Customer Reviews

The Universe Next Door: The Making of Tomorrow's Science

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an interesting book of cosmological speculation aimed at the general reader. What science writer Marcus Chown does especially well is to excite our imagination about what might be possible in light of what we now know or think we know.

This is not, however a book to give comfort to mainstream physicists. Chown's emphasis is on minority report notions including parallel universes, invisible universes, time travel, universes created by super-intelligent beings, extra dimensions, and the like. His technique is to introduce the ideas of maverick scientists (e.g., Max Tegmark, Edward Harrison, David Stevenson, etc.) and, where possible, meld them with the ideas of more established scientists. He avoids (I think) the impossible while concentrating on the exciting.

Since most of the ideas presented in this book are of the "not likely to be proven any time soon" variety, I would like to give them a kind of aesthetic grade just for fun and as a way to show you what the book is about.

First, the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, an idea championed by physicist David Deutsch in his book, The Fabric of Reality: The Science of Parallel Universes-and Its Implications (1997). Grade: A+. This is a beautiful notion that expands the mind wonderfully. A entire new universe with every tick of the quantum! Mind-boggling in the extreme, yet eye-opening in the sense that by contemplating such an amazement, we might have a better idea of the thought of infinity. (Personally, though, I prefer in everyday life, the Copenhagen interpretation.)

Second, the idea of parallel universes (a possibility that can be independent of the many worlds interpretation of QM). Grade: A-. Too easy by itself to imagine. But what gives it elegance is the underlying question that it begs: what is the nature of reality? "Where" do these parallel universes reside? Is "where" really a meaningful concept? Do we have any idea of what "where" really means?

Third, time travel backwards based on an imploding universe headed for crunch time. Grade: C. My problem is the "so what" nature of this idea. Clearly it is not supposed that broken cups and scrambled eggs will go a-mending and unscrambling as time moves backwards as in a movie run in reverse.

Fourth, time travel based on worm holes, etc. Grade C+. I like the idea that somewhere else (as we emerge from the worm hole) is also some other time, but I just don't see in my wildest imaginings how we might control our destination, either in terms of where or when.

Fifth, time travel that avoids the grandfather paradox by having the changes take effect in parallel universes. Grade: A. This really is a nice answer to both the paradoxes and the salient question that Stephen Hawking asked, "Where are the tourists?" (from the future). Incidentally, time travel into the future is no problem logically in this world. It just takes time. (Ha!) It is time travel to the past that leads to all the logical and conceptional problems.

Sixth: Invisible universes. Grade: D-. If they can in some way affect our visible universe, make that a C. Invisible universes that we cannot become aware of in any way are effectively speaking not much different than parallel universes.

Seventh: the idea that black holes "explode" or bud out into a new universe elsewhere. Grade: A. Although this is about as close to an untestable idea as one can imagine, it has a beautiful symmetry to it that is infectious. Our universe itself could be the result of such a budding out.

Eighth: the idea that universes propagate by given birth to new universes, either through black holes or some other manner. Grade: B. What I like about this idea is the suggestion of infinity, one universe leads to another to another, etc., etc., truly mind-exploding! What I don't like is the somewhat biological taint. Testability? (Grin.)

Ninth: the idea that there are dark planets in interstellar space teeming with life. Grade: A+. Eminently reasonable. I predict this idea will become a common assumption in a few years. The impetus for this idea is the fairly recent realization here on earth of just how common life is, underground, at the bottom of deep ocean trenches, that does not rely on photosynthesis. This is also an idea that could conceivably, even in my lifetime, find some empirical support.

Tenth: panspermia (from Chandra Wickramasinghe and Fred Hoyle), or the idea that the origin of life is extraterrestrial. Grade: A. This is also eminently reasonable and likely to be given some support before too long (if it is true). This really is the most likely idea in the book.

Eleven: alien garbage, or the notion that artifacts from ET's are littering up interstellar space and some of those artifacts have hit the earth and are under our feet. Grade C-. I have several problems with this, mainly that I think the amount of debris is a huge overestimate, primarily because I don't think the superior technicians envisioned would be as careless as radio astronomer Alexey Arkhipov seems to think.

I could go on but better you should read Chown's book and do your own grading.

Bottom line: this is an entertaining excursion up to and over the edge of the known.

