Death by black hole : and other cosmic quandaries

From Publishers Weekly What would it feel like if your spaceship were to venture too close to the black hole lurking at the center of the Milky Way? According to astrophysicist Tyson, director of New York City's Hayden Planetarium, size does matter when it comes to black holes, although the chances of your surviving the encounter aren't good in any case. Tyson takes readers on an exciting journey from Earth's hot springs, where extremophiles flourish in hellish conditions, to the frozen, desolate stretches of the Oort Cloud and the universe's farthest reaches, in both space and time. Tyson doesn't restrict his musings to astrophysics, but wanders into related fields like relativity and particle physics, which he explains just as clearly as he does Lagrangian points, where we someday may park interplanetary filling stations. He tackles popular myths (is the sun yellow?) and takes movie directors—most notably James Cameron—to task for spectacular goofs. In the last section the author gives his take on the hot subject of intelligent design. Readers of *Natural History *magazine will be familiar with many of the 42 essays collected here, while newcomers will profit from Tyson's witty and entertaining description of being pulled apart atom by atom into a black hole, and other, closer-to-earth, and cheerier, topics. 9 illus. *(Jan.)* Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Whenever astronomy intrudes on the news, interviewers flock to the telegenic Tyson for an explanation. The high-profile astrophysicist is also an essayist for *Natural History*, the American Museum of Natural History's monthly that is the source for this volume. His pieces are organized under whimsical banners such as "All the ways the cosmos wants to kill us," and Tyson's style will connect with general readers who are interested in the form the apocalypse will take. Scientists know that in a few billion years, an expanding sun will vaporize the earth, provided it's not been previously destroyed by a rogue black hole. Besides regaling spooky stories, the selections deploy movies as an astronomy popularizer, with Tyson critiquing the accuracy of the sky depicted in various scenes. Elsewhere, topics in the history of astronomy and physics fall into two categories: essays about the discovery of physical laws, and about cosmic objects such as galactic gas clouds and quasars. Whatever readers' scientific tastes, something in Tyson's wide-ranging collection will sate them. *Gilbert Taylor* *Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved* From Publishers Weekly What would it feel like if your spaceship were to venture too close to the black hole lurking at the center of the Milky Way? According to astrophysicist Tyson, director of New York City's Hayden Planetarium, size does matter when it comes to black holes, although the chances of your surviving the encounter aren't good in any case. Tyson takes readers on an exciting journey from Earth's hot springs, where extremophiles flourish in hellish conditions, to the frozen, desolate stretches of the Oort Cloud and the universe's farthest reaches, in both space and time. Tyson doesn't restrict his musings to astrophysics, but wanders into related fields like relativity and particle physics, which he explains just as clearly as he does Lagrangian points, where we someday may park interplanetary filling stations. He tackles popular myths (is the sun yellow?) and takes movie directors—most notably James Cameron—to task for spectacular goofs. In the last section the author gives his take on the hot subject of intelligent design. Readers of Natural History magazine will be familiar with many of the 42 essays collected here, while newcomers will profit from Tyson's witty and entertaining description of being pulled apart atom by atom into a black hole, and other, closer-to-earth, and cheerier, topics. 9 illus. (Jan.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Whenever astronomy intrudes on the news, interviewers flock to the telegenic Tyson for an explanation. The high-profile astrophysicist is also an essayist for Natural History , the American Museum of Natural History's monthly that is the source for this volume. His pieces are organized under whimsical banners such as "All the ways the cosmos wants to kill us," and Tyson's style will connect with general readers who are interested in the form the apocalypse will take. Scientists know that in a few billion years, an expanding sun will vaporize the earth, provided it's not been previously destroyed by a rogue black hole. Besides regaling spooky stories, the selections deploy movies as an astronomy popularizer, with Tyson critiquing the accuracy of the sky depicted in various scenes. Elsewhere, topics in the history of astronomy and physics fall into two categories: essays about the discovery of physical laws, and about cosmic objects such as galactic gas clouds and quasars. Whatever readers' scientific tastes, something in Tyson's wide-ranging collection will sate them. Gilbert Taylor Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Science; Physics A Collection Of Essays On The Cosmos, Written By An American Museum Of Natural History Astrophysicist, Includes Holy Wars, Ends Of The World, And Hollywood Nights. Prologue: The Beginning Of Science -- Section 1: The Nature Of Knowledge : The Challenges Of Knowing What Is Knowable In The Universe. Coming To Our Senses ; On Earth As In The Heavens ; Seeing Isn't Believing ; The Information Trap ; Stick-in-the-mud Science -- Section 2: The Knowledge Of Nature : The Challenges Of Discovering The Contents Of The Cosmos. Journeys From The Center Of The Sun ; Planet Parade ; Vagabonds Of The Solar System ; The Five Points Of Lagrange ; Antimatter Matters -- Section 3: Ways And Means Of Nature : How Nature Presents Herself To The Inquiring Mind. The Importance Of Being Constant ; Speed Limits ; Going Ballistic ; On Being Dense ; Over The Rainbow ; Cosmic Windows ; Colors Of The Cosmos ; Cosmic Plasma ; Fire And Ice ; Section 4: The Meaning Of Life : The Challenges And Triumphs Of Knowing How We Got Here. Dust To Dust ; Forged In The Stars ; Send In The Clouds ; Goldilocks And The Three Planets ; Water, Water ; Living Space ; Life In The Universe ; Our Radio Bubble. Section 5: When The Universe Turns Bad : All The Ways The Cosmos Wants To Kill Us ; Chaos In The Solar System ; Coming Attractions ; Ends Of The World ; Galactic Engines ; Knock 'em Dead ; Death By Black Hole -- Section 6: Science And Culture : The Ruffled Interface Between Cosmic Discovery And The Public's Reaction To It. Things People Say ; Fear Of Numbers ; On Being Baffled ; Footprints In The Sands Of Science ; Let There Be Dark ; Hollywood Nights -- Section 7: Science And God : When Ways Of Knowing Collide. In The Beginning ; Holy Wars ; The Perimeter Of Ignorance. Neil Degrasse Tyson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [363]-368) And Indexes.

