Facing Infinity: Black Holes and Our Place on Earth
Facing Infinity: Black Holes and Our Place on Earth
Facing Infinity: Black Holes and Our Place on Earth
Description
Description
Facing Infinity is an engaging journey through the history of black holes--from the discovery that the dark object at the center of the Milky Way, Sagittarius A*, is a black hole itself, to discussions of whether our universe is inside a black hole. Jonas Enander tackles some of the most mind-bending questions in physics and astronomy today, unveiling all we know, and have yet to discover, about the mysteries of our universe.
In late eighteenth-century England, clergyman and physicist John Michell posed a startling question--what if there are objects in space that are so large and heavy that they swallow up all of their surroundings, including light? Almost 250 years later, in April 2019, scientists captured the first picture of a black hole. We've come a long way since John Michell's initial ponderings, with scientists constantly expanding our understanding of black holes--even as much remains mysterious about them.
Author Jonas Enander, himself a trained physicist, shares insights gained from his travels everywhere around the world, visiting telescopes and observatories, and interviewing over 20 world-leading experts on the subject. As he unravels the history of our understanding of black holes, he reveals the human story behind the science. Our curiosity to know more about these elusive celestial objects led to the invention of WiFi and the calibration of GPS; our observations of distant black holes have taught us more about the Earth; and our race to discover more about the universe has had colonial impacts, leaving lasting ripples in our society today.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
"Without assuming any prior knowledge on the subject, the book provides an in-depth and completely up-to-date picture of the black hole phenomenon and the main protagonists in the growth of knowledge. Enander describes even complicated phenomena in an easy-to-understand, clear and lively manner, and spices it up with thought-provoking, personal reflections and tantalizing details, making the reading accessible, fun and exciting.--Ola Svärd, BTJ This is a marvelous popular science book, where the author seamlessly weaves together the black holes with the people behind the research, and also with humanity at large. It's clear that Jonas Enander knows the physics he's writing about, and that he can explain it to anyone interested in learning more.--Katrin Ros, Populär Astronomi I am sucked in and turn the pages hungrily, noting fine analogies made in an almost poetic prose. Jonas Enander is obviously a skilled science communicator.--Katarina O'Nils Franke, Axess [Mörkret & människan] is written as a reportage about the scientists who observe black holes, and it explains what they know about these strange celestial bodies in an initiated and nuanced way.--Julia Ravanis, SvD
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
The Allstora Membership
Membership Perks:
- Save 30% on all online store purchases
- Exclusive access to author's content
- You pay less, but authors still earn double
Membership Terms:
- To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
- One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.