Afterglow of Creation: From the Fireball to the Discovery of Cosmic Ripples - Softcover

Chown, Marcus

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0099280515 ISBN 13: 9780099280514

Publisher: Arrow Books Ltd, 1993

Synopsis

The discovery in 1992 of "cosmic ripples" - slight variations in the temperature of ancient radiation left over from the "big bang" - resulted in sensational headlines. This book goes behind the hype and hysteria to offer a straightforward explanation and a history of the search. Obscure smudges in the satellite photographs show how matter was forming into clumps early in the history of the universe, and give clues to the way in which our own galaxies came into being. The search for radiation that might tell something about the origins of the universe began in the 1920s. Rivalries, accidental discoveries and near misses marked the search; scientists sent up balloons that got lost; and the instruments sometimes measured the temperature of the balloons and not the sky. With the coming of space travel, the vehicles grew more sophisticated, but the experiments were basically very simple, and they are explained in the book. The story culminates in the flight of the COBE satellite and what it found.

About this title

Review:

A 'science for dummies' take on creation, built around an account of the discovery of radiation ripples from the Big Bang. --The Times, January 16, 2010

The wonderful intro alone is worth the cover price. Witty and accessible science.
--Scott Pack (former chief buyer Waterstone's), meanmybigmouth blog, February 10, 2010

From the Author:

These are just some newspaper/magazine reviews of my book
"A very good piece of storytelling... Chown writes as if he were addressing his fellow human beings." New Scientist

"An excellent introduction to the most recent developments in cosmology... he carefully explains intricacies in which other writers would have been bogged down." The Observer

"Chown superbly captures the spirit of scientific endeavour... The story is told with panache and the science is so well explained it makes and effortless read. Afterglow of Creation is upbeat, witty and informed." The Sunday Times

"It's a long time since this reviewer has read a popular science book that so accurately communicates the science involved while maintaining the reader's interest through the beauty of the written word... Afterglow excels at portraying science as a human endeavour where personalities, ideas, egos, politics and money all mix in the endeavour we know as astronomy... This book should be in every middle school, high school and public library and on the shelves of anyone interested in either astronomy or the nature of science. It is a wonderful story, brilliantly told." The Science Teacher (US)

"Beautiful science, beautifully told." The Australian

"The secret of the universe in 170 pages!" Focus

About this edition

• Publisher: Arrow Books Ltd
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0099280515
• ISBN 13: 9780099280514
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192