The Pillars of Creation: Giant Molecular Clouds, Star Formation, and Cosmic Recycling (Springer Praxis Books)

This book explores the mechanics of star formation, the process by which matter pulls together and creates new structures. Written for science enthusiasts, the author presents an accessible explanation of how stars are born from the interstellar medium and giant molecular clouds. Stars produce the chemicals that lead to life, and it is they that have enabled the conditions for planets to form and life to emerge. Although the Big Bang provided the spark of initiation, the primordial universe that it sired was born hopelessly sterile. It is only through the continued recycling of the interstellar medium, star formation, and stellar evolution that the universe has been animated beyond a chaotic mess of elementary atomic particles, radiation, dark matter, dark energy, and expanding spacetime. Using the Milky Way and the Eagle Nebula in particular as case studies, Beech follows every step of this amazing process. Front Matter....Pages i-xii Reading the Sky....Pages 1-46 In the Eye of the Beholder....Pages 47-88 The Dark Clouds Revealed....Pages 89-120 The Hyperfine Split and Atomic Jitters....Pages 121-178 In the Grip of Gravity....Pages 179-233 It’s a Far Flung Life....Pages 235-256 Back Matter....Pages 257-269