Read more
The world as it is viewed from modern physics and cosmology has many strange and unexpected features. Often these are in stark contrast with our everyday experience or our preconceptions, such as the concept of space and time as finite and changeable. Nevertheless it is this strange world which is the fundamental basis of our existence. Therefore modern science also has a few things to say about the age-old questions: Who are we? - Where do we come from? - Where are we going?
The author, an experienced scientist and teacher, presents the knowledge that we have about our world for non-experts. He takes us on a journey through cosmology and the quantum world of elementary particles. And he sketches the impact of the insights gained into philosophical assumptions and religious beliefs in these disciplines. In the end he asks the speculative question whether there is something beyond the limits of the natural sciences.
List of contents
1 The Wondrous Universe.- 2 The World at Large.- 3 The Deep Underground.- 4 Boundaries and Transgressions.
About the author
Gerhard Börner ist Professor für Physik an der Universität München und Mitarbeiter am Max-Planck-Institut für Astrophysik in Garching.Zahlreiche Veröffentlichungen zur Relativistischen Astrophysik und Kosmologie.
Summary
The world as it is viewed from modern physics and cosmology has many strange and unexpected features. Often these are in stark contrast with our everyday experience or our preconceptions, such as the concept of space and time as finite and changeable. Nevertheless it is this strange world which is the fundamental basis of our existence. Therefore modern science also has a few things to say about the age-old questions: Who are we? – Where do we come from? – Where are we going?
The author, an experienced scientist and teacher, presents the knowledge that we have about our world for non-experts. He takes us on a journey through cosmology and the quantum world of elementary particles. And he sketches the impact of the insights gained into philosophical assumptions and religious beliefs in these disciplines. In the end he asks the speculative question whether there is something beyond the limits of the natural sciences.
Additional text
From the reviews:
“Börner (Ludwig Maximilians Univ. of Munich, Germany) expresses awe and wonder about the universe that humans experience and looks for meaning behind it all. The bulk of the slim volume considers many of the big questions of modern physics. … do well as an auxiliary read in courses that treat science and religion. An interesting addition to college libraries. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates.” (K. L. Schick, Choice, Vol. 49 (8), April, 2012)
Report
From the reviews:
"Börner (Ludwig Maximilians Univ. of Munich, Germany) expresses awe and wonder about the universe that humans experience and looks for meaning behind it all. The bulk of the slim volume considers many of the big questions of modern physics. ... do well as an auxiliary read in courses that treat science and religion. An interesting addition to college libraries. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates." (K. L. Schick, Choice, Vol. 49 (8), April, 2012)
