The Particle at the End of the Universe: Winner of the Royal Society Winton Prize - Hardcover

Carroll, Sean

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1780742320 ISBN 13: 9781780742328

Publisher: Oneworld Publications, 2012

Synopsis

It was the universe's most elusive particle, the linchpin for everything scientists dreamed up to explain how physics works. It had to be found. But projects as big as CERN's Large Hadron Collider the largest machine ever built, involving six thousand researchers and costing $9 billion and counting simply do not happen without conniving, deal-making, incredible risks, and occasional skullduggery.

In The Particle at the End of the Universe, award-winning physicist and science writer Sean Carroll reveals the insights, rivalry, and wonder that fuelled the Higgs search and explores why this particle holds the potential to change the world, much as the electron ushered in the age of nuclear energy and quantum computing. While the first sighting of the Higgs boson, infamously known as the “God particle”, essentially solves the riddle of why matter has mass, it also opens a door into the mind-boggling domain of dark matter and other extraordinary phenomena we never predicted.

Told with unparalleled ambition, authority, and access to the competing research teams, Carroll delivers the definitive account of this landmark event and takes us on a riveting and irresistible ride to the very edge of physics today.

About this title

Review:

In this superb book, Sean Carroll provides a fascinating and lucid look at the most mysterious and important particle in nature, and the experiment that revealed it. Anyone with an interest in physics should read this, and join him in examining the new worlds of physics to which this discovery may lead. --Leonard Mlodinow, author of the international bestseller The Drunkard s Walk

Carroll tells the story of the particle that everyone has heard of but few of us actually understand. After you read this book an enticing cocktail of personal anecdote, clever analogy, and a small dose of mind-bending theory you will truly grasp why the Higgs boson has been sought after for so long by so many. Carroll is a believer in big science asking big questions and his beliefs are infectious and inspiring. --Morgan Freeman, actor and executive producer of Through the Wormhole

The science is authoritative, yet bold and lively. The narrative is richly documented, yet full of human drama. Carroll's saga pulls you aboard a modern voyage of discovery. --Frank Wilczek, Nobel Laureate in Physics

‘compelling’ The Independent

‘Authoritative... Carroll writes with remarkable clarity about the formidable complexities of particle physics and is just as good on the human side of “big science”’ FT best books of 2012

Book Description:

The definitive, behind-the-scenes account of the greatest science story of our time – named a Best Science Book of the Year by The Guardian, Financial Times, and New Scientist

About this edition

• Publisher: Oneworld Publications
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1780742320
• ISBN 13: 9781780742328
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 352