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Constructing the Universe (Scientific American)
Constructing the Universe - Scientific American Author:David Layzer In this singularly beautiful volume, Harvard astrophysicist David Layzer gives us a dazzling view both of the origin, dynamics, and structure of the universe and of the processes which have enabled this picture to evolve. Combining clear, accessible prose, stunning photographs and captivating illustrations, Layzer examines the two great theories... more » of space, time and gravitation -Newton's and Einstein's- and surveys the myriad theories of the early universe and the origin of astronomical systems.
The author discusses the four distinct but intertwined activities that have shaped contemporary concepts of cosmology: the development of experimental and observational instruments and techniques; the telescopic exploration of space; the construction of basic physical theories; and the construction and testing of cosmological hypotheses; and demonstrates how each has nourished the others. He delineates how technological advances, from the invention of the telescope to the development of microwave radiometers, have altered not only what we see but how we see. Though the narrative focuses mainly on the formulation on the theories and hypotheses, there are real and practical rewards for the careful reader, who will gain considerable insight into how theory and observation interact, enabling us to see deeper and probe further.
In the book's final chapter, Layzer tackles what are indisputably the most exciting topics in modern cosmology: the origin and evolution of the astronomical universe. He emphasizes the distinction between the strongly confirmed, widely known theories and those that have not (and may never) come into vogue, and offers the first popular discussion not only of his own but of the other controversial and absolutely up-to-the-minute theories of the universe's genesis. In 'Constructing the Universe', David Layzer has constructed a vivid highly readable book that combines the exhilaration of discovery with the eternal appeal of conjecture.« less