to devise his theory of General Relativity. He explains the fundamentals of gravity, space-time, relativity and quantum theory, and how they all relate to each other. Eighty years ago, the discovery of the universe expanding led to the Big Bang theory of its origins. This in turn led cosmologists to add new features, such as inflation, dark matter, and dark energy. But does inflation explain the structure of today's universe? Does dark matter actually exist? Could a scientific revolution be on the way, which will challenge the long-held scientific orthodoxy and once again transform our understanding of the universe? In an exciting and engaging style, Calculating the Cosmos is a mathematical quest through the intricate realms of astronomy and cosmology.
About the Author
Ian Nicholas Stewart FRS (born 24 September 1945) is a professor of mathematics at the University of Warwick, England, and a widely known popular-science and science-fiction writer. He is the first recipient of the Christopher Zeeman Medal, awarded jointly by the LMS and the IMA for his work on promoting mathematics.
