The Copernicus Complex: Our Cosmic Significance in a Universe of Planets and Probabilities
Language: English
Published by Scientific American / Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2015
- Softcover
- Used
Seller: Magers and Quinn Booksellers, Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A.Magers and Quinn Booksellers
AbeBooks seller since February 22, 2001
Condition: Used - Very good
£ 5.06
Quantity: 4 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
May have light to moderate shelf wear and/or a remainder mark. Complete. Clean pages.
Seller Inventory # 1468232
- Title
- The Copernicus Complex: Our Cosmic Significance in a Universe of Planets and Probabilities
- Author
- Scharf, Caleb A.
- Publisher
- Scientific American / Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Publication year
- 2015
- Condition
- Very Good
- Binding
- paperback
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0374535574
- ISBN 13
- 9780374535575
Longlisted for the 2015 PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award
Short-listed for Physics World's Book of the Year
The Sunday Times (UK) Best Science Book of 2014
A Publishers Weekly Top 10 Science Book of Fall 2014
An NBC News Top Science and Tech Book of 2014
A Politics & Prose 2014 Staff Pick
In the sixteenth century, Nicolaus Copernicus dared to go against the establishment by proposing that Earth rotates around the Sun. Having demoted Earth from its unique position in the cosmos to one of mediocrity, Copernicus set in motion a revolution in scientific thought. This perspective has influenced our thinking for centuries. However, recent evidence challenges the Copernican Principle, hinting that we do in fact live in a special place, at a special time, as the product of a chain of unlikely events. But can we be significant if the Sun is still just one of a billion trillion stars in the observable universe? And what if our universe is just one of a multitude of others-a single slice of an infinity of parallel realities?
In The Copernicus Complex, the renowned astrophysicist Caleb Scharf takes us on a scientific adventure, from tiny microbes within the Earth to distant exoplanets, probability theory, and beyond, arguing that there is a solution to this contradiction, a third way of viewing our place in the cosmos, if we weigh the evidence properly. As Scharf explains, we do occupy an unusual time in a 14-billion-year-old universe, in a somewhat unusual type of solar system surrounded by an ocean of unimaginable planetary diversity: hot Jupiters with orbits of less than a day, planet-size rocks spinning around dead stars, and a wealth of alien super-Earths. Yet life here is built from the most common chemistry in the universe, and we are a snapshot taken from billions of years of biological evolution. Bringing us to the cutting edge of scientific discovery, Scharf shows how the answers to fundamental questions of existence will come from embracing the peculiarity of our circumstance without denying the Copernican vision.
With characteristic verve, Scharf uses the latest scientific findings to reconsider where we stand in the balance between cosmic significance and mediocrity, order and chaos. Presenting a compelling and bold view of our true status, The Copernicus Complex proposes a way forward in the ultimate quest: determining life's abundance, not just across this universe but across all realities.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Magers and Quinn Booksellers
Minneapolis, MN, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since February 22, 2001
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 3.02 | £ 9.83 |
Payment methods
Store description
Established in 1994, we are a large new and used general interest bookstore located in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. Visit our online bookstore, www.magersandquinn.com, where we have over 500,000 new, used, and rare titles.
Specialty
New, Used, Rare, Antiquarian, Maps, Prints, Book-Related GiftsSeller's business information
Magers and Quinn Booksellers
3038 Hennepin Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN U.S.A. 55408
Terms of sale
Purchase will be shipped upon receipt of payment including any additional shipping costs. MN residents add appropriate sales tax. We guarantee the condition of every book as it¿s described on the Abebooks web sites. If you¿re dissatisfied (Incorrect Item/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn¿t arrived by the latest estimated delivery date, you¿re eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date. Please contact us for any other return inquiries, and we¿ll respond within 2 business days.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to Magers and Quinn Booksellers, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Orders usually ship within 2 business days. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 lbs or less, or 1 kg. Heavy or oversized books may require additional shipping charges.
Domestic shipping: Under 2.2 lbs
Media Mail $4.00
Priority Mail $7.00
International shipping: Rates depend on weight and destination of package.