Edge of the Universe A Voyage to the Cosmic Horizon and Beyond

by Paul Halpern

An accessible look at the mysteries that lurk at the edge of the known universe and beyondThe observable universe, the part we can see with telescopes, is incredibly vast. Yet recent theories suggest that there is far more to the universe than what our instruments record--in fact, it could be infinite. Colossal flows of galaxies, large empty regions called voids, and other unexplained phenomena offer clues that our own "bubble universe" could be part of a greater realm called the multiverse. How big is the observable universe? What it is made of? What lies beyond it? Was there a time before the Big Bang? Could space have unseen dimensions? In this book, physicist and science writer Paul Halpern explains what we know--and what we hope to soon find out--about our extraordinary cosmos.Explains what we know about the Big Bang, the accelerating universe, dark energy, dark flow, and dark matter to examine some of the theories about the content of the universe and why its edge is getting farther away from us fasterExplores the idea that the observable universe could be a hologram and that everything that happens within it might be written on its edgeWritten by physicist and popular science writer Paul Halpern, whose other books include "Collider: The Search for the World's Smallest Particles," and "What's Science Ever Done For Us: What the Simpsons Can Teach Us About Physics, Robots, Life, and the Universe"

Genres: Science, Physics, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Astronomy, Space

236 pages, Hardcover

First published August 10, 2012

About the author

Acclaimed science writer and physicist Dr. Paul Halpern is the author of fourteen popular science books, exploring the subjects of space, time, higher dimensions, dark energy, dark matter, exoplanets, particle physics, and cosmology. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Fulbright Scholarship, and an Athenaeum Literary Award. A regular contributor to NOVA's "The Nature of Reality" physics blog, he has appeared on numerous radio and television shows including "Future Quest" and "The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special".

Halpern's latest book, "Einstein's Dice and Schrodinger's Cat," investigates how physicists Albert Einstein and Erwin Schrodinger battled together against the incompleteness and indeterminacy of quantum mechanics. Their dialogue inspired Schrodinger's famous thought-experiment about a cat in a box that is in a mixed state between life and death until it is observed. They struggled to find a unified field theory that would unite the forces of nature and supersede quantum weirdness. Sadly they would never find success and their efforts would lead to a fiasco.

More information about Paul Halpern's books and other writings can be found at:
phalpern.com

Reviews

[Sadra · Rating 4 out of 5]

این کتاب را در سال 2018 خواندم و با پائول هالپرن آشنا شدم
کتابی فاقد فرمول های ریاضی و تقریبا جذاب بود و برای علاقه مندان به نجوم (مخصوصا کیهان شناسی)مفید است

[Alan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading cosmology-for-the-average-person books and this is one of the best and most recent. The writing is very clear and every chapter describes current research on the topic, including the names of the scientists, the universities or institutions where the studies are going on, and the questions they are trying to answer.

The book begins in familiar territory, explanations of what we know about the Big Bang, then the story takes an intriguing turn, examining why the universe is so smooth and what we know about cosmic inflation.

The next chapters explore dark energy with good references to research on those topics as well as the connection between black holes and the holographic theory. There were some interesting discussions about structures in the universe and the search for dark matter – are they neutrinos or WIMPS?

There was a terrific chapter about the Great Void in Eridanus (based on WMAP cold spots), the dark flow (hundreds of galaxy clusters moving a 2.2 million mph toward a part of the sky), Stephen Hawking’s initial in the WMAP cosmic radiation map (SH), and Axis of Evil (an unexpected alignment in WMAP data, maybe galaxy spins).

Another chapter had a good discussion about of how supermassive black holes in the center of galaxies create bursts of gamma rays. This was followed by the usual explanation of wormholes with the caution that most models would create time paradoxes and cause-effect breakdowns.

The book ends with a description of the research that was just starting when the book was published. Reading this book takes some concentration and I found myself looking up many references in Google for more information. It was a terrific experience!

[Ishwar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Completely random transition between topics. Lack of continuity, terrible metaphors. Nothing new in the book.

[Nestor · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has many contradictions, for example, one chapter says that Big Crunch has been demonstrated not to be possible but the final chapter says it is possible. Moreover, it is very deep in the subjects and many times mentions that some parameters should be bigger, less, or equal to one, without explaining what those parameters are as if the readers should know.

