Death by black hole : and other cosmic quandaries / Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Material type: TextPublication details: New York : W.W. Norton, c2007.Edition: 1st edDescription: 384 p. ; 22 cmISBN:- 0393062244 :
- 9780393062243
- 523.8/875 22
Item type | Current library | Collection | Shelving location | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adult Book | Phillipsburg Free Public Library | Adult Non-Fiction | Adult Non-Fiction | 523.8875 TYS | Available | 36748001686908 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
A vibrant collection of essays on the cosmos from the nation\'s best-known astrophysicist.
Loyal readers of the monthly "Universe" essays in Natural History magazine have long recognized Neil deGrasse Tyson\'s talent for guiding them through the mysteries of the cosmos with stunning clarity and almost childlike enthusiasm. Here, Tyson compiles his favorite essays across a myriad of cosmic topics. The title essay introduces readers to the physics of black holes by explaining the gory details of what would happen to your body if you fell into one. "Holy Wars" examines the needless friction between science and religion in the context of historical conflicts. "The Search for Life in the Universe" explores astral life from the frontiers of astrobiology. And "Hollywood Nights" assails the movie industry\'s feeble efforts to get its night skies right.
Known for his ability to blend content, accessibility, and humor, Tyson is a natural teacher who simplifies some of the most complex concepts in astrophysics while simultaneously sharing his infectious excitement about our universe.
Includes bibliographical references (p. [363]-368) and indexes.
Table of contents provided by Syndetics
- Preface (p. 11)
- Acknowledgments (p. 13)
- Prologue: The Beginning of Science (p. 15)
- Section 1 The Nature of Knowledge: The challenges of knowing what is knowable in the universe
- 1 Coming to Our Senses (p. 25)
- 2 On Earth as in the Heavens (p. 31)
- 3 Seeing Isn't Believing (p. 38)
- 4 The Information Trap (p. 48)
- 5 Stick-in-the-Mud Science (p. 60)
- Section 2 The Knowledge of Nature: The challenges of discovering the contents of the cosmos
- 6 Journey from the Center of the Sun (p. 69)
- 7 Planet Parade (p. 75)
- 8 Vagabonds of the Solar System (p. 85)
- 9 The Five Points of Lagrange (p. 95)
- 10 Antimatter Matters (p. 102)
- Section 3 Ways and Means of Nature: How Nature presents herself to the inquiring mind
- 11 The Importance of Being Constant (p. 111)
- 12 Speed Limits (p. 119)
- 13 Going Ballistic (p. 127)
- 14 On Being Dense (p. 135)
- 15 Over the Rainbow (p. 144)
- 16 Cosmic Windows (p. 152)
- 17 Colors of the Cosmos (p. 161)
- 18 Cosmic Plasma (p. 168)
- 19 Fire and Ice (p. 175)
- Section 4 The Meaning of Life: The challenges and triumphs of knowing how we got here
- 20 Dust to Dust (p. 185)
- 21 Forged in the Stars (p. 192)
- 22 Send in the Clouds (p. 199)
- 23 Goldilocks and the Three Planets (p. 207)
- 24 Water, Water (p. 213)
- 25 Living Space (p. 221)
- 26 Life in the Universe (p. 229)
- 27 Our Radio Bubble (p. 238)
- Section 5 When the Universe Turns Bad: All the ways the cosmos wants to kill us
- 28 Chaos in the Solar System (p. 249)
- 29 Coming Attractions (p. 254)
- 30 Ends of the World (p. 263)
- 31 Galactic Engines (p. 268)
- 32 Knock 'Em Dead (p. 275)
- 33 Death by Black Hole (p. 283)
- Section 6 Science and Culture: The ruffled interface between cosmic discovery and the public's reaction to it
- 34 Things People Say (p. 291)
- 35 Fear of Numbers (p. 298)
- 36 On Being Baffled (p. 303)
- 37 Footprints in the Sands of Science (p. 309)
- 38 Let There Be Dark (p. 320)
- 39 Hollywood Nights (p. 327)
- Section 7 Science and God: When ways of knowing collide
- 40 In the Beginning (p. 337)
- 41 Holy Wars (p. 346)
- 42 The Perimeter of Ignorance (p. 353)
- References (p. 363)
- Name Index (p. 369)
- Subject Index (p. 373)