New Eyes on the Universe

New Eyes on the Universe Twelve Cosmic Mysteries and the Tools We Need to Solve Them gives an up-to-date broad overview of some of the key issues in modern astronomy and cosmology. It describes the vast amount of observational data that the new generation of observatories and telescopes are currently producing, and how that data might solve some of the outstanding puzzles inherent in our emerging world view. Included are questions such as: What is causing the Universe to blow itself apart? What could be powering the luminous gamma-ray bursters? Where is all the matter in the Universe? Do other Earths exist? Is there intelligent life out there? The renowned author explains clearly, without recourse to mathematics, why each question is puzzling and worthy of research. Included in the study of the wide range of sensitive and powerful instruments used by scientists to try and solve these problems are ones which capture electromagnetic radiation and 'telescopes' for cosmic rays, neutrinos, gravitational waves, and dark matter.

This book discusses twelve areas of active astronomical research, ranging from the nature of dark energy to the existence or otherwise of extraterrestrial civilizations, and devotes one chapter to each topic. Although astronomers tackle each of these questions using information gleaned from all possible wavelengths and sources (and this is emphasized throughout the book), in this work the author dedicates each chapter to a particular observational method. One chapter covers X-ray telescopes for investigating black holes, while another uses infrared telescopes to learn more about planetary information.

Provides an overview of the most important issues still to be resolved in astronomy and cosmology Introduces a wide range of observatories, including instruments for capturing more exotic kinds of electromagnetic radiation Explains how 'telescopes' function for cosmic rays, neutrinos, gravitational waves, and dark matter Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Autorentext
Dr. Stephen Webb has a B.Sc. in Physics from Bristol University, and Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Manchester University. He was elected as a Member of Institute of Physics and awarded status of Chartered Physicist. Stephen has three previous books with Springer, including; Measuring the Universe: The Cosmological Distance Ladder (1999), If the Universe is Teeming with AliensWhere Is Everybody (2002), and Out of this World (2004). All have been well received and reviewed. If the Universe is Teeming with AliensWhere is Everybody? has won several awards and was shortlisted for the prestigious Aventis Prize for popular science writing. All three books deal with areas of astronomy and cosmology that have seen tremendous advances in recent years.

Klappentext

Today's scientists have at their command a wide range of sensitive and powerful instruments, not only those that capture electromagnetic radiation but also 'telescopes' for cosmic rays, neutrinos, gravitational waves, and dark matter. Using the vast amount of observational data produced by this new generation of observatories and telescopes, New Eyes on the Universe shows how some of the outstanding puzzles inherent in our emerging world view might be solved. With color illustrations throughout the text, this book is a fascinating exploration of the mysteries that the Universe still contains, such as

• What is causing the Universe to blow itself apart?
• What could be powering the luminous gamma-ray bursters?
• Where is all the matter in the Universe?
• Do other Earths exist?
• What is the nature of dark matter?

New Eyes on the Universe looks at these and other key issues in modern astronomy and cosmology. It explains clearly, without recourse to mathematics, why each question is puzzling and worthy of research.

Inhalt

Preface.- Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: The oldest light in the Universe.- Chapter 3: Through a glass, darkly.- Chapter 4: A problem of some gravity.- Chapter 5: Where God divides by zero.- Chapter 6: The "Oh my God" particles.- Chapter 7: Deep sea, deep snow...deep space.- Chapter 8: Far as human eye can see.- Chapter 9: A new messenger from the cosmos.- Chapter 10: The cosmic-wide web.- Chapter 11: Nurseries in space.- Chapter 12: Other Earths.- Chapter 13: Listening out for life.- Glossary of terms.- Glossary of facilities and experiments.- Bibliography.- Index.