At the Edge of Time: Exploring the Mysteries of our Universe’s First Seconds
Princeton University Press RRP $54.99
AS THIS BOOK TELLS IT, the Universe’s first few seconds sure were busy: from attempting to generate all the matter that we can see, as well as all the stuff we can’t, to cascading through a mindboggling series of changes of nature.
Symmetries are broken, forces forged, and zoos of new particles birthed. If none of those terms is even remotely familiar to you, then this could well be the book for you. And if you’ve heard of the terms but don’t know what they mean, then it is definitely for you.
A senior scientist at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and astronomy professor at the University of Chicago, Dan Hooper sits at the interface of cutting-edge astroparticle physics and the communication of that science to the world.
I suspect more are aware of his writings in popular science magazines than his research into dark matter, but he has managed to bridge the two worlds with success. This is a summary of his vast knowledge of the field and his impressive ability to relate that to a wider audience.
The book covers almost all the relevant ideas and latest challenges in the staggeringly broad research area of cosmology, giving a level of detail that would act as a perfect introduction to the topic and frame (as well as encourage) a deeper dive into more specialised books.
Even for professionals there’s something to be learned, or a turn of phrase or beautiful explanation to be admired. I feel that my scientific colleague may well have missed out on a successful career as a poet with his introductory line to describing 4D spacetime: “Without time, nothing happens. Without space, nothing is.”
For the expert or those looking to immerse themselves in key areas, this book might not satisfy your curiosity. It will, however, ground a reader keen to embark on a greater understanding of the biggest questions in science today.
It appears that the first few seconds after the Big Bang hold most, if not all, of the answers.