As new discoveries complicate the scientific picture of the universe, the evolving theories about the nature of space and time and the origins and fate of the universe threaten to become overwhelming. Enter David Seargent. Continuing the author's series of books popularizing strange astronomy facts and knowledge, Weird Universe explains the bizarre, complicated terrain of modern cosmology for lay readers.

From exploring some of the strange consequences of the theories of special and general relativity, to probing time dilation and the twin and mother-and-baby paradoxes and the theory that the universe can be mathematically considered as a hologram, all of the latest findings and conjectures are clearly described in non-technical language. The development of quantum physics and the more recent developments of string and M-theory are looked at, in addition to several hypotheses that have not won wide acceptance from the scientific community, such as modified gravity. Enter the wonderfully weird world of these theories and gain a new appreciation for the latest findings in cosmological research.

Introduces the most up-to-date and startling research findings in cosmology Maintains an approachable, informal and non-technical tone accessible to non-specialists Continues the author's well-received "Weird" series, including "Weird Weather," "Weird Astronomy" and "Weird Worlds" Like the earlier titles, this one suggests some projects and activities the reader can do to better understand the concepts presented

Autorentext
David A. J. Seargent holds an MA and Ph.D., both in Philosophy from the University of Newcastle NSW, where he formerly worked as a tutor in Philosophy for the Department of Community of Programs/Worker's Educational Association external education program. As an amateur astronomer, he is known for his observations of comets, one of which he discovered in 1978. He is the author of five astronomy books: Comets Vagabonds in Space (Doubleday, 1982), The Greatest Comets in History (Springer, 2008), Weird Astronomy (Springer, 2010), Weird Weather (Springer, 2012), and most recently "Weird Worlds" (2013). He is the author of a regular column in Australian Sky and Telescope magazine.

Inhalt
From Water World to Inflation.- Space, Time, Relativity and Other Things.- The Shape, Size, Age and Origin of the Universe.- Of Atoms, Quanta, Strings and Branes.- Observations and Ideas From Left Field.- Appendix.