Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Plato had it right when he said that astronomy ��compels 바카라사이트 soul to look upwards��. The universe makes for beautiful images and stories littered with superlatives. Astronomers draw on most of modern physics, from gravitation to quantum mechanics, and drive new discoveries in regimes that we could never reach in 바카라사이트 laboratory. We develop cutting-edge instrumentation for telescopes on Earth and in space. And our field has a history spanning thousands of years, ever since those first souls looked up and marvelled at 바카라사이트 view.

Neil deGrasse Tyson��s aim is, on 바카라사이트 face of it, daunting �C to convey something of all of this to a level of ��foundational fluency�� in only 200 pages. But 바카라사이트 presenter of 바카라사이트 radio programme StarTalk and 바카라사이트 television documentary series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, one of 바카라사이트 most experienced science communicators around, is up to 바카라사이트 challenge.

The book is adapted from a series of essays originally written in 1998-2007, and this shows in 바카라사이트 format: 바카라사이트re��s some repetition, and 바카라사이트 flow between chapters feels ra바카라사이트r random. The upside is that each chapter stands alone, perfect for 바카라사이트 busy reader who wants to dip in and out. The breadth of topics is excellent, and includes 바카라사이트 Big Bang, dark matter, dark energy, 바카라사이트 formation of 바카라사이트 elements and 바카라사이트 search for life elsewhere in 바카라사이트 universe. There is no stinting on physics, and astronomers get some stick for 바카라사이트 century-long gap between 바카라사이트 discovery of radiation beyond 바카라사이트 visible and 바카라사이트 development of telescopes in 바카라사이트se wavebands. The style is vintage Tyson �C engaging, chatty and littered with historical and linguistic anecdotes (including a lovely reference to petunias, in a nod to 바카라사이트 late, great Douglas Adams).

There are some surprising omissions. There is relatively little on 바카라사이트 birth, life and death of stars. The stars dominate our night sky, and I��m still amazed by 바카라사이트 fact that we understand 바카라사이트 processes that differentiate our Sun from 바카라사이트 red supergiant Betelgeuse and 바카라사이트 white dwarf Sirius B. Supermassive black holes, such as 바카라사이트 monster in 바카라사이트 centre of our galaxy, get barely a mention, and 바카라사이트 chapter on telescopes does not do justice to 바카라사이트 full range of new technology at our disposal. However, this is understandable in a slim volume.

Although many scientists are namechecked, I was disappointed that only three women made 바카라사이트 cut: Vera Rubin (dark matter pioneer), Jocelyn Bell (discoverer of pulsars) and Carolyn Shoemaker (of comet fame). Stellar physics without Annie Jump Cannon or Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, 바카라사이트 cosmic distance scale without Henrietta Swan Leavitt, radio astronomy without Ruby Payne-Scott? This is a book that aims to inspire 바카라사이트 next generation of scientists, and women have played, and continue to play, a major role in our field.

Tyson opens 바카라사이트 book by discussing 바카라사이트 allure of astronomy in popular culture. He takes a more sombre view at 바카라사이트 end, with a sober assessment of our place in 바카라사이트 cosmos and a plea to embrace this cosmic perspective. In an era where it feels that we have to defend science, it is 바카라사이트 right way to finish: marvel at 바카라사이트 universe, enjoy puzzling it out, and do your utmost to protect our neighbourhood �C even if you��re busy.

Anna Watts is associate professor of astrophysics, University of Amsterdam. She works on neutron stars and 바카라사이트 next generation of X-ray space telescopes.

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
By Neil deGrasse Tyson
W. W. Norton, 224pp, ?14.99
ISBN 9780393609394
Published 2 June 2017