Afterglow of Creation: Decoding the message from the beginning of time - Softcover

Chown, Marcus

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0571250599 ISBN 13: 9780571250592

Publisher: Faber & Faber, 2010

Synopsis

Stephen Hawking described it as 'the discovery of the century, if not of all time', yet the scientists who first detected the cosmic radiation that was identified as the afterglow of the big bang had to admit that it was more by accident than intention. At first its discoverers mistook the readings for the disruption caused by the droppings of pigeons that had nested in their telescope, and yet they went on to win the Nobel prize.

In the mid-1990s New Scientist writer Marcus Chown drove across America to interview the key scientists who had made this astonishing discovery. Their account and Chown's description of their achievement was published to much acclaim. But now, over a decade later, in this new and fully revised edition he goes behind the hype and the hysteria to provide a clear and lively explanation of one of the biggest discoveries in modern science - and a brilliant picture of what happened next.

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: Faber & Faber
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0571250599
• ISBN 13: 9780571250592
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288