Always the solution to everything is what is not seen, cannot be detected, or has little iteration. This happens with the economy (the invisible hand of the market), physics (dark matter), religion (the invisible god), and psychology (consciousness). When will humankind stop being deceived or seduced by the invisible?

[With Big Crunch] time itself would not roll backward, space would switch its behavior from expansion to contraction ---> So Spacetime is not one as says in Relativity, again 2nd Thermodynamic law rules.

What I found tantalizing is that we don't what Dark Matter/Energy is or even if it exists, and many especially the Author rule out many of the possible Universe endings. We are indeed seeing the universe expanding, but what it causes, we don't know, how can we describe the future of the universe if we don't what it causes and why assuming that will behave in the same way as now, conservation is questioned in the inflation…so.

In the multiverse theory for example we measure spin up and in the other universe the spin is down....but why there are other me in the universe doing the same experiment? Or does this universe have something in particular for me to experiment there's nobody in the other universe to observe the result.

Also, I have had many "conversations" with www.poe.com and AI, very interesting the answers that gave me. Two that are interesting are the following speculations that I have(I won't include the answers are too long):
§ Cyclic universe. With each cycle there would be an entropy buildup, rendering consecutive cycles longer and longer. Looking backward in time means that past oscillations were shorter and shorter, stemming back to an original creation event. --->
I discussed this with Poe's assistant (ChatGPT): I have a wild idea to discuss with me. The cyclic universe theory tells us that we live in the situation between the Big Bang and the Big Crunch. With each cycle there would be an entropy buildup, rendering consecutive cycles longer and longer. Looking backward in time means that past oscillations were shorter and shorter, stemming back to an original creation event. Well, that's maybe why now is 13.8 Bi years old, and in the past, it was probably down to Plank Time, and the beginning of this Cycle was something that started with a ball of energy with the size of Planck Length and during the 1st time, the original creation event, lasted the Planck Time and then evolved from that. Is that too wild? The problem is that a) I don't know what happened the first time there was nothing and then the first Big Bang that lasted for the first time the Planck Time? b) The following events of Big Bang/Crunches started to last longer until now with 13.8 Bi and it will be an event that lasted let's say forever? c) That would be compatible with what we know that we can calculate everything until the Planck Time and Planck length d) What do you think of the following: Why each Big Crunch will take us to the Big Bang with the size of the Planck Length and with time of the Planck Time....to complex my idea? Too Wild?

§ Hugh Everett III conjectured that each time a subatomic event occurs—whether it represents decay, scattering, absorption, or emission—the universe bifurcates into parallel realities. Not only does the quantum interaction split into distinct realities, but everything else does, too. Hence anyone observing a quantum experiment would witness a result that depends on exactly which version of truth he or she happens to be in. ---> In the multiverse theory for example we measure spin up and in the other universe the spin is down....but why there are other me in the universe doing the same experiment? Or does this universe have something in particular for me to experiment and what if there's nobody in the other universe to observe the result? What it's the particular for this universe to have someone doing experiments? Let's discuss this with Poe

[Augusto Bernardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book that gives you brief but good summaries of these complex topics about the universe. As per usual, it's hard to get your head around them or even get an image of them in your head but this book for the most part does an excellent job of it. That might be one of the basic prerequisite for a physics book in my opinion. I must say I had heard of these concepts in other books beforehand (the Michio Kaku books in particular) but it's just awesome to sit back and do your best to imagine the awesome world of black holes, dark energy expanding space, parallel universes, reality as a hologram, the literal edge of the universe and lastly, the big crunch or the big freeze. Naturally I wouldn't be able to repeat or explain any of these concept adequately but I do enjoy it. It's a bit hard to say what I've learned from it but a standout was the quasars. The most powerful energy source in all of the universe. That's a hell of a statement and it's pretty fucking impressive to even imagine numbers like that.

[عبد الله القصير · Rating 3 out of 5]

الكتاب عن الفيزياء الكونية ونظرية الانفجار الكبير والطاقة المظلمة والمادة المظلمة وغيرهم.
لا أدري لماذا أتحسس من القراءة لعلماء الفيزياء الكونية هل لأنهم يتكلمون عن العلم بموثوقية عالية أو لأن هذا العلم استخدم كثيرا بالمناظرات بين المؤمنين والملحدين. لكن هذا لم يمنعني من الاستمتاع بقراءة هذه الكتب.

