Calculating the Cosmos: How Mathematics Unveils the Universe
Written by Ian Stewart
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
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.
Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart is Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at the University of Warwick and the author of the bestseller Professor Stewart's Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities. His recent books include Do Dice Play God?, Significant Figures, Professor Stewart's Incredible Numbers, Seventeen Equations that Changed the World, Professor Stewart's Casebook of Mathematical Mysteries and Calculating the Cosmos. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society.
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Reviews for Calculating the Cosmos
28 ratings3 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is definitely a cut above all other general astronomy books for the general public. A lot of these types of books just rehash the same old stories, but this one goes into a lot more detail about losing its clarity. The author is obviously well versed in the underlying mathematics of the phenomena that he discusses, and he is not afraid to talk about the holes and troubles that some of these theories have. My only issue is that there are a lot of mispronunciations in the audiobook, but that is quite common in science audiobooks way that narrator has never heard the scientific terms.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5If you like math and you like the cosmos this book is for you
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I'm so sorry I finished this - I just wanted it to go on and on and now I don't want to give it back to the library. I found it a new (for me) perspective on cosmological ideas and that helped me learn a lot. In the end I'm neither a mathematician nor a cosmologist so I have no worry about things being true or false at this stage and I can just enjoy the ideas.