Wow, a fantastically fun book. I'm not sure that I agree with all of the theories it contains-I'm not sure the author even does-but they're certainly astounding and the thought processes that went into creating them is truly awe-inspiring. Some of them are not new to me. What is new, however, is the approachable style of the composition. Although formerly a radio astronomer at Cal Tech, at present Marcus Chown is primarily a professional science journalist. His approach to the topic of modern physics and its newer concepts is one of a writer and broadcaster. As he discusses each topic, he quotes the primary researchers in the field like a writer for Discover magazine would, asking pertinent questions and where necessary, explaining the answers. Through these dialogues with renowned scientists, he allows the reader to become more familiar with the personalities of the individuals at the leading edge of theoretical physics as well as with their ideas. He functions as a very knowledgeable and lucid interface between the professional scientist and the curious lay person.

Each chapter is primarily dedicated to a specific concept having to do with "reality" and with the nature of the universe. Each chapter reads like a well written novel in that the last paragraph serves as a hook to draw the reader on to the next amazing concept in the succeeding chapter. I found that I couldn't just set aside the book. I read it cover to cover in one sitting and loved every minute of it. For those with an interest in but less of a background in physics, there is a fairly detailed glossary in the back of the book which should help with terms, although most are adequately explained in the body of the text. I think that most individuals can understand the concepts as they are explained. It might be a nice place for the junior high student with a strong interest in a science career to become familiar with physics and physicists.

For those who find their appetites wetted for "more,"the bibliography at the back of the book is probably not a very helpful source. Most of the listings are either journal articles that might not be approachable for the average student of the topic or science fiction. Certainly the latter are very good, should one wish to take ones science in a more narrative form. This cast of writers is stellar-no pun intended-and includes Asimov, Clarke, Gunn, Heinlein, and Hoyle, among others. For those who prefer expository style, I'd suggest they check "Just Six Numbers" by Sir Martin Rees, Michio Kaku's "Hyperspace," "Matter Myth" by Gribbin and Davies, and "About Time" by P. C. W. Davies. Each of the latter texts deals more thoroughly with topics addressed in Chown's book by individual chapters.

"Curiouser and curiouser!" cried Alice.--Lewis Carroll (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland).

Any technology that is sufficiently advanced is indistinguishable from magic.--Arthur C. Clarke.

In The Universe Next Door, Marcus Chown, Cosmology Consultant for the weekly science magazine New Scientist and author of Afterglow of Creation: From the Fireball to the Discovery of Cosmic Ripples and The Magic Furnace: The Search for the Origin of Atoms, has published his third volume of popularized science. His latest work has three parts: "The Nature of Reality," "The Nature of the Universe," and "Life and the Universe." The author lives in the United Kingdom.

In The Universe Next Door, Chown provides a lucid survey of dozens of bizarre theories propounded by scientists who have hyperactive imaginations. Cicero (107-43 B.C.) once remarked, "There is nothing so ridiculous but some philosopher has said it." Nowadays one could say, "There is nothing so ridiculous but some scientist has said it."

For example, consider this overview of the book's 12 chapters:

o "Unbreak My Heart." Contrary to all expectations, there may exist regions in our universe where time runs backward.

o "I'm Gonna Live Forever." Evidence is growing that there are an infinite number of realities stacked together like the pages of a never-ending book.

o "Dividing the Indivisible." A claim that the basic building blocks of matter can be split could have profound implications for the nature of ultimate reality.

o "All the World's a Time Machine." The two great theories of twentieth-century physics might at last be united--if atoms contain time machines.

o "Tales from the Fifth Dimension." Not only are extra dimensions a real possibility, they could reveal themselves in the next few years.

o "The Holes in the Sky." Is most of the mass of the universe in the form of refrigerator-sized black holes?

o "Looking-Glass Universe." Our universe could contain invisible galaxies, stars, and planets--even invisible ETs.

o "The Universe Next Door." Brace yourself, the universe is about to get bigger than you ever imagined.

o "Was the Universe Created by Angels?" The discovery that it might be possible to make a universe in the laboratory could have profound implications for the origin of our own universe.

o "The Worlds between the Stars." Billions upon billions of habitable planets could be hiding in the cold, dark abyss of interstellar space."

o "The Life Plague." Was life on Earth seeded from the depths of space?

o "Alien Garbage." The aliens might not have got to Earth yet, but their garbage may have arrived ahead of them.

