God's Equation: Einstein, Relativity, and the Expanding Universe

Amir D. Aczel

ISBN 10: 156731614X / ISBN 13: 9781567316148

Published by MJF Books (edition First Edition), 1999

About this Item

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: God's Equation: Einstein, Relativity, and the Expanding Universe
• Publisher: MJF Books (edition First Edition)
• Publication Date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 156731614X
• ISBN 13: 9781567316148
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Illustrated
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Good

About this title

Synopsis

Based partly on interviews with scientists around the world, Achel discusses the latest developments in cosmology. Using Einstein and his theories to explain links between relativity and cosmology via Einstein's cosmological constant, the author reveals fundamental truths about our larger environment.

Review

Who would have thought a mathematical constant would make such an engaging character? God's Equation: Einstein, Relativity and the Expanding Universe, mathematician Amir Aczel's tale of the search for a scientific explanation of the universe, features the cosmological constant in a role as complex as Einstein's. The great genius referred to it as his "greatest blunder" but recent events in the world of astrophysics have brought the prodigal term back into the fold as an important part of his field equation. Aczel is a powerful storyteller and makes no secret of his admiration for Einstein; much of the book revolves around his conquest of general relativity. Integrating relativity with gravitation was no easy task (even for Einstein) but the author deftly steers the reader away from the sticky stuff and focuses attention on concepts of importance.

Aczel shows Einstein's aesthetic troubles with the cosmological constant, which preceded theoretical and experimental problems leading to its abandonment. The universe was caught in the act of expansion by Edwin Hubble and the constant, originally invoked to maintain a steady-state universe, was unnecessary. Fortunately, though, the mathematics underlying the constant had become important tools for physicists; observations in 1997 and 1998 by Saul Perlmutter, Neta Bahcall and others showed that the universe will continue expanding indefinitely and sent theorists back to the drawing board to revise their equations. The cosmological constant returned triumphant and, while its inventor might never have approved of it, today's scientific community gives it an honoured role in God's Equation. --Rob Lightner, Amazon.com