Discovering the Essential Universe

Customer Reviews:

Ideal for beginning astronomy students.......2006-12-24

I have found this book to be an ideal first introduction to students with a limited science background. The sections are well-written and the figures and photos are plentiful and well-explained. I have introduced this book to a number of other colleagues and they too have found it to be a delight to use in our intruectory astronomy class. It is almost exactly the right length for a one semester course.

Discovering the essential universe.......2001-10-25

Dear!
I'm studying in Astronomy in this book now with the subject is : "Topic in science"
I read that book and see many interesting things that I haven't know yet. But in my university, they just offer me the copy book, I met a lot of troubles with photographs and trouble. I love astronomy, I'm IT (information technology) student. But if I just study astronymy in this book within 2 months, and I have to buy the original ones with the high price (dollar amount).
It's too high for students paying it. But if we just study from a copy and only see black and white pictures, it's so boring when studying the interesting subject like astronomy.
So, I'm going to withdraw this subject although I really love and want to understand deeply about it but without the color book.
finally, can you give me a advice for staying or get away from that.

The View from the Center of the Universe: Discovering Our Extraordinary Place in the Cosmos

Average customer rating:

It's Just Different.
Complicated But Informative Book On The Universe
Important cosmic perspective
Everybody on Earth Should Read this book!
unusual approach to cosmology

The View from the Center of the Universe: Discovering Our Extraordinary Place in the Cosmos
Joel R. Primack , and Nancy Ellen Abrams
Manufacturer: Riverhead Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: B000MR8TEU

Book Description

A world-renowned astrophysicist and a science philosopher present a new, scientifically supported understanding of the universe, one that will forever change our personal relationship with the cosmos.

For four hundred years, since early scientists discovered that the universe did not revolve around the earth, people have felt cut off-adrift in a meaningless cosmos. That is about to change.

In their groundbreaking new book, The View from the Center of the Universe, Joel R. Primack, Ph.D., one of the world's leading cosmologists, and Nancy Ellen Abrams, a philosopher and writer, use recent advances in astronomy,physics, and cosmology to frame a compelling new theory of how to understand the universe and our role in it.

While most of us think of the universe as empty space peppered with stars separated by vast distances, the truth, the authors argue, is far richer and more meaningful. For the first time in history, we know that the universe is more coherent and spiritually significant than anyone ever imagined and that our place in it is actually central to the expanding universe in important ways.

According to Primack and Abrams, this new cosmology clarifies how the universe operates, what it's made of, how it may have originated, and how it is evolving. Even more surprising, these startling ideas spring from both cutting-edge science and the metaphors of ancient symbols. The result is a very human book that satisfies our fundamental need for order and meaning in our world and in our lives.

Customer Reviews:

It's Just Different........2007-10-06

I took the couples class at UCSC. And boy was it a little weird and interesting... luckily their book was slightly less weird. It's def a different read with many mini history lessons on the cosmos.

Complicated But Informative Book On The Universe.......2007-10-02

This is a very informative book. It talks about the history of what humans used to believe about the universe and the most recent discoveries of our day. It can get complicated and at times tedious to read but I would suggest it to anyone interested in the universe's workings and in science.

Important cosmic perspective.......2007-09-17

Humans are in the very rare position within the whole Universe of being aware of our fortunate evolutionary history, as well as the history of the Universe. The authors argue that a thoughtful realization of that new cosmological perspective should lead us to develop new ways of viewing ourselves and the rest of the Universe.

Everybody on Earth Should Read this book!.......2007-09-03

This is a wonderful book. I am not going to reveiw it here. I think every human now on Earth should read this book. I would like to send copies to Mr. Bush and Mr. Ahmadinejad. It is not a diatribe against religion but rather a scientific romance with ourselves and the story of our incredible journey through the vastness of time and space. When we hear someone say that God created the universe what are they actually saying? Saying that God created the universe tells me nothing. How we got here through aeons of time and the immensity of space is quite a story. A story that we should all know.

From the book:

"Cosmology is a branch of Astronomy and astrophysics that studies the origin and nature of the universe, and it is in the midst of a scientific revolution that is establishing its lasting foundations. What is emerging is humanity's first picture of the universe as a whole that might actually be true. There have been countless myths of the origin of the universe, but this is the first one that no storyteller made up--we are all witnesses on the edges of our seats."

The authors do argue that we are part of a kind of cosmic lottery with life emerging by chance. They remind us that we have hit the jackpot really and are in some sense fundamental to the meaning of the universe. It is up to us to give it meaning. I do not fully agree with the random jackpot explanation. Paul Davies the rather emininent cosmologist from Arizona State university also posits the idea of a cosmic jackpot but he adds a thought that I think is important to make. Human life, as such, may not have been 'planned' but the life principle itself was etched within the physical laws of the universe. Perhaps this explains why the universe is so vast and the time scales for human evolution are so great. The appearance of life is so unlikely that it needs vast time scales and vast spaces through which to roll the dice. Life is achingly rare and precious.

