Calculating the Cosmos

Author(s): Ian Stewart

Nature & Science

In Calculating the Cosmos, Ian Stewart presents an exhilarating guide to the cosmos, from our solar system to the entire universe. He describes the architecture of space and time, dark matter and dark energy, how galaxies form, why stars implode, how everything began, and how it's all going to end. He considers parallel universes, the fine-tuning of the cosmos for life, what forms extraterrestrial life might take, and the likelihood of life on Earth being snuffed out by an asteroid.Beginning with the Babylonian integration of mathematics into the study of astronomy and cosmology, Stewart traces the evolution of our understanding of the cosmos: How Kepler's laws of planetary motion led Newton to formulate his theory of gravity. How, two centuries later, tiny irregularities in the motion of Mars inspired Einstein to devise his general theory of relativity. How, eighty years ago, the discovery that the universe is expanding led to the development of the Big Bang theory of its origins. How single-point origin and expansion led cosmologists to theorize new components of the universe, such as inflation, dark matter, and dark energy. But does inflation explain the structure of today's universe? Does dark matter actually exist? Could a scientific revolution that will challenge the long-held scientific orthodoxy and once again transform our understanding of the universe be on the way? In an exciting and engaging style, Calculating the Cosmos is a mathematical quest through the intricate realms of astronomy and cosmology.

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One of the world's great mathematicians explores the origins, history and future of the universe

A fascinating tour, seamlessly spliced and historically contexualised Nature Ian Stewart elegantly reviews the uncanny effectiveness of mathematics in explaining the universe... Mr. Stewart beautifully describes how Newton's laws can still produce surprising results. Wall Street Journal The book does an excellent job of both explaining and entertaining. The author makes you think about familiar subjects in a new way and is very good at filling in any gaps in your knowledge, while also pointing out those areas that need further research Sky at Night Magazine With captivating stories and his signature clarity, Ian Stewart shows us how math makes the world - and the rest of the universe - go round -- Steven Strogatz, Professor of Mathematics, Cornell University, and author of The Joy of X Stewart is Britain's most brilliant and prolific populariser of maths. -- Alex Bellos Stewart is sure to please math lovers, history buffs, and science enthusiasts alike by covering an array of eras, innovators, and disciplines. Publishers Weekly Praise for previous books: 'This is not pure maths. It is maths contaminated with wit, wisdom, and wonder. Ian really is unsurpassed as raconteur of the world of numbers. He guides us on a mind-boggling journey from the ultra trivial to the profound. Thoroughly entertaining New Scientist Stewart has served up the instructive equivalent of a Michelin-starred tasting menu, or perhaps a smorgasbord of appetisers. And of course, appetisers are designed to give you an appetite for more Guardian

Ian Stewart is Mathematics Professor Emeritus at the University of Warwick. His books include Incredible Numbers, Seventeen Equations that Changed the World, The Great Mathematical Problems and Professor Stewart's Casebook of Mathematical Mysteries. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society; his awards include the IMA Gold Medal (2000), the American Association for the Advancement of Science's Public Understanding of Science and Technology Award (2001), the Zeeman Medal (2008), and the Lewis Thomas Prize (2015, joint with Steven Strogatz).

General Fields

  • : 9781781254332
  • : Profile Books Limited
  • : Profile Books Ltd
  • : 0.308
  • : August 2017
  • : 198mm X 129mm
  • : United Kingdom
  • : August 2017
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : 8 page colour photo plate section - black and white images throughout
  • : 8 page colour photo plate section - black and white images throughout
  • : 352
  • : 523.101/51
  • : English
  • : Main
  • : Paperback
  • : Ian Stewart