Calculating the Cosmos: How Mathematics Unveils the Universe - Couverture souple

Stewart, Professor Ian

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 1781257183 ISBN 13 : 9781781257180

Editeur : Profile Books Ltd, 2016

A propos du livre

Revue de presse

"Stewart] shows that he is not only a polymath in the sense that he is a master of all fields of mathematics, but also in his comprehension of physics, astronomy, and cosmology...[In Calculating the Cosmos] he effectively shows that time and technology will evolve ever better calculations of the cosmos."―Kirkus Reviews

"In Calculating the Cosmos Ian Stewart elegantly reviews the uncanny effectiveness of mathematics in explaining the universe.... Mr. Stewart beautifully describes how Newton's laws can still produce surprising results."―Wall Street Journal

"Most popular books about science assume that readers cannot digest hard scientific facts, let alone formulae or graphs. Such works brim with chitchat about scientist' personalities but their density of formulation is low. A refreshing exception is Ian Stewart's Calculating the Cosmos: How Mathematics Unveils the Universe. There are no personalities in the book and, despite the title, no math either, just lucid descriptions of the logical basis of modern cosmology."―Wall Street Journal, "What to Give: Science Books" holiday gift guide

"Telling the story of how scientists and mathematicians harness abstract mathematical relationships to figure out the real world, Stewart deftly highlights the interdependent nature of ideas.... Stewart is sure to please math lovers, history buffs, and science enthusiasts alike by covering an array of eras, innovators, and disciplines. With virtually no equations, readers learn about complicated mathematical theory in a friendly, conversational tone; whether he's discussing 'white holes,' why 'relativity and quantum mechanics are uneasy bedfellows,' or the shape of space itself, Stewart's pages flip of their own accord."―Publishers Weekly

"Mathematician and prolific writer Ian Stewart turns a lens on how maths has helped us to decipher the celestial. As space probes explore new ground from asteroids to regions beyond the heliopause, Earth-based number-crunching informs everything from Jupiter's asteroid-pitching tendencies, the behaviour of planetary rings and the stubborn shyness of dark matter to the 'interplanetary superhighway' that provides efficient routes between planets. A fascinating tour, seamlessly spliced and historically contextualized."―Nature

"Ian Stewart covers the long story of our beloved cosmos wearing mathematical glasses, and we can only be thankful that he has been our guide in this journey."―Numberplay (NYTimes.com), Marco Moriconi

"Stewart's wry sense of humor adds to this informative yet entertaining read.... Highly recommended for science readers who are up for a challenge."―Library Journal

"With captivating stories and his signature clarity, Ian Stewart shows us how math makes the world--and the rest of the universe--go round."―Steven Strogatz, professor of mathematics, Cornell University, and author of The Joy of x

Quatrième de couverture

Ian Stewart's up-to-the-minute guide to the cosmos moves from the earth and the planets to the galaxy and the universe. He describes how galaxies, stars and planets form, why stars implode, how everything began, and how it's going to end. He considers parallel universes, fine-tuning of the cosmos, whether life on earth will be snuffed out by a comet, and what extra-terrestrial life may be like. He provides crystal clear accounts of gravity, spacetime, relativity and quantum theory, and how they relate to each other. Mathematics has been the driving force in astronomy and cosmology since the ancient Egyptians. Professor Stewart shows how Kepler's work on the planets led to Newton's law of gravity, which in turn inspired Einstein's theories of relativity. He examines current challenges to Big Bang Theory and how the next scientific revolution may once again transform understanding of the universe and our place within it.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Profile Books Ltd
• Date d'édition: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1781257183
• ISBN 13: 9781781257180
• Reliure: Broché
• Langue: anglais
• Nombre de pages: 352