[Ed Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting part starts from chapter 4.

[Nathan Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to the science of cosmology. Clear and concise.

[Samy Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been many years since I enjoyed a scientific book as much as this one. I have to start by heartily agreeing with a statement from Space Review: " "Halpern writes for the educated layperson, and excels at using analogies to describe abstract astronomical concepts in terms easier to understand..." This just touches on the skill and art that Mr. Halpern displays throughout this book. He takes you from early theories to the latest, identifying and crediting the researchers by name as the theories are presented. They fit in as if characters in a novel, playing their part. As theories are changed, no aspersions appear, just a healthy respect for the different people and what they could prove or what their revelations led to.

Halpern makes it seem like you could understand anything in astrophysics, etc., if only you had the time to read, or listen to him and/or his books. There is no condescension, but an acceptance of the reader as an equal who is just not knowledgeable in this particular area. Delightfully, the notes at the end of each chapter allows the reader could follow up more details if desired.

The analogy use is probably not unique to Halpern, but the success of the model guarantees the success of the book's goals.

The story of the Edge of the Universe is that the universe(s), large and small, beyond our everyday sight, is/are brought together as an epic fantasy, filled with dragons, phantom energy, dark energy, dark matter, dark force and references to such as "the Goldilocks zone."

"The Goldilocks zone is the region near a star that is temperate enough (at least according to Earth standards) for there to be reasonable odds that a planet within it might be habitable."

At the end of the book I can say I really understand what these terms and many more mean. A pretty high achievement for a teacher who must communicate only through the written format. I may not be ready to pass a test on the book, but I am very pleased with it, and the fact that Halpern makes it possible for me to be proud of myself for being able to understand such material.

Halpern is a gifted writer who gifts the reader with an intelligent understanding of this material. I never thought I would be able to understand so much without a vast knowledge of mathematics. Thank you so much, Mr. Halpern, for this book.

P.S. I probably didn't say this as succinctly or in as polished a manner as I'd like. But I hope my enthusiasm and appreciation for it show through brightly.

[Samy Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been many years since I enjoyed a scientific book as much as this one. I have to start by heartily agreeing with a statement from Space Review: " "Halpern writes for the educated layperson, and excels at using analogies to describe abstract astronomical concepts in terms easier to understand..." This just touches on the skill and art that Mr. Halpern displays throughout this book. He takes you from early theories to the latest, identifying and crediting the researchers by name as the theories are presented. They fit in as if characters in a novel, playing their part. As theories are changed, no aspersions appear, just a healthy respect for the different people and what they could prove or what their revelations led to.

Halpern makes it seem like you could understand anything in astrophysics, etc., if only you had the time to read, or listen to him and/or his books. There is no condescension, but an acceptance of the reader as an equal who is just not knowledgeable in this particular area. Delightfully, the notes at the end of each chapter allows the reader could follow up more details if desired.

The analogy use is probably not unique to Halpern, but the success of the model guarantees the success of the book's goals.

The story of the Edge of the Universe is that the universe(s), large and small, beyond our everyday sight, is/are brought together as an epic fantasy, filled with dragons, phantom energy, dark energy, dark matter, dark force and references to such as "the Goldilocks zone."

"The Goldilocks zone is the region near a star that is temperate enough (at least according to Earth standards) for there to be reasonable odds that a planet within it might be habitable."

At the end of the book I can say I really understand what these terms and many more mean. A pretty high achievement for a teacher who must communicate only through the written format. I may not be ready to pass a test on the book, but I am very pleased with it, and the fact that Halpern makes it possible for me to be proud of myself for being able to understand such material.

Halpern is a gifted writer who gifts the reader with an intelligent understanding of this material. I never thought I would be able to understand so much without a vast knowledge of mathematics. Thank you so much, Mr. Halpern, for this book.

P.S. I probably didn't say this as succinctly or in as polished a manner as I'd like. But I hope my enthusiasm and appreciation for it show through brightly.

[Nilesh Jasani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edge of the Universe is a good, understandable summary of where cosmology and science are as of today. It focuses on the findings of the last decade or so, which are stunning. More importantly, the discoveries are subverting some of the cherished conclusions of accepted theories at the universal scale at least.

