The Origin Of The UniverseThere is no more profound, enduring or fascinating question in all of science than that of how time, space, and matter began. Now John Barrow, who has been at the cutting edge of research in this area and has written extensively about it, guides us on a journey to the beginning of time, into a world of temperatures and densities so high that we cannot recreate them in a laboratory. With new insights, Barrow draws us into the latest speculative theories about the nature of time and the “inflationary universe,” explains “wormholes,” showing how they bear upon the fact of our own existence, and considers whether there was a “singularity” at the inception of the universe. Here is a treatment so up-to-date and intellectually rich, deaing with ideas and speculation at the farthest frontier of science, that neither novice nor expert will want to miss what Barrow has to say. The Origin of the Universe is ”In the Beginning” for beginners—the latest information from a first-rate scientist and science writer. |
Contents
The Great Universal Catalog | 19 |
The Singularity and Other Problems | 37 |
Inflation and the COBE Search | 75 |
Copyright | |
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abundances accelerated expansion antigravitating astronomers atoms balloon become beginning big bang big crunch big-bang model called carbon centimeters COBE COBE satellite constants of nature cosmic cosmological constant cosmologists created creation critical divide detectors dimensions of space direction early universe Earth Einstein's elementary particles energy exist expanding universe experiments figure finite fluctuations forms of matter galaxy clusters grand unified theories gravitational entropy Hawking heat death helium helium-4 idea increase infinite density inflation inflationary initial conditions interactions laws of nature light rays mass material microwave background radiation monopole problem neutrino neutrons no-boundary condition nuclear reactions nuclei occur past paths period of accelerated physics picture Planck possible predictions probability produce protons region singularity spacetime spectral slope stars and galaxies static steady-state surface tell Theory of Everything things tiny tion universe began universe expands universe's values variations varieties of neutrino verse visible universe today wavefunction waves wormholes zero