Here is a concise, understandable guide for everyone who has long wondered what the cosmologists are talking about. Succinctly and simply, Craig Hogan explains what happened in the Big Bang (and how we know), why we think the universe is expanding, and what its fate may be. He explains such terms as "cosmic inflation", "cosmic background radiation," and "dark matter" and shows why they're important. Everyone who is mystified by news stories about the universe (and reports that "the Big Bang theory is in trouble") can get a quick, painless grounding in the basics from this entertaining little book.

An indispensable book for everyone who has wondered what scientists working in cosmology are talking about, but could never find the basics explained clearly and simply Explains what happened in the early days of the Universe Reveals the means by which we know the Universe is expanding and how the expansion can look the same from every place at once Discusses different ways the Universe could end, and the meaning of such terms as "cosmic inflation," "cosmic background radiation," and "dark matter"

Zusammenfassung

From the reviews:

"The explosion of data and theory in cosmology has led to a profusion of books about modern cosmology written for non-experts. Craig Hogan's cosmic primer ranks among the best: it is a gem." NATURE

"... A book for those who already know something about the subject and want to be reminded of how all the jigsaw pieces fit together. And it is a priceless window into the mind of one of the major players in present-day cosmology." New Scientist

Inhalt
The Big Picture.- A Survey of Space and Time.- A Summary of Physics.- The Cosmic Expansion.- Cosmic Background Radiation.- Primordial Matter.- The Formation of Structure.- The Beginning.- The Future.