One thing is clear...we are all children of the Big Bang. Time to end all the religous angst and hatred. Science tells the true story of who we are and where we came from. It is time to enfold our ancient mythologies into the emerging story of mankind.

unusual approach to cosmology.......2007-06-01

This book attempts to place current advances in cosmology into a modern mythology that would restore the central importance to human beings in the scientific view of the world. Many readers will find this a little flakey, particularly where the argument is thin (Kabbala). But I found it thought provoking and very well written. Even if you are a hard core science buff you might find this worth your time because the author studied with Marcea Eliade at Chicago. Very original and very thoughtful in my opinion.There is nothing like it on the market that I know of worth reading. I think it may find a solid readership in time.

In addition, this book benefits from having been written for a humanities course given at Santa Cruz. This may be the best introduction to modern cosmology in that it takes the time to clarify fundamental points about dark energy and matter and aspects of inflation that are often bungled in better known and more sophisticated texts. It is clear that the authors have spent a lot of time answering questions from confused students. The care is appreciated; I wish more of these texts were so well edited. An excellent place to start. It comes with a strong recommendation from Paul Davies whose recent Cosmic Jackpot is also excellent.

Discovering the Universe w/Starry Night CD-ROM

Average customer rating:

bad book
Cheap!
Great Textbook
Good not Great...too
Great Book, Great Subject.

Discovering the Universe w/Starry Night CD-ROM
Neil F. Comins , and William J. Kaufmann
Manufacturer: W. H. Freeman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0716769603

Book Description

Discovering the Universe is the best-selling brief text for descriptive one-term astronomy courses (especially those with no mathematics prerequisites). Carried along by the book's vibrant main theme, "the process of scientific discovery," readers will encounter spectacular sights, landmark experiments, and recent discoveries, while learning to avoid the pitfalls created by common misconceptions about astronomy.

Now enhanced with a powerful technology and image projection package, this is the most exciting and effective edition yet. The accompanying CD-ROM features a special student version of the award-winning virtual planetarium software, Starry Night Enthusiast and the new innovative Deep Space Explorer.

Customer Reviews:

bad book.......2007-01-26

the book i order was suppose to be new and hardcover thats why i wanted to buy it, but when it comes home it was really old, and it has writings on it,some parts were ripped and it was missing a cd. I will never order books from here again.

Cheap!.......2007-01-24

Bought this for 4 bucks, because it was an older edition. Found out it has the same information as the newer edition. The lesson of this story is... Don't buy new editions!

Great Textbook.......2005-09-25

This beautiful, full-color, highly-informative textbook has been great for my Astronomy class. Completely up-to-date (well, with the exception of the possible two new planets, one of which has been confirmed only recently and definitely since the text's Spring 2005 publication), it teaches astronomy equally well to the physics major and the humanities student (such as myslef) who is taking the class for a science credit. The authors present the information in a fun way and introduce terms simply for the student. Supplemental material includes an excellent computer program, Starry Night, as well as web resources for reviewing the text material for tests. I highly recommend this text! (And so, of course, does my Astronomy teacher)

Good not Great...too.......2005-09-24

This was one of the two books I bought this semester and it was ok also same thing it was quite used and not too sturdy...it was the correct item and it arrived in a timely fashion. overall about 3.5 stars

Great Book, Great Subject........2005-09-08

I think that the book is great, however, if you are getting this book for as an astronomy textbook for a College course you should be aware that the 7th edition (this is the 6th, is already out) seems to be required these days for class. Some instructors might let you use the 6th edition (it is MUCH cheaper, so it wouldn't hurt to check,) but I recommend that you make sure that this is actually the book that you need. It comes with Astronomy Software on the CD that, alone, makes it worth the low price it is selling for anyway.

Secrets of the Universe: Discovering the Universal Laws of Science

Average customer rating:

a great introduction to science for an adult without the mat

Secrets of the Universe: Discovering the Universal Laws of Science
Paul Fleisher
Manufacturer: Atheneum Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0689312660

Customer Reviews:

a great introduction to science for an adult without the mat.......1999-08-25

the concepts are clearly,step by step,explained. as an adult who has no background in science , this book has taught me the laws of motion;from newton to quantom. the basics of physics were well done. if an understanding of the ideas behind the science is what you seek then this is your book.

