At the Edge of Time: Exploring the Mysteries of Our Universe's First Seconds

Description

Scientists in recent decades have made crucial discoveries about how our cosmos evolved over the past 13.8 billion years. But we still know little about what happened in the first seconds after the Big Bang. At The Edge of Time focuses on what we have learned and are striving to understand about this mysterious period at the beginning of cosmic history. Delving into the remarkable science of cosmology, Dan Hooper describes many of the extraordinary questions that scientists are asking about the origin and nature of our world. Hooper examines how the Large Hadron Collider and other experiments re-create the conditions of the Big Bang, how we may finally discover the way dark matter was formed during our universe's first moments, and how, with new telescopes, we are lifting the veil on the era of cosmic inflation. At the Edge of Time presents an accessible investigation of our universe and its birth. 'Essential reading for any cosmology enthusiast.' - Laura Nuttall, BBC Sky at Night '[An] informed introduction to 'the mysteries of our universe's first seconds.'' - Andrew Robinson, Nature 'Scientists know precious little about what happened when the universe got its start: many cosmologists think space and time underwent an extremely rapid expansion called inflation... Hooper takes readers on a mind-bending expedition through these questions and shows how they all connect to the beginning.' - Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American 'If you're mystified and curious about the mysteries of the Universe . . . you won't want to miss this book.' - Ethan Siegel, Forbes

Dan Hooper is a senior scientist and the head of the Theoretical Astrophysics Group at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Chicago. Twitter @DanHooperAstro

"At the Edge of Time clearly and cogently lays out our current understanding of the very early universe, and the prospects for future progress. In one particularly exciting section, Hooper describes the process of identifying and studying a candidate dark matter signal from the perspective of its discoverer. This is a fascinating first-hand account of an ongoing scientific debate."--Tracy Robyn Slatyer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology "At the Edge of Time is a gripping tale of the monumental discoveries and unsolved mysteries in cosmology. Well-written and exciting, Hooper's book leads us from the early days of Einstein to the puzzles of the modern era, as well as through the author's own adventures in the search for answers. He lays out these challenges in a way that will inspire a future generation of young scientists."--Katherine Freese, author of The Cosmic Cocktail: Three Parts Dark Matter "A clear and engaging tour of the mysterious birth of our universe, At the Edge of Time will keep you at the edge of your mental seat."--Daniel Whiteson, coauthor of We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe "This book convincingly guides readers through some of the hottest topics in modern physics and astronomy: Big Bang theory, dark matter, dark energy, and gravitational waves. Bringing a fresh perspective, Hooper effectively captures the feelings of the community of scientists working to solve the greatest mysteries and demonstrates that a scientific revolution might be around the corner."--Gianfranco Bertone, author of Behind the Scenes of the Universe: From the Higgs to Dark Matter "What a journey, from the very birth of the universe to its ultimate future. In accessible fashion, Hooper's book does a great job explaining the fundamental laws of physics and showing how they play out in cosmic evolution."--Sean Carroll, author of Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime "Where Weinberg's The First Three Minutes left off, Hooper's At the Edge of Time picks up. A riveting tour of modern cosmology told by one of its savviest guides, Hooper's book takes us on a journey from our universe's formerly inscrutable past to mesmerizing possible scenarios in its far future. A fascinating story that is to be savored."--Brian Keating, author of Losing the Nobel Prize: A Story of Cosmology, Ambition, and the Perils of Science's Highest Honor