Stellar Alchemy: The Celestial Origin of Atoms [Hardcover]

Michel Cassé (Author), Stephen Lyle (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 25, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0521821827 | ISBN-13: 978-0521821827

Why do the stars shine? What messages can we read in the light they send to us from the depths of the night? Nuclear astrophysics is a fascinating discipline, and enables connections to be made between atoms, stars, and human beings. Through modern astronomy, scientists have managed to unravel the full history of the chemical elements, and understand how they originated and evolved into all the elements that compose our surroundings today. The transformation of metals into gold, something once dreamed of by alchemists, is a process commonly occurring in the cores of massive stars. But the most exciting revelation is the intimate connection that humanity has with the debris of exploded stars. Stellar Alchemy is an engaging account of nucleosynthesis in stars, and the associated chemical evolution of the Universe, that is suitable for the general reader. Michel Cassé is an astrophysicist and the author of several books (in French) of astronomy for the general public.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Beyond general readers, advanced undergraduate science students who are not specializing in astrophysics will find this account an excellent introduction to the science of stellar nucleosynthesis, making it excellent supplementary reading. Highly recommended." Choice

"Cass^d'e's writing style, flowery and poetic and full of historical references, makes even the more technical material accessible to the general reader." Nature

"In Stellar Alchemy, you will find a wealth of information about the atoms we are made of." Physics Today

Book Description

Why do the stars shine? When Cortez asked the Aztecs where they obtained the iron in their daggers, they pointed to the sky. They were right. It is the stars that manufacture iron, and every other element making up the familiar objects around us. The transformation of metals into gold, something once dreamed of by alchemists, is a process commonly occurring in the cores of massive stars. In this fascinating book Michel Cassé explains how even humanity itself is connected to the debris of exploded stars.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 242 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (August 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521821827
• ISBN-13: 978-0521821827
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,058,634 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book - highly recommended!, April 8, 2010

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This review is from: Stellar Alchemy: The Celestial Origin of Atoms (Hardcover)

As a new student of astroparticle physics and cosmology, this is a very good book on the origins of atoms or visible matter. If there is something to be said about the connection between the universe, the stars and the human beings, this book says it well. I really think this book will appeal to a wider audience than just scientists such as people interested in philosophy, astronomy, cosmology, chemistry, geology and even religion. Our existence as human beings is complex - the physical aspect is only one aspect of many facets. This book has the potential to open your eyes to the unity in the laws of the universe and bring into perspective the mystery of human origins. Thanks to the author, this is an invaluable contribution to general public's understanding of where all the matter on earth comes from.