Skip to main content
Brave New Universe: Illuminating the Darkest Secrets of the Cosmos

VIEW LARGER COVER

Brave New Universe

Illuminating the Darkest Secrets of the Cosmos (2006)

Cosmologists yearn to behold the unseen elements of our universe. And as new technologies become more powerful and precise, scientists are getting their wish—though these tools are challenging the limits of our imagination as fast as they are answering many longstanding questions. Space is one of the last great frontiers for modern man. A never-ending source of investigation and inspiration, it beckons to scientists with an irresistible siren’s call. And in this glorious age of cosmology, astronomical measurement has never been more precise. The power provided to us by extraordinary new observational mechanisms has shattered former suppositions and stimulated exciting new visions of the universe. Using modern instruments such as the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP), astronomers now have access to information about the age and composition of the universe. By providing greatly improved answers, high-resolution satellite data and novel telescopic techniques have transformed one of science’s most speculative fields into a triumph of meticulous and rigorous detection. Yet as the technological tools grow increasingly robust and we are able to see farther and know more, we find that we have even more questions. Could there be realms beyond ordinary space? Might time, space, and matter simply be illusions? What unique blend of cosmological factors influences life on Earth? Featuring interviews with leaders in the field as well as thought-provoking descriptions of their work, Brave New Universe is a guided tour of current advances and controversies in cosmology.

Joseph Henry Press logo Contractual obligations prohibit us from offering a free PDF of this title published under the Joseph Henry Press imprint of the National Academies Press.

The views expressed in this book are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Academies.

Author Bio

Paul Halpern is a professor of physics and mathematics at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. He is a recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship, an Athenaeum Literary Award, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. He is the author of nine previous books, including Countdown to Apocalypse and The Great Beyond.

Paul Wesson is a professor of physics at the University of Waterloo in Canada. He is the founder of the 5D Space-Time- Matter Consortium, an international group of scientific researchers. He is known for his popular expositions of scientific ideas and his entertaining articles have appeared in Analog, Astronomy, and New Scientist.

Suggested Citation

Paul Halpern, et al. 2006. Brave New Universe: Illuminating the Darkest Secrets of the Cosmos. Washington, DC: Joseph Henry Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/11636.

Import this citation to:

Publication Info

280 pages |  6 x 9 |  DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/11636

Copyright Information

The National Academies Press (NAP) has partnered with Copyright Clearance Center's Marketplace service to offer you a variety of options for reusing NAP content. Through Marketplace, you may request permission to reprint NAP content in another publication, course pack, secure website, or other media. Marketplace allows you to instantly obtain permission, pay related fees, and print a license directly from the NAP website. The complete terms and conditions of your reuse license can be found in the license agreement that will be made available to you during the online order process. To request permission through Marketplace you are required to create an account by filling out a simple online form. The following list describes license reuses offered by the NAP through Marketplace:

  • Republish text, tables, figures, or images in print
  • Post on a secure Intranet/Extranet website
  • Use in a PowerPoint Presentation
  • Distribute via CD-ROM
  • Photocopy

Click here to obtain permission for the above reuses. If you have questions or comments concerning the Marketplace service, please contact:

Marketplace Support
International +1.978.646.2600
US Toll Free +1.855.239.3415
E-mail: support@copyright.com
marketplace.copyright.com

To request permission to distribute a PDF, please contact our Customer Service Department at customer_service@nap.edu.