The Constants of NatureThe Constants of Nature
From Alpha to Omega--the Numbers That Encode the Deepest Secrets of the Universe
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Book, 2002
Current format, Book, 2002, 1st American ed, No Longer Available.Book, 2002
Current format, Book, 2002, 1st American ed, No Longer Available. Offered in 0 more formatsA major contribution to our understanding of the basic laws of the universe -- from the author of The Book of Nothing.
The constants of nature are the fundamental laws of physics that apply throughout the universe: gravity, velocity of light, electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. They encode the deepest secrets of the universe, and express at once our greatest knowledge and our greatest ignorance about the cosmos.
Their existence has taught us the profound truth that nature abounds with unseen regularities. Yet while we have become skilled at measuring the values of these constants, our frustrating inability to explain or predict their values shows how much we have still to learn about inner workings of the universe.
What is the ultimate status of these constants of nature? Are they truly constant? And are there other universes where they are different?
John D. Barrow, one of our foremost mathematicians and cosmologists, discusses the latest thinking about these and many more dramatic issues in this accessible and thought-provoking book.
The constants of nature are the numbers that define the universe. They tell us how strong its forces are and what its fundamental laws can do: the strength of gravity and magnetism, the speed of light, and the masses of the smallest particles. They encode the deepest secrets of the universe, and their existence tells us that nature abounds with unseen regularities. Yet, while we have become skilled at measuring the values of these constants, our inability to explain or predict them shows how much we still have to learn about the cosmos.
Barrow (mathematical sciences, U. of Cambridge) has been concerned about, and writing about, the constants of nature for over two decades now. Here he adds a new chapter: recent technology for analyzing light from distant quasars reveals what conditions have been like over the past 11 billion years, and startling findings about whether or not the so-called constants have been fickle. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
A leading physicist and author of Theories of Everything describes what the constants of nature--the numbers that define the universe--tell us about the inner workings of the world around us and reveals how, despite our expertise at measuring the values of such constants, we cannot explain or predict them. 25,000 first printing.
A physicist describes what the constants of nature reveal about the inner workings of the world and explains how, despite our expertise at measuring the values of such numbers, we cannot explain nor predict them.
The constants of nature are the fundamental laws of physics that apply throughout the universe: gravity, velocity of light, electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. They encode the deepest secrets of the universe, and express at once our greatest knowledge and our greatest ignorance about the cosmos.
Their existence has taught us the profound truth that nature abounds with unseen regularities. Yet while we have become skilled at measuring the values of these constants, our frustrating inability to explain or predict their values shows how much we have still to learn about inner workings of the universe.
What is the ultimate status of these constants of nature? Are they truly constant? And are there other universes where they are different?
John D. Barrow, one of our foremost mathematicians and cosmologists, discusses the latest thinking about these and many more dramatic issues in this accessible and thought-provoking book.
The constants of nature are the numbers that define the universe. They tell us how strong its forces are and what its fundamental laws can do: the strength of gravity and magnetism, the speed of light, and the masses of the smallest particles. They encode the deepest secrets of the universe, and their existence tells us that nature abounds with unseen regularities. Yet, while we have become skilled at measuring the values of these constants, our inability to explain or predict them shows how much we still have to learn about the cosmos.
Barrow (mathematical sciences, U. of Cambridge) has been concerned about, and writing about, the constants of nature for over two decades now. Here he adds a new chapter: recent technology for analyzing light from distant quasars reveals what conditions have been like over the past 11 billion years, and startling findings about whether or not the so-called constants have been fickle. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
A leading physicist and author of Theories of Everything describes what the constants of nature--the numbers that define the universe--tell us about the inner workings of the world around us and reveals how, despite our expertise at measuring the values of such constants, we cannot explain or predict them. 25,000 first printing.
A physicist describes what the constants of nature reveal about the inner workings of the world and explains how, despite our expertise at measuring the values of such numbers, we cannot explain nor predict them.
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- New York : Pantheon Books, c2002.
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