Seeing in the Dark : How Amateur Astronomers Are Discovering the Wonders of the Universe

Average customer rating:

A must for any stargazer!
Good Overview of Astronomy
Every Man A Galileo
A great book for those cloudy nights!
A match made in Heaven

Seeing in the Dark : How Amateur Astronomers Are Discovering the Wonders of the Universe
Timothy Ferris
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Coming of Age in the Milky Way
Seeing in the Dark
The Whole Shebang : A State of the Universe(S) Report
Astronomy Hacks: Tips and Tools for Observing the Night Sky (Hacks)
Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide to Choosing, Buying, and Using Telescopes and Accessories

ASIN: 0684865807

Book Description

In Seeing in the Dark, a poetic love letter to science and to the skies, Timothy Ferris invites us all to become stargazers. He recounts his own experiences as an enthralled lifelong amateur astronomer and reports from around the globe -- from England and Italy to the Florida Keys and the Chilean Andes -- on the revolution that's putting millions in touch with the night sky. In addition, Ferris offers an authoritative and engaging report on what's out there to be seen -- what Saturn, the Ring nebula, the Silver Coin galaxy, and the Virgo supercluster really are and how to find them. The appendix includes star charts, observing lists, and a guide on how to get involved in astronomy.

Ferris takes us inside a major revolution sweeping astronomy, as lone amateur astronomers, in global networks linked by the Internet, make important discoveries that are the envy of the professionals. His ability to describe the wonders of the universe is simply magical, and his enthusiasm for his subject is irresistible.

Customer Reviews:

A must for any stargazer!.......2007-07-18

Fantastic! This book is a perfect mixture of science and storytelling. This was educational and inspiring. I don't re-read many books, but this may be an exception. Loved it.

Good Overview of Astronomy.......2005-09-16

Many people, including myself, often marvel at the night sky to the point of seriously thinking of buying a telescope. The question that then arises is: What if I invest in a decent telescope, use it a few times to examine some of the celestial bodies, then eventually get bored for lack of knowing what to look at or to look for? This book attempts to help potential amateur astronomers dance around this sticking point. The author discusses the current activities of some professional but mainly amateur astronomers: what they look for, the equipment that they use, what they've found and what they continue to find. The book is well written and fun to read; it covers most areas of interest in astronomy and briefly describes what's out there. The book's only shortcoming is that it contains no figures, pictures or diagrams of any kind (other than star charts in the appendices); this is unfortunate since a few optical diagrams and pictures of the various items and people that are discussed would have complemented the text very nicely. Nevertheless, this is a great book that does much to encourage amateur astronomy. I heartily recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in the night sky.

Every Man A Galileo.......2005-01-01

This is an informative and at times whimsical work about outer space, specifically who is doing the observing and what is being observed. The material goes considerably beyond the title, as only one chapter actually treats of near earth objects [NEO's] at depth, and I am still confused over the author's distinction between "amateur" and "professional" astronomers. With those caveats in mind, "Seeing In The Dark" is a fine overview of astronomy for those of us who have been out of school awhile and think of Pluto as the edge of the meaningful universe.

As a boy I was intrigued by astronomy and at age 10 owned an off-the shelf hand telescope that, in my recollection, simply made the bright stars brighter. I once tried to observe the crescent of Venus through my mother's hand mirror and a magnifying glass. I did get to see the rings of Saturn, finally, through the 8" telescope at the Buffalo Museum of Science, and to this day I divide the world into those who have seen that spectacle firsthand and those who haven't. Popular astronomy in the 1950's was lunar and planetary: the supposed canal system of Mars, for example, was still an issue of debate.

I lost my interest in the 1960's when astronomy became less optical and more electronic. Real observations and photos of heavenly bodies are egalitarian. Spectroscopic charts, radio waves, radar exploration and the like required time, sophisticated education, and money. Every decade or so something would catch my fancy: Apollo 11, Viking, Pioneer, Hubble, Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, Cassini. But why should an amateur like myself spend money and time at something already being done with more precision at Arecibo in Puerto Rico or Mt. Palomar in California, or from a satellite in space, for that matter?

Timothy Ferris argues in so many words that the modern astronomical-industrial complex, so to speak, is too big and too expensive to perform some of the most critical work of present day astronomy. The author provides a plethora of examples, such as planetary weather. Most planets have atmospheres with characteristics not entirely unlike the earth's own. The atmospheres of the large outer planets [and in at least one case, a planetary satellite] have predictable patterns of wind currents and even storms that produce lightning. Mars, we have come to realize, has significant dust storms and seasonal markers. To monitor these systems, however, requires daily observations over months and years. With the crush of competition for seat time for the monster telescopes and the costs involved, such meticulous and time consuming planetary observations are gradually falling into the hands of the dedicated [and exquisitely patient] amateur backyard astronomers. The older, smaller, and midrange telescopes have come into a new age of usefulness, where persistence is of equal value to optical power. And, as the author observes, the marriage of a modest telescope with digital photography, computer controls, and Internet access to professionals, has created a formidable network of information gatherers.