The book goes beyond dark matter and dark energy to even discuss non-homogeniety of space including dark flow, galaxy voids and clusters, and many other phenomena which are in extremely early stages of their discovery. It is quite possible that some of these findings are challenged or improved comprehensively in future. Or alternatively, new theories are developed to explain what is going on.

As a result, the book is a good update at a point in time - today in and around 2013. It does this job as good as anyone. However, given the focus of the book, it will be superseded soon by events and more findings in the next few years.

All that said, the book conclusively shows how what we thought were near-complete theories of relativity and quantum physics are in the need for massive changes to explain cosmology.

[Ant Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say - this is scientific outreach at its best, in the best arena of science - physics.

Paul Halpern's book not only explores beyond the horizon of observation, but makes the subject of cosmology within everyone's reach. He does this in a fun, non-condescending way, which unlike many science writers makes the reader feel included in the journey the book takes.

On this Universal voyage, we encounter Dark matter and Dark energy; imagine what could be behind these significantly influential, yet largely unknown phenomena, before navigating our way through higher dimensions and across the Multiverse.

In addition to all the accurately, concise information, we find ourselves learning about the cosmos in a fun way, with everyday references and analogies. The book oozes the author's enthusiasm for the subject. I hope and expect this book will make a strong impact and whet the appetite for Cosmology to many more amateurs (like me) and pure novices alike, and judging from advance praise from the books previewers, Paul's professional peers also think the book is wonderful.

[Kenneth Millington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for helping understand the "BIG" and "small" theories about the cosmos. Very readable but more importantly enjoyable. A lot of the topics are difficult to comprehend but Halpern does an amazing job of breaking them down and using everyday analogies. Throughout I was impressed how he explained the integral relationships of Quantum theories and the study of the Universe and its origins, providing the average reader with a better understanding of the contemporary theories. I highly recommend it for the reader looking to get a potent introduction to Cosmology. Besides, who can pass up someone trying to explain Black holes, Dark Matter and Dark Energy!!

[Ripu Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy cosmology like i do, you will enjoy this book. Its not as eloquent as stephen hawking books, or as understandable as NDT would describe concepts, but it does a good job at explaining the latest in cosmology and our understanding of it.
From 16th century astronomy to holographic principles, from theories on beginning of universe to different models of universes end, from quantum to infinite, from blackholes to multiverse, this book covers pretty much all the topics and the scientists and physicists involved.
It is a heavy read, and definitely not for beginners, but cosmology enthusiasts will find this mind boggling.

[Ob-jonny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an entertaining and informative book about astrophysics. It's a great feeling to have a good understanding of dark matter, dark energy, and dark flow and to know the theories of the causes of each. The discussions of the possible futures for the cosmos are interesting too and it was gratifying to learn about the big rip, the big stretch, the big crunch, and the big freeze. I also think it's really cool that Stephen Hawking's initials are written in the billion light-year long letters in the microwave background radiation of the universe.

[Talbert Houle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The information on worm holes and dark matter were the most interesting parts of the book. After that, I was bored by it. Granted, I knew this book might be a stretch since I am only mildly interested in cosmology, and since this book was a lot of "the history of..." this is why I was bored by it.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent overview of Modern Cosmology and Quantum Physics. Could have used a bit more detail Re: Susskind's expansion of Holographic Theory and informational sub-space, overall a good read though.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fantastic book. It was incredibly engaging and the information presented was so very cool and exciting. I love books about the universe, quantum mechanics, physics, and all the other science fiction-y things related to it. This is like real life science fiction and it's awesome.

[Giulia Paris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got into too much details about chemistry at the end but the rest is pretty good. The beginning is great and puts together a lot of the latest theories about the universe. I was wondering how do these scientist make make their calculations, like how many galaxies we have?

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of the current state of our understanding of the Cosmos.

[Hugo Rodrigues · Rating 3 out of 5]

Um livro bastante acessível, mas que apenas se limita a reproduzir o que já foi escrito acerca do universo inúmeras vezes em livros bastante mais interessantes...

[JR Hawk · Rating 5 out of 5]

a thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Michael Huang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty complete coverage of findings in cosmology. Analogies are not always the best--but then again the physicists just don't have a complete understanding.

[Graham Cuthbertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was very interesting all the way through, but the difficulty increases as you read. I would only recommend this book for science-lovers.