Journeys to the ends of the universe : a guided tour of the beginnings and endings of planets, stars, galaxies, and the universe

Journeys to the Ends of the Universe presents a tour through the universe from the big bang onward. The book explores the limits of knowledge where scientific fact overtakes and merges with the wilder speculations of science fiction. The beginnings of galaxies, stars, planets, and even life itself are related back to the raveled turmoil of the first few seconds and years of life in the cosmos. The journey continues past the ultimate fate of the solar system to probe the nature of supernovae. The future of galaxies, clusters of galaxies, super-clusters of clusters of galaxies, and so on leads toward the finale, where the author provides some bizarre musings of physicists and astronomers, suggesting possible destinies for the universe stretching its present age billions of times into the future. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Preface Journey 1 An Inflated Idea of Ourselves Journey 2 Strings to Tie a Universe Together Journey 3 Phoenix Rising Journey 4 The Nearest Star Journey 5 A Study in Contrasts Journey 6 Thar She Blows! Journey 7 The Hottest Spots in the Universe Journey 8 Cosmic Dustbins Journey 9 To the Hub! Journey 10 The Enigma Machines Journey 11 She was the universe Bibliography Index