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One of "The Barnes and Noble Review "Editors' Picks: Best
Nonfiction of 2012
Selected by "The Christian Science Monitor "as one of "21 smart
nonfiction titles we think you'll enjoy this summer"
Selected by "The New Scientist" as one of 10 books to look out for
in 2012
We've long understood black holes to be the points at which the
universe as we know it comes to an end. Often billions of times
more massive than the Sun, they lurk in the inner sanctum of almost
every galaxy of stars in the universe. They're mysterious chasms so
destructive and unforgiving that not even light can escape their
deadly wrath.
Recent research, however, has led to a cascade of new discoveries
that have revealed an entirely different side to black holes. As
the astrophysicist Caleb Scharf reveals in "Gravity's Engines,"
these chasms in space-time don't just vacuum up everything that
comes near them; they also spit out huge beams and clouds of
matter. Black holes blow bubbles.
With clarity and keen intellect, Scharf masterfully explains how
these bubbles profoundly rearrange the cosmos around them. Engaging
with our deepest questions about the universe, he takes us on an
intimate journey through the endlessly colorful place we call our
galaxy and reminds us that the Milky Way sits in a special place in
the cosmic zoo--a "sweet spot" of properties. Is it coincidental
that we find ourselves here at this place and time? Could there be
a deeper connection between the nature of black holes and their
role in the universe and the phenomenon of life? We are, after all,
made of the stuff of stars.
A thrilling journey through the recent discoveries in astronomy
that point to our cosmic significance In The Copernicus Complex,
the renowned astrophysicist and author Caleb Scharf takes us on a
cosmic adventure like no other, asserting that the age-old
Copernican principle is in need of updating. When Copernicus
proposed that the Earth was not the fixed point at the center of
the known universe (and therefore we are not unique), he set in
motion a colossal scientific juggernaut, forever changing our
vision of nature. But the principle, Scharf argues, has never been
entirely true-we do live at a particular time, in a particular
location, under particular circumstances. By bringing together the
latest discoveries in cutting-edge astronomy, Scharf shows how many
aspects of our cosmic home are genuinely unique, and reveals what
it means for our quest to determine whether we are alone in the
universe.
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