"Astrophysics for those who value time." The greatest of the stories told.
Whatever different conditions of life people had, what color their skin would be and at what time they would not have been born - all people lived under the same stars. Each of us at least once raised his eyes to the sky and asked himself: "What is there? How did it happen that we live right now and exactly here? What is our place in the universe? "
Neil Degrass Tyson in the book "Astrophysics for those who value time" talks about the main ideas and discoveries that form a modern scientific view of the universe. With the naked eye, you can see how much the percentage of science news has increased in the media tape. Many of them concern astrophysics - a science that combined astronomy and physics.
There are more and more popular science shows, and sci-fi movies, shot by eminent directors, receive millions of box office fees, prestigious nominations and gold figurines. Even those who have never been interested in astronomy, physics, visiting scientific festivals, reading science fiction and watching documentary scientific films. So much attention to astrophysics? The answer is laconic - this is our past, present and future.
Neil Degrass Tyson is an astrophysicist. He graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, received a bachelor's degree in physics from Harvard University, a master's in astronomy from the University of Texas and a doctoral degree in astrophysics from Columbia University.
It was Neil Degrasse Tyson who was engaged in those studies, due to which the dark energy was discovered. The scientist appears in popular science films and TV shows - "Space: travel in space and time", "The stars speak". He works on art films, television and animated series, such as Batman vs. Superman, The Big Bang Theory, Gravity Falls and The Simpsons.
How did it all start?
It all started from a point. All space, all matter and the entire energy of the universe were concentrated in a volume smaller than one trillionth point size. It was so hot that all the fundamental forces known to mankind were merged. Since the moment this tiny universe emerged, it could only expand and very quickly. Today we call it the Big Bang.
When the age of the universe exceeded 10-35 seconds, the formation of four separate forces began, which we all know:
- weak interaction, controlling radioactive decay;
- a strong interaction connecting protons and neutrons in atomic nuclei;
- the electromagnetic force that binds atoms and molecules;
- gravity (gravity), which connects large volumes of matter.
What is between galaxies?
The galaxies, which number about a hundred billion, are so striking to us that we do not notice anything else. But the Universe hides much in its emptiness, sometimes things are more interesting than the galaxies themselves. Once upon a time, mankind believed that there was only visible light. But as soon as it turned out that there were many more kinds of light, the whole universe was opened. With the help of modern detectors in the cosmic depths one can find:
- dwarf galaxies;
- stars that escape or explode;
- Gas with a temperature of more than one million degrees, which emits x-rays;
- compact blue galaxies;
- charged particles and the mysterious quantum energy of the vacuum.
What is dark matter and energy? What was Einstein's biggest mistake? What future awaits the Earth? This is only part of the questions, the answers to which are looking for Neil Degrass Tyson. He explains the basic, adding, like cream to cocoa, more complex things, and serves all with humor. Briefly, but clearly "Astrophysics for those who value time" introduces us to what is happening far away in space, and does not forget to focus on the main thing. We are looking for our place in the universe, forgetting that we are the universe.