Nowhere is the amateur's value of more importance than in the discovery and tracking of NEO's, asteroids whose orbits regularly criss-cross the earth's. Observation of these dangerous bodies and forecast of collisions is extremely difficult for several reasons. NEO's are hard to see [in some instances, at the 29th magnitude], only small tracks of their orbits are currently known, and they are notoriously vulnerable to gravitational influences from the earth, the sun, and even Jupiter. Science has developed a public coding system for risk from each known object, and I would venture a guess that readers will find particular stimulation from Ferris's discussion of the "Torino Scale." [As I was reading this work, I checked the day's "Torino forecast" on NASA's web site, the very day that NASA used a "Torino 4" rating for the first time, for Asteroid 2004MN4. As this occurred the same day as the Asian tsunami, little or no press coverage was devoted to the event, though astronomers around the world focused on the potential risk of a 2029 collision. The odds for 2004MN4 were downgraded to Torino 1 a few days later.]

Suffice to say that NEO's are the "high needs child" of space observation, and every verifiable observation by an amateur astronomer enables NASA and international tracking systems to add another fraction of certainty to a body's orbit. Ferris intersperses observational details of heavenly bodies with interviews of the men and women who do the observing. His use of the word "amateur" is stretched like taffy. Some of these unsalaried observers have spent six-figures in outfitting their equipment or, in some cases, pursuing doctorates to expedite their work. Some have walked away from lucrative professions and made wholesale disruptions in personal and family life on behalf of serious stargazing. In some cases "amateur" does not do justice to what is more appropriately an "obsession."

Ferris summarizes what we have come to know about planets, stars and galaxies in the past few generations of advanced study. Again, if one has not addressed astronomy systematically since school days, this work is an excellent primer on our current state of understanding the heavens. There is a thorough 25-page appendix that treats of basic stargazing information, including issues of light pollution, choice of equipment, and basic star charts, as well as a summary of periodicals and web sites. I regretted that there are no photos of any kind in the book, so we never get to see with our own eyes the quality of work produced by the amateurs in our communities. Perhaps the author was deliberately setting out to pique our curiosity, for yesterday I found myself investigating the features and price tag of a small telescope at the Brookstone's in my local mall. It's been a long time since I've done that.

A great book for those cloudy nights!.......2004-11-24

I received my copy of this book as an early Christmas present from one of my "stargazing friends". Even tho' I had glanced at this volume on bookstore shelves , I usually bypassed it for books on starhopping , star atlases , or other "hard data" type publocations. I now lament my earlier loss , and have truly enjoyed this very well written and extremely informative book.

The author , Timothy Ferris , takes us on a wonderful tour of the solar system and "near space" in the second section of the book ; he then moves on to the Milky Way and the wonders of gaseous nebulae , open star clusters ,globular clusters , and planetary nebulae within our own galaxy in section 3.

Finally , in the fourth section of the book , the author deals with the imensity of the universe (as we presently are capable of understanding it) by moving on to galaxies , and galaxy clusters.

But it isn't all about the wonders of the Heavens , for Ferris intersperses some entertaining anecdotal material as well. Starting with a personal tale of how he became a stargazer-astronomer to passages about Steven James O'Meara and his phenomonal visual observing feats while breathing oxygen at 14,000 feet on Mauna Kea. We are introduced to Barbara Wilson , a mother and former housewife who excells in actually "seeing" the faintest of astronomical objects.

This is a great book for amateur astronomers at almost any level ; the author manages to communicate his passion for the skies and the fine art of observational astronomy in a warm and entertaining manner. It is an ideal book for a frustrating evening when the clouds roll in as the sun sets , thus postponing the observing plans of the day.

I rated this book 5 stars and give it my highest recommendation. No real warts on this one!

A match made in Heaven.......2003-12-17

The match being that of science and poetry. The author writes about the achievements of amateur astronomers, giving a wealth of information about astronomy, stargazing, and amateurs, all of which is written in a language so beautifully poetic. It is a masterpiece. The love of the author for his topic is evident on every page and it is contagious. This is a book that will fill you with wonder, and probably sweep you off your feet and onto the nearest dark ground with a starmap in hand!

Rich with information, written with passion, the book is fascinating, moving, and absolutely beautifully written.

Average customer rating:

Poses questions; posits answers

CHALLENGING & PROVOCATIVE THEORIES ON DARK MATTER/RELATIONALISM

Baryons as Dark Matter

Comprehending and Decoding the Cosmos: Discovering Solutions to Over a Dozen Cosmic Mysteries by Utilizing Dark Matter Relationi

DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!

