The Evolving Universe and the Origin of Life: The Search for Our Cosmic Roots (Lecture Notes in Physics)

Sir Isaac Newton famously said, regarding his discoveries, "If I have seen further it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." __The Evolving Universe and the Origin of Life__ describes, complete with fascinating biographical details of the thinkers involved, the ascent to the metaphorical shoulders accomplished by the greatest minds in history. For the first time, a single book can take the reader on a journey through the history of the universe as interpreted by the expanding body of knowledge of humankind. From subatomic particles to the protein chains that form life, and expanding in scale to the entire universe, this book covers the science that explains how we came to be. __The Evolving Universe and the Origin of Life__ contains a great breadth of knowledge, from astronomy to physics, from chemistry to biology. It includes over 350 figures that enhance the comprehension of concepts both basic and advanced, and is a non-technical, easy-to-read text at an introductory college level that is ideal for anyone interested in science as well as its history. Cover......Page 1 Frontmatter......Page 2 ISBN 9780387095332......Page 4 Preface......Page 5 Contents......Page 8 List of Tables......Page 16 1: When Science Was Born......Page 17 2: Science in Athens......Page 26 3: Planetary Spheres and the Size of the Universe......Page 35 4: Medieval Cosmology......Page 48 5: The Roots of the Copernican Revolution......Page 57 6: The True Laws of Planetary Motion Revealed......Page 66 7: Galileo Galilei and His Successors......Page 76 8: How Far Away Are the Stars?......Page 88 9: The Scale of the Solar System......Page 101 10: Newton......Page 108 Part III The Universe......Page 115 12: Nature of Light......Page 128 13: Electricity and Magnetism......Page 137 14: Time and Space......Page 148 15: Curved Space and Gravity......Page 158 16: Atoms and Nuclei......Page 171 17: Strange Microworld......Page 185 18: Elementary Particles......Page 198 19: Stars: Cosmic Fusion Reactors......Page 214 20: The Riddle of the Milky Way......Page 231 21: Entering the Galaxy Universe......Page 251 22: Large-scale Structure of the Universe......Page 276 23: Finite or Infinite Universe: Cosmological Models......Page 286 24: When it all Began: Big Bang......Page 303 25: The Dark Side of the Universe......Page 319 26: Active Galaxies: Messages Through Radio Waves......Page 328 27: Origin of Galaxies......Page 346 28: The Nature of Life......Page 358 29: The Origin of Earth and its Moon......Page 383 30: Emergence and Evolution of Life......Page 400 31: Life and our Solar System......Page 422 32: Extrasolar Planetary Systems and Life in other Solar Systems......Page 450 33: Human’s Role in the Universe......Page 467 Recommended Reading......Page 477 Index......Page 480 Color Plates......Page 496 Sir Isaac Newton famously said, regarding his discoveries, "If I have seen further it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants."

The Evolving Universe and the Origin of Life describes, complete with fascinating biographical details of the thinkers involved, the ascent to the metaphorical shoulders accomplished by the greatest minds in history. For the first time, a single book can take the reader on a journey through the history of the universe as interpreted by the expanding body of knowledge of humankind. From subatomic particles to the protein chains that form life, and expanding in scale to the entire universe, this book covers the science that explains how we came to be.

The Evolving Universe and the Origin of Life contains a great breadth of knowledge, from astronomy to physics, from chemistry to biology. It includes over 350 figures that enhance the comprehension of concepts both basic and advanced, and is a non-technical, easy-to-read text at an introductory college level that is ideal for anyone interested in science as well as its history.

Pt.1. The widening world view. When science was born Science in Athens Planetary spheres and the size of the universe Medieval cosmology The roots of the Copernican Revolution The true laws of planetary motion revealed Galileo Galilei and his successors How far away are the stars? The scale of the solar system Pt.2. Physical laws of nature. Newton Celestial mechanics Nature of light Electricity and magnetism Time and space Curved space and gravity Atoms and nuclei Strange microworld Elementary particles Pt.3. The universe. Stars: cosmic fusion reactors The riddle of the Milky Way Entering the galaxy universe Large-scale structure of the universe Finite or infinite universe: cosmological models When it all began: big bang The dark side of the universe Active galaxies: messages through radio waves Origin of galaxies Pt.4. Life in the universe. The nature of life The origin of earth and its moon Emergence and evolution of life Life and our solar system Extrasolar planetary systems and life in other solar systems Human's role in the universe.