Want a NOOK? Explore Now
“Splendidly satisfying reading, designed for a nonspecialist audience.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Evalyn Gates, a talented astrophysicist, transports readers to the edge of contemporary science to explore the revolutionary tool—”Einstein’s telescope”—that is unlocking the secrets of the Universe. Einstein’s telescope, or gravitational lensing, is so-called for the way gravity causes space to distort and allow massive objects to act like “lenses,” amplifying and distorting the images of objects behind them. By allowing for the detection of mass where no light is found, scientists can map out the distribution of dark matter and come a step closer to teasing out the effects of dark energy on the Universe—which may forever upend long-held notions about where the Universe came from and where it is going.
There is far more to the universe than meets the eye: invisible dark matter and dark energy constitute the vast bulk of the cosmos and are responsible for its accelerating expansion. Gates, assistant director of the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics, explores the science of these invisible phenomena and the questions they raise about the universe's origins, its present and its future. Gates explains how scientists discovered the existence of dark matter and their theories about the nature of the particles (with named like WIMPs) that form it. Astrophysicists have found tools to measure the invisible mass: the stars themselves. Drawing on Einstein's theory of general relativity, scientists can "see" dark matter using "gravitational lensing"-by measuring the deflection of light around a cosmic object, they can measure the object's mass. Presenting complicated topics concisely and clearly, Gates explains what we know about the universe, what scientists wish they knew, and what's at stake-the fate of the universe itself. 8 pages of color and 40 b&w illus. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Gravity should be slowing the expansion of the universe, but, instead, the expansion is accelerating owing to a force astronomers believe is even stronger than gravity-dark energy. It is the aim of University of Chicago astrophysicist Gates to make accessible to all readers the fascinating discoveries made possible through a new tool based on Einstein's theory of general real, gravitational lensing, or "Einstein's Telescope." In her preface, the author asserts that the cosmos, like music, can be appreciated many ways and at many different levels. She succeeds in presenting mind-boggling ideas with an engaging, readable style that will appeal to nonscientists and scientists alike. Readers are encouraged to appreciate the sheer beauty of the book's astronomical images as they learn how the images were obtained and what they represent. Gates writes with a freshness and clarity that make complex ideas such as relativity, lensing, black holes, and the cosmic web understandable. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries of all sizes.
—Denise Dayton
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
Glossary of Acronyms xiii
Chapter 1 What Is the Universe Made Of? 3
Chapter 2 A Revolution in Space and Time 32
Chapter 3 A Cosmic Expansion 54
Chapter 4 Einstein's Telescope 67
Chapter 5 MACHOs and WIMPs 90
Chapter 6 Black Holes and Planets 112
Chapter 7 Weighing the Universe 137
Chapter 8 Cold Dark Matter 159
Chapter 9 Tracing the Invisible-and Finding Dark Matter 178
Chapter 10 An Accelerating Universe 196
Chapter 11 The Imprint of Dark Energy on the Cosmic Web 225
Chapter 12 Gravity Waves 248
Epilogue Dark Matter and Dark Energy: Keys to the Next Revolution 266
Notes 271
Illustration Acknowledgments 290
Index 293
bareshiyth
Posted August 1, 2009
Great writing, good basic science, and the best skinny on a really useful development in cosmological and astronomical science one could ask for!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.MKWIN
Posted October 16, 2012
EINSTEIN'S TELESCOPE is a fantastic story from modern cosmology.The author explains gracefully about Dark Matter ,Dark Energy and Gravitational Lensing and tells us,why we know they are there and how we are trying to see them.She guides the readers in a clear and straightforward manner to gain insight in to mysteries of the universe.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Blubmin
Posted November 1, 2011
Found beneath the cover of Einstein's Telescope is a book that manages to explain the complex theories behind gravitational lensing in a way that appeals to the layman without dumbing anything down. Assuredly it will appeal to any lover of the cosmic and easily captivates a curiosity of it. Regardless of knowledge of the subject of relativity, author Gates provides an ample exploration into the history of the theories upon which this book is based. It is upon this foundation that the rest of the book (especially the latter chapters) rest upon. 40 illustrations and diagrams dot the pages of the book and are effective tools in understanding many of the basic theories that Gates brings up. Through the course of the book, Gates manages to paint a modern comprehension of what the Universe is made of and where it is going. Gates (Ph.D. in Theoretical Particle Physics) remarks on the works of modern and past scientists and their efforts to explain why the universe is expanding and what that means to our current theories. Many questions are brought up and many are left unanswered. From this we're given a sense that perhaps the more we delve into the mechanics of the universe, the less we will truly know - a fact that is just about as frightening as it is intriguing. One thing is certain, however, that the impact of Einstein on the scientific community will most definitely continue through the use of gravitational lensing (Einstein's Telescope). Overall, this book is a beautiful introduction to something seemingly unreachable by any non-scientist. It flows in a very chronological manner which makes following only that much easier. From 1917 to the 2000's we see a progression in human comprehension that is bound to enthrall all the curious, science-loving people out there.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 29, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted September 28, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted March 27, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted February 3, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted July 14, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted February 21, 2013
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted July 16, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted March 2, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted April 25, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted January 3, 2012
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted May 5, 2011
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted November 6, 2010
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted July 17, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Anonymous
Posted November 23, 2009
No text was provided for this review.
Overview
“Splendidly satisfying reading, designed for a nonspecialist audience.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Evalyn Gates, a talented astrophysicist, transports readers to the edge of contemporary science to explore the revolutionary tool—”Einstein’s telescope”—that is unlocking the secrets of the Universe. Einstein’s telescope, or gravitational lensing, is so-called for the way gravity causes space to distort and allow massive objects to act like “lenses,” amplifying and distorting ...