Comprehending and Decoding the Cosmos: Discovering Solutions to Over a Dozen Cosmic Mysteries by Utilizing Dark Matter Relationism, Cosmology, and Astrophysics
Jerome Drexler
Manufacturer: Universal Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1581129297

Book Description

There are many mysteries involving cosmic phenomena. Jerome Drexler used 14 of these and his analytical concept of dark matter(DM) relationism to discover a promising candidate for dark matter, the source of ultra-high energy cosmic rays, and theories for star formation, starburst galaxies, and the emergence of DM halos. To test the validity of his discoveries, Drexler used another 11 unexplained cosmic phenomena discovered by astronomers primarily during 2005. Utilizing his same promising dark matter candidate, Drexler was able to explain in a plausible manner all 11 of these recently discovered cosmic mysteries. Drexler's research has led not only to an identification of dark matter and to plausible explanations for the 25 cosmic phe-nomena, but also to a deeper understanding of many aspects of the cosmos, leading to a partial decoding of the cosmos.

Customer Reviews:

Poses questions; posits answers.......2006-10-21

Drexler's book was sent to me unsolicited inviting my feedback and comments. I cannot call myself even an amateur cosmologist therefore I cannot assess how plausible the explanations in this book are. Furthermore, I have not actually read it cover to cover. Nevertheless, I award it 4 stars for the following reasons:
1. The topic is well laid out and is made very accessible via extremely short chapters listed in a detailed table of contents. It is well indexed. A glossary is also included.
2. Throughout the book, use is made of lists, both bulleted and numbered, e.g. pp 110-114, making it easy to follow his arguments.
3. More importantly, it lists 58 references (7 to his own work) as well as a further 30 suggested sources. Readers are cautioned not to assume agreement in these sources with Drexler's views.
4. The book is intended to be provocative and to generate further thought and discussion. The Preface states: "This book, "Comprehending and Decoding the Cosmos," deviates significantly from mainstream cosmological and astrophysical theories."
I would not, of course, recommend a book just because of its layout and style. I see this book as a thought-provoking re-examination of existing observations and theories in addition to offering solutions and new ideas. I leave it to others to comment on the plausibility of these.

CHALLENGING & PROVOCATIVE THEORIES ON DARK MATTER/RELATIONALISM.......2006-08-26

This is another fantastic book by Dr. Drexler. Dr. Drexler identifies dark matter as a viable candidate and explicates his theory cogently by describing in detail the astronomical evidence he found that justifies his theory and conclusion. His most recent book, "Comprehending and Decoding the Cosmos," published this year (2006), delineates and expounds his theory to an even greater extent. I queried him regarding the use of the term relationism vis-a-vis reductionistic practices. Dr. Drexler thoroughly explicated this complex theory that he has posited in significant detail.

Dark Matter, is deemed by many to be the most elusive mystery of the universe, which is probably attributable to its massive, extensive, and hard-to-detect characteristic. Dr. Drexler, in his 2006 sequel, astutely delineates 14 mysterious phenomena, along with his new analytical decoding concept of dark matter relationism, to discover and identify a very promising dark matter candidate compatible with these 14 cosmic elements. In the process, he has quite possibly brought the decades old quest to identify dark matter to a successful conclusion. He adroitly then locates and analyzes an additional 11 unexplained cosmic phenomena, which were discovered and reported by various astronomers mostly during 2005. Drexler again, utilizing his same promising dark matter candidate, plausibly explicates all 11 of these recently discovered cosmic mysteries in his May, 2006 sequel.

I have personally purchased multiple copies of Dr. Drexler's 2003 and 2006 books for family members and friends at the University of Maine. I read with chagrin Dr. Marc "DM"s negative reviews on these books, which interestingly were both written and posted on May 31, 2006. I vehemently disagree with Dr. Marc's and JMK's reviews and evaluations, both of which bring to mind the saying attributable to Herbert Spencer: "Contempt prior to investigation..." Although Dr. Marc characterizes himself as a professional astronomer, I am constrained to believe that he is a grant-seeking, self-promoter, who perhaps has not even read Dr. Drexler's two books. As a professional man, with graduate degrees myself, I eschew hasty judgments when pondering the theories of colleagues and others. I have therefore indicated that neither of Dr. Marc's reviews were helpful to me, and in closing, I strongly urge every professional cosmologist, astronomer, astrophysicist, or interested novice, to read Dr. Drexler's books with an inquisitive and open mind. Do not be influenced by the pejorative and negative views espoused by Dr. Marc.

Baryons as Dark Matter.......2006-06-16

Since the discovery of DM, which many believe constitutes most of the mass of the universe, there has been a debate regarding the baryonic or non-baryonic nature of DM. Current scientific research favors non-baryonic particles with huge new detectors being built today that actually exclude baryons. At its heart, Drexler's book is philosophical in its approach, taking a contrarian view in the debate. Citing Ockham's razor and top-down vision, the author sorts recent astrophysics data of others to analyze and resolve the DM issue, asserting that DM consists of relativistic protons, i.e. baryons. A large amount of data is reviewed and the considerations seem persuasive. Not mentioned as a baryonic argument in favor of DM is another philosophical consideration relating to the significance of man in the Universe. If man is significant and perhaps even central in the universe, as Primack suggests in his new book, it would be a shame if the baryons of which we are made turn out to be cosmologically weird stuff. Drexler's book is worth a read.

