Product Description

In this stunning new guide to the Cosmos, Adam Hart-Davis brings us the latest news from the boundaries of the universe. By travelling the world to interview scientists at the sharp end of astronomical research - and visiting some of the largest scientific machines ever built - Adam reveals the current attempts to solve some of the most profound questions ever asked. How close are we to finding extraterrestrial life in our own solar system? Will we ever discover what happened in the very instant of creation itself - the Big Bang? What is the ultimate fate of the universe? Adam reports from the places where missions are launched, vast experiments are conducted, and new galaxies discovered. Using sketches and photos, he demonstrates in his own inimitable way what we could do to prevent an asteroid smashing into Earth, how we can detect exoplanets, and what aliens might see if they were watching our television signals. He shows us the workings of spacecraft and instruments, and explains how the latest findings have advanced our knowledge of how the universe ticks. Accompanying a six-part series on BBC2, "Adam's Guide to the Cosmos" takes us on a mind-bending journey to the edge of the Universe and the frontier of our understanding of our mysterious Cosmos.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #184884 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

From the Publisher
Adam Hart-Davis reports from the cutting edge of space exploration to reveal and explain the mysteries of the Cosmos

About the Author
Adam Hart-Davis is a well-known BBC television presenter and popular science enthusiast. From 1995 to 2000 he presented Local Heroes, in which he cycled around the country telling the stories of the pioneers of science and recreating their experiments. He went on to present What the Romans Did For Us, followed by series on the Victorians, the Tudors and Stuarts, and the Ancients, all of which were accompanied by successful tie-in books. In April 2006 he presented Stardate: Mysteries of Venus to coincide with the Transit of Venus. Paul Bader is the Executive Producer of The Cosmos - A Beginner's Guide. Paul has worked with Adam for many years and the two have co-authored several books together.

Customer Reviews

Clear, up to date, engaging
On a UK trip, I just happened to notice and buy this brand new book. Since I do educational outreach using space and astronomy themes (JPL Solar System Ambassador in the US), I'm always looking for new material. Although it's written to accompany a new BBC series which I haven't seen, the book stands on its own as a brief, highly readable, nicely illustrated introduction to the universe as we now know it today. I like the way it integrates space exploration and astronomy and includes some of the latest information on the search for "exoplanets" (outside our solar system) and on the latest ground based as well as space based astronomy instruments. It's very up to date with references and pictures from early 2007. The book also does a nice job of connecting other science fields (e.g., particle accelerators and "extremophiles," bacteria and other life forms found in extreme environments on Earth) with space and astronomy, as in the quest to understand the universe just after the big bang, and the search for life beyond Earth.

I have many space and astronomy books, but this is one of the few that I have read from cover to cover (many in this genre are closer to reference books). I believe adults as well as older children (say 12 and up) will enjoy this book. It's written in a lighthearted style with excellent explanations and analogies to help readers understand the complexities of astronomical discoveries.

Not just for beginners!
This book presents astronomy/cosmology in a refreshingly clear way.
Deals with The Big Bang, Seeing the Universe, Space Exploration, Other Worlds, The 'Violent' Universe' and 'Are We Alone?'.
What I enjoy most about this book is that the science is demonstrated in laymen's terms with simple diagrams and analogies.
I am not a beginner, but find that most books of this genre don't explain the science behind the latest findings.
Not the book for you if you want a constellation or observing guide, though.