In this audiobook, astrophysicist Janna Levin blends memoir and visionary science to provide a groundbreaking personal account of her life and ideas Is the universe infinite or just really big? With this question, cosmologist Janna Levin announces the central theme of this book, which established her as one of the most direct, unorthodox, and creative voices in contemporary science. As Levin sets out to determine how big "really big" may be, she offers a rare intimate look at the daily life of an innovative physicist, complete with jet lag and the tensions between personal relationships and the extreme demands of scientific exploration. Nimbly explaining geometry, topology, chaos, and string theory, Levin shows how the pattern of hot and cold spots left over from the big bang may one day reveal the size of the cosmos. The result is a thrilling story of cosmology by one of its leading thinkers. Janna Levin is professor of physics and astronomy at Barnard College of Columbia University and director of sciences at Pioneer Works, a nonprofit cultural center in Brooklyn. Her books include Black Hole Blues, Black Hole Survival Guide, and a prize-winning novel, A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines. She presented NOVA's Black Hole Apocalypse and has delivered iconic stories at The Moth and TED."If the universe is infinite, then its possibilities are infinite as well. But in How the Universe Got Its Spots, the astrophysicist Janna Levin insists that infinity works as a hypothetical concept only, and that it is not found in nature."---Lauren Porcaro, New Yorker"[A] touchingly personal account."---Jim McClean, The Herald (Glasgow)"[A] lovely, utterly original book. . . . This intimate account of the life and thought of a physicist is one of the nicest scientific books I have ever read—personal and honest, clear and informative, entertaining and difficult to put down."---Alejandro Gangui, American Scientist"Gorgeously written."---Mary Carmichael, Newsweek"Highly original. . . . Few scientists are capable of putting their understanding and experiences into words as effectively."---Peter Coles, Nature"Gives a personal resonance to scientists' attempts to understand the mysteries of the universe.""Levin not only tours the wilder reaches of cosmology, but she also bares her soul.""How the Universe Got Its Spots is a genuine attempt to break down barriers, both intellectual and emotional, between scientists and their wished-for audience."---Ken Grimes and Alison Boyle, Astronomy
Pubblicato da: Princeton University Press