Comprehending and Decoding the Cosmos: Discovering Solutions to Over a Dozen Cosmic Mysteries by Utilizing Dark Matter Relationi.......2006-06-12

I have read this book and it is another fine book by the Scientist, Mr. Drexler. I have followed Drexler's career since his days at Bell Labs-his founding of the Drexler Technology (Lasercard), his numerous patents -- He would not publish a book with research that is false. Did the other reviewer really read the book? I HAVE READ IT FROM COVER TO COVER AND IT OPENED MY MIND TO NEW IDEAS ABOUT THE COSMOS,ETC. EVERYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN GOOD , LOGICAL RESEARCH SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.

DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!.......2006-06-01

There are many reasons why Jerome Drexler's theory of dark matter is not widely accepted amongst astronomers. I am a professional astronomer working at a research establishment in California. The idea that relativisic protons can be responssible for the dark matter of the Universe seems ridiculous to me and this is why:

1. If dark matter consisted of relativistic particles (such as relativistic protons) then this is what astronomers would refer to as Hot Dark Matter. Hot Dark Matter has been ruled out as a form of dark matter because it does not allow the structures we see in the Universe. The reason because the particles are at such high velocities that they can never become gravitationally bound to each other, and all structure is wiped out. Galaxies cannot form, stars cannot form, planets cannot form. This would be a huge problem. This is why astronomers have come to believe in Cold Dark Matter (slow moving massive particles).

2. Protons are charged particles (they have positive charge). Any moving charged particle has both an electric and a magnetic field associated with it. Relativistic charged particles would create a huge electric and magnetic field. This would be easily observed. However, it has never been observed.

3. The Cold Dark Matter Particle (the WIMP) has never been observed for a reason. It's predicted mass lies just beyond the energies we can probe with our current particle accelerators. The next generation of particle accelerators will be able to probe these energies. These new particle accelerators will be coming online in the next 2 to 5 years, so watch this space. Admittedly, if we don't find the predicted WIMP (or neutralino as it is strictly called), then we do have to go back to the drawing boad.

I don't understand how this book has come to be published. The people deciding it should be published are obviously not professional astronomers. However, Jerome Drexler has never had his theory published in an astronomical journal. The reason is because it has never made it past the peer review stage... because his theory is simply WRONG. It does not stand up to experimental tests or what we know about the Universe.

Astronomy for All Ages, 2nd: Discovering the Universe through Activities for Children and Adults

Average customer rating:

Astronomy for All Ages, 2nd: Discovering the Universe through Activities for Children and Adults
Philip Harrington , and Edward Pascuzzi
Manufacturer: Globe Pequot
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ASIN: 0762708093

Book Description

This collection of fifty-one fascinating and engaging activities opens up the gateway to outer space for stargazers young and old.

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Discovering the Universe 7e & Clicker
Neil F. Comins
Manufacturer: W.H. Freeman & Company
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The God Hypothesis: Discovering Design in Our Just Right Goldilocks Universe

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Evolution is Anti-knowlege - Self Organization is non causual reasoning - Big Bang, a mathematic singularity
Oops. (Reckless, but slightly better than 2 stars)
Just make sure you read "The God Delusion" as well
Masterpiece
Convincing, satisfying & complete

The God Hypothesis: Discovering Design in Our Just Right Goldilocks Universe
Michael Corey
Manufacturer: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
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ASIN: 0742520544

Book Description

The God Hypothesis seeks to reverse the profound misunderstanding that science has disproved the existence of God. Drawing on the fairy tale of Goldilocks and The Three Bears, Michael A. Corey believes that the just right conditions that created life on earth provide overwhelming evidence of an Intelligent Designer at work.

Customer Reviews:

Evolution is Anti-knowlege - Self Organization is non causual reasoning - Big Bang, a mathematic singularity.......2007-08-28

