Stellar Alchemy: The Celestial Origin of Atoms - Hardcover

Cassé, Michel

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521821827 ISBN 13: 9780521821827

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2003

Synopsis

Why do the stars shine? What messages can we read in the light they send to us from the depths of the night? Nuclear astrophysics is a fascinating discipline, and enables connections to be made between atoms, stars, and human beings. Through modern astronomy, scientists have managed to unravel the full history of the chemical elements, and understand how they originated and evolved into all the elements that compose our surroundings today. The transformation of metals into gold, something once dreamed of by alchemists, is a process commonly occurring in the cores of massive stars. But the most exciting revelation is the intimate connection that humanity itself has with the debris of exploded stars. This engaging account of nucleosynthesis in stars, and the associated chemical evolution of the Universe, is suitable for the general reader.

About this title

Review:

'... very well suited for all amateurs of astronomy and the general reader ...'. Orion

'... Cassé's interesting story about the relations between the stars and humans, and his joy in the subject, carry the reader along on a pleasant journey.' Nature

'This book is full of fascinating facts.' Astronomy & Space Magazine

Book Description:

When Cortez asked the Aztecs where they obtained the iron in their daggers, they pointed to the sky. Stars manufacture iron, and every other element making up familiar objects around us. In this fascinating book Michel Cassé explains how even humanity itself is connected to the debris of exploded stars.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0521821827
• ISBN 13: 9780521821827
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256