a Vibrant Collection Of Essays On The Cosmos From The Nation's Best-known Astrophysicist. “one Of Today’s Best Popularizers Of Science.”—kirkus Reviews.

publishers Weekly

what Would It Feel Like If Your Spaceship Were To Venture Too Close To The Black Hole Lurking At The Center Of The Milky Way? According To Astrophysicist Tyson, Director Of New York City's Hayden Planetarium, Size Does Matter When It Comes To Black Holes, Although The Chances Of Your Surviving The Encounter Aren't Good In Any Case. Tyson Takes Readers On An Exciting Journey From Earth's Hot Springs, Where Extremophiles Flourish In Hellish Conditions, To The Frozen, Desolate Stretches Of The Oort Cloud And The Universe's Farthest Reaches, In Both Space And Time. Tyson Doesn't Restrict His Musings To Astrophysics, But Wanders Into Related Fields Like Relativity And Particle Physics, Which He Explains Just As Clearly As He Does Lagrangian Points, Where We Someday May Park Interplanetary Filling Stations. He Tackles Popular Myths (is The Sun Yellow?) And Takes Movie Directors Most Notably James Cameron To Task For Spectacular Goofs. In The Last Section The Author Gives His Take On The Hot Subject Of Intelligent Design. Readers Of Natural History Magazine Will Be Familiar With Many Of The 42 Essays Collected Here, While Newcomers Will Profit From Tyson's Witty And Entertaining Description Of Being Pulled Apart Atom By Atom Into A Black Hole, And Other, Closer-to-earth, And Cheerier, Topics. 9 Illus. (jan.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

"Viewers of FOX's Cosmos have recognized Neil deGrasse Tyson's talent for guiding them through the mysteries of outer space with clarity and enthusiasm. Bringing together more than forty of Tyson's favorite essays, Death by Black Hole explores a myriad of cosmic topics, from the movie industry's feeble efforts to get its night skies right to what it would be like to be inside a black hole. America's best -known astrophysicist, Tyson is a natural teacher who simplifies the complexities of astrophysics while sharing his infectious fascination for our universe"--Back cover Viewers of FOX's Cosmos have recognized the author's talent for guiding them through the mysteries of outer space with clarity and enthusiasm. Bringing together more than forty of Tyson's favorite essays, this book explores a myriad of cosmic topics, from the movie industry's feeble efforts to get its night skies right to what it would be like to be inside a black hole. As one of America's best-known astrophysicists, the author is a natural teacher who simplifies the complexities of astrophysics while sharing his infectious fascination for our universe. -- Back cover Compiling the author's favourite essays across a myriad of topics, this title introduces readers to the physics of black holes by explaining the gory details of what would happen to your body if you fell into one. It examines the needless friction between science and religion in the context of historical conflicts