Universe Down to Earth

by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Overview

This witty and amusing exploration of the physical universe explains fundamental concepts in language that is clear to anyone with little or no scientific background. Tyson transforms everyday experiences into venues of cosmic enlightenment as he probes the philosophy, methods, and discoveries of science, including stellar evolution, the conservation of energy, the electromagnetic spectrum, gravity and thermodynamics. Deftly demystifying astronomical terms and concepts such as the Big Bang, black holes, redshifts, syzygy, and Kirkwood Gaps, Universe Down to Earth traces the life of the stars from birth to death; presents the Periodic Table of Elements, highlighting noteworthy elements such as titanium, iron, and hydrogen; gives an unorthodox yet entertaining tour of famous constellations; and tackles modern-day astrology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780231075619
Publisher:	Columbia University Press
Publication date:	11/23/1995
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	277
Product dimensions:	5.63(w) x 8.18(h) x 0.85(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Neil D. Tyson is research scientist in astrophysics at Princeton University and Curator of Astronomy, Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural History. A graduate of the Bronx High School of Science in New York City, Dr. Tyson received his B.A. in Physics from Harvard and his Ph.D. in Astrophysics from Columbia. He is author of the question-and-answer book Merlin's Tour of the Universe, published by Columbia University Press

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgements
List of Figures
Part I: Methods of Science
1. A Sentimental Journey to the Googolplex: A romp through numbers big and small
2. The Structure of Science: Behind the scenes of the scientific process
3. Measure for Pleasure: Measurement is the lifeblood of all science
4. The Confused Person's Guide to Astronomical Jargon: Names and words that do not always mean what they say
Part II: Some Unifying Ideas in the Physical Universe
5. Center of Mass: You will never leave home without it
6. Energy: Where it comes from and where it goes
7. The Electromagnetic Spectrum: The world of light
8. Shapes of Radiation: Why blue-hot is hotter than red-hot
9. The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram: The most unifying concept in all astronomy
10. Highlights from the Periodic Table of the Elements: Some of your best friends are composed of elements
Part III: Astronomy Is Looking Up
11. Menagerie: A cynic's guide to the constellations
12. Horrorscope: An astronomer's rebuttal
13. Celestial Windings: Making sense of heavenly motions
Suggested Reading
Index

Editorial Reviews

A delightful, witty, informal, and wise guide to a sampling of essential principles, processes, and concepts of science.

Skeptical Inquirer

This often amusing exploration of the physical universe explains fundamental concepts in a language that is clear to the layperson with little or no science background. The author probes the philosophy, methods, and discoveries of science, including stellar evolution, the conservation of energy, the electromagnetic spectrum, gravity, and thermodynamics. Beginning with the history of counting, he demonstrates the universality of mathematics, then goes on to describe the scientific method, astronomy terms, and the periodic table. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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