1. Collin Patterson said, "Last year I had a sudden realization. For over twenty years I had thought I was working on evolution in some way. One morning I woke up and something had happened in the night; and it struck me that I had be working on this stuff for twenty years and there was not one thing that I knew about it. That's quite a shock to learn that one can be so misled so long...Can you tell me anything you know about evolution, any one thing... that is true? All I got was silence." The doctrine of evolution is anti-knowledge meaning it does not convey knowledge. Evolution is a false faith endorsed by academia and sponsored by strong political and economic pressure to accept. Evolution does not create beauty, harmony, nor cooperative systems and at best natural selection yields unstable, chaotic, and competitive networks. The idea of gradual change over billions of years producing a tree of life can not be proven. Evolution proof is impossible because it has no reversible pattern or algorithm. Evolution is the product of "Self-sufficient" thinkers who ignore any role that God had in the creation. Evolution is the ultimate excuse to ignore God. Preachers of evolution argue, "our behavioral freedom would necessarily be short-circuited by our direct perception of God's Great glory, and this something that is generally deemed to be incompatible with our existence as free-will beings." We are agents of a Divine God and God's creations are designed for beauty and the benefit of man. "The whole idea here is to infuse some much needed ambiguity into the creation, so that human freedom can be preserved as a result." The universe is far more surprising that any one could ever image. God is central and important part of explaining cosmological and biological theories.
2. "We also know that the finite property of self-organization couldn't possibly have been responsible for its own origin, because there was a definite point in the past before it ever existed." Self-organization would need a reason or explaining power for existence, causal or otherwise, other than itself. The only way out of the bind is to suggest that self-organization is "eternal in nature". The phenomenon of self-organization is not eternal in nature.
3. Fundamental laws and constants of nature do not gradually evolve into their present life-supporting character. Natural selection and Darwinism fail.
4. "Where did the universe get this seemingly self-sufficient character to begin with?" Jesus Christ is the power by which the Universe is powered and remains in order. Accepting this fact brings certainty and faith in the purpose of man. We don't need to fear cosmological destruction by random events.
5. The Universe is expanding or inflating, at approximately 4 millions per hour. The Universe is not expanding at a constant rate suggested by Einstein's cosmological constant. Einstein called the cosmological constant a mistake. Einstein believed in "Spinoza God," and impersonal Deity who only revealed himself in the orderly workings of nature. "In Einstein's mind, such an impersonal Creator could conceivable have allow these worldly evils to happen, either because he wouldn't have known about them, or else because he wouldn't have cared about them." Einstein was reluctant to accept the big bang bringing him to the acceptance of a personal creator. The second law of thermodynamics says that the total amount of disorder in the universe can never decrease. A winding down suggest their must have been a winding up. George Gamow big bang calculations predicted 25 percent of the matter in the universe will be helium and the other 75 percent, hydrogen. Penrose and Hawkings proof of the big bang was found in the peculiar properties of black holes. "Sufficiently dense stars that exceeds the Chandrasekhar limit, the inward pull of gravity will eventually be able to overwhelm the outward push by the Pauli Exclusion Principle (force to accelerating a particle to the speed of light), with the result that the star will begin a calamitous period of runaway contraction." The singularity is a state of zero size and infinity density.
6. The amount of matter produced by the big bang is exact. Any more matter and gravitational contraction would occur and not enough and galaxies would not form. The cosmic initial conditions are very fine tuned to support life. A veil of mystery will always prevent science from understanding the initial condition. At 10 minus 43 power seconds, Planks Wall is the temperature point where temperatures are so high that the four fundamental forces of physics dissolve. Limitations include limits to human intellect, measuring apparatus, and the intrinsic uncertainty of quantum reality.
7. The notion of oscillating universes that move back and forth between contraction and expansion are not feasible. The universe is expanding with not force strong enough to cause contraction, the universe will not collapse because there isn't enough matter to cause the collapse. Each cycle of expansion and contraction in an oscillating universe must produce an increase in cosmic disorder, or entropy. The increase in entropy would reveal itself in an increase of photons and nuclear particles. The universe does not seem to be the product of an infinite number of cycles. There is no known physical mechanism that is capable of reversing a cosmic contraction.

Oops. (Reckless, but slightly better than 2 stars).......2007-06-27

At about the same time I received this book, I read a similarly titled book whose thesis is the exact counter-argument to Corey's; that volume being "God: the Failed Hypothesis," by Victor Stenger. Both books are --intensely-- flawed. Stenger presents an easily rebutted collection of arguments that he claims to be 'science' putting God to the gallows once and for all. By his own modest admission, Stenger's interpretations of certain physical theories depart substantially from the understandings of most physicists, and many of Stenger's offbeat "interpretations" are simply silly. Unfortunately, the present volume, "The God Hypothesis," by Michael Corey, is argued almost as badly.

Corey does present enough 'expert testimony' to make the case that "our 'just right' goldilocks universe" is outrageously unlikely, impossible by any reasonable standard, unless it has been intended by a Super-intellect having some conceptual 'likeness' to Anaxagoras' 'primordial Mind' and Aristotle's 'First Mover'. Support is cited from the recent work of many well-known physicists: Gribben, Davies, Hawking, Penrose, Rees, Barrow, Gingerich, Dyson, Jastrow, Smoot, and many more, as well as many biologists. If Corey had been a great deal more cautious in his interpretations and comments regarding the citations he makes, the book could have been both shorter and more powerfully argued. But when Corey throws his own 'scientific' understandings into the mix, he often succeeds only in muddling the topic at hand. Corey's defective spin on physical theory will have informed readers (perhaps especially those who might otherwise be inclined to agree with his thesis) gritting their teeth and wincing. Some examples of Corey's poor understanding of physics:

1) He says that the "flatness" of the universe refers to the fact that it can be accurately described with Euclidean geometry, that space-time is fortuitously not curved, and that life can only exist in a universe consistent with Euclidean geometry. Ouch! There is just no salvaging this kind of tangential blunder.

2) He says that most stars are like ours because they are "main sequence" stars. This seems to demonstrate a poor understanding. The main sequence is the long, 'star-like' phase typical of several classes of stars. Our star (the sun) is actually UNLIKE the vast majority of stars; as a Class G star, only about 8% of other stars are 'similar'. By far most stars are Class M and are decidedly different from our sun (they cannot have systems that host life as we know it).

3) He calls 10 to the negative 39th power a "huge number." Perhaps he means "huge" as in its largeness of extreme smallness??

At any rate, Corey too frequently 'shoots himself in the foot' with erroneous 'scientific' commentary. His book could have been much better if he could have stayed out of his own way. The book's slightly redeeming value is that the scientifically uniformed reader will not notice the author's interpretational gaffes (which are generally tangential and superfluous to his central thesis). The book is also a pretty good bibliographical source for more serious study. In short, the book's potential merits are conspicuously sullied by its author's careless commentary.

Just make sure you read "The God Delusion" as well.......2006-11-15

Every single one of Corey's points is debunked in Dawkins' book.

Of course, if you find the placebo effect of believing in a Supreme Being provides you comfort, and truth is relatively unimportant, avoid Dawkins' book and believe what you want to believe.

Masterpiece.......2005-02-15

This book is about as near as Christianity can get to an additional sacred revelation. In its pages Corey gives an immensly intimate look at God in His artistic facet as Creator of the universe. Upon completing the book, I was both mentally and spiritually satiated, and felt as if I had actually been shown the glorious blueprints of the universe as once abstracted in the mind of God. The details of Gods creative plan are so vividly depicted that reading the book is practically analogous to viewing a collection of art work painted by Christ Himself! This book is destined for immortality, and will be remembered in a thousand years from now as the most awe-inspiring scientific work of humankind.

Convincing, satisfying & complete.......2004-09-14

Why 5 Stars? From all the books that I've read on Intelligent Design, this is by far the most complete & satisfying. Reading through the book one must appreciate the thorough research done by Mr Corey, based on which he forms a convincing case for 'The God Hypothesis'.

Using the latest empirical data Corey shows how our universe was 'fine-tuned' at the big-bang without which life would have been impossible, simultaneously shows why counter theories against multiple universes and big-bangs are not plausible. Here are a few specific points on why I recommend this book:

- It's easy to read. As a business student I thought I would be struggling through the book, but that was not the case. Corey has a gift of expressing his thoughts in a clear style. I found the book to be readable and throught-provoking.

- Often books on this subject only deal with the evidence that point to a God, talking little or nothing about the kind of God the evidence shows. But Corey has taken the extra step to discuss the various attributes of God that can be inferred from the available evidence.

- His arguments are not camouflaged in paragraphs for the reader to look out for, but he presents it logically in syllogistic style with no loose ends.

- He gives wonderful insights from a wide variety of people coming from different backgrounds. From scientists like Hawking & Hoyle to philosophers like Kant & Hick.

- Corey presents several counter-arguments against those who have objections to an Intelligent designer. He deals with Richard Dawkins' Blind Watchmaker to Lee Smolin's Baby universes and many others. The author very clearly shows that the Blind Watchmaker, using mindless chance & natural selection alone, cannot explain the design & specified complexity in the universe because it ultimately begs the question since Natural Selection itself contains properties that such as self-replicating that are highly complex & therefore cannot just be assumed for the pupose of removing the role of an Intelligent Designer.

- Some of the other questions that skeptics ask are answered by Corey:
a) If God created this universe for mankind, why didn't he create it in an instantaneous fiat, instead of billions of years of evolution?
b) Why is the fine-tuning not a another God of the Gaps problem?
c) Why is it not reasonable to attribute the fine-tuning to an accident or coincidence?
d) Why does God choose to present himself indirectly through natural causes?

I highly recommend this book to those have doubts in their mind about the relationship between God & Science but don't know where to start or those who would like a fresh insight into the latest scientific evidence that point to a Creator. This book is also great for the believers who wish to learn how to present the argument for God in a scientific fashion.

In the library of Intelligent Design Books, "The God Hypothesis" will remain a star for times to come.

Discovering the Essential Universe & Starry Night Explorer CD-ROM

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Discovering the Essential Universe & Starry Night Explorer CD-ROM
Neil F. Comins
Manufacturer: W. H. Freeman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0716762455

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