If any or all this sounds wildly incredible, remember that today's heresy is tomorrow's orthodoxy, and yesterday's science fiction is today's applied science. As physicist Niels Bohr put it: "Your idea is crazy. The question is: is it crazy enough to be true?"

"If we have learned anything from science in the twentieth century, with its warped space-time and matter popping into existence out of empty space," writes Chown, "it is that the underlying reality of the universe is nothing like the everyday reality of our senses."

Providing numerous analogies to help us navigate the swirling waters of 21st-century science, Marcus Chown is a worthy successor to Carl Sagan. Writing with wit and humor, he popularizes complex theories for laypersons untutored in physics, biology, chemistry, and cosmology.

Chown "simplifies" (in the best sense of the word) ideas such as the Big Bang, the Big Crunch, black holes, wormholes, time machines, quasars, quarks, quantum superposition, antimatter, decoherence, gravitational lensing, critical mass, dark matter, the anthropic principle, and the theory of everything.

"To an inhabitant of 1900," writes Chown, "most of present-day technology--from televisions to mobile phones to computers--would be indistinguishable from magic."

Remembering this fact, we may be able to tone down our skepticism about tomorrow's science and technology. Still, is there not some legitimate difference between science and science fiction? Does every theory, no matter how insane, deserve our attention? Is nothing in our "multiverse" impossible? And, in the final analysis, is human reason competent to comprehend "ultimate reality"?

Congratulations to Mr. Chown for another stimulating and provocative work. The Universe Next Door will leave your head spinning, and make you break out in a cold sweat, but it will not bore. Highly recommended!

+++++

This book, by former radio astronomer and cosmology consultant Marcus Chown, presents "twelve mind-blowing ideas from the cutting edge of science" (this book's former subtitle). Chown explains:

"What follows are my dispatches from the frontier of the [scientific] imagination. At first sight, these ideas may seem crazy. But, then, once upon a time, the idea that time slows down for someone traveling fast or in the presence of gravity seemed crazy...Of course, the scientific imagination must work within the limits of known facts...I hope that in reading this book you will get some feeling of what a wonderful, weird, wacky Universe we find ourselves in -- a place far stranger than anything we could possibly have invented. And I hope it gets you thinking..."

This book presents its ideas in three easy-to-read parts. The essence of each chapter will be highlighted in the form of a question:

Part 1 (5 chapters):

(1) Are there regions in the Universe where time runs backwards?
(2) Are there an infinite number of realities where all possible alternative realities are played out?
(3) Can the basic building blocks of nature (like electrons) be split?
(4) Do atoms contain time machines?
(5) Are extra space dimensions a possibility?

Part 2 (4 chapters):

(6) Is most of the mass of the Universe in the form of relatively small black holes?
(7) Does the Universe contain invisible galaxies, stars, planets, and even invisible extraterrestrials?
(8) Is our Universe one among an infinite number of separate and distinct universes?
(9) Is it possible to make a universe in the laboratory?

Part 3 (3 chapters):

(10) Could there be billions and billions of habitable plants that are not orbiting a central star but that are traveling through interstellar space?
(11) Was the life on Earth seeded from the depths of space?
(12) Do extraterrestrial artifacts exist on Earth or throughout the solar system?

Each chapter explains with no technicality each of its ideas and tells us of the extraordinary people (mainly scientists) who postulated these extraordinary ideas. The evidence for these ideas is also presented. As well, the problems with these ideas is also discussed.

Readers of space and physical science should be acquainted with most of these ideas. But they will probably not be acquainted with the large detail that Chown presents that go along with these ideas.

I was surprised to find a large, informative glossary. Concepts like "causality violation," "discoherence," and the "ultimate ensemble theory" are well defined.

The bibliography or "further reading" section of this book is interesting. It presents for each chapter non-fiction as well as fiction books!

Finally, this book has no illustrations. I felt simple diagrams would have reduced the book's wordiness. I also found some slang in this book. For example, the word "gonna" is not even a word.

In conclusion, this book definitely sparks the reader's imagination. It reminds me of what Albert Einstein once said: "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

(first published 2002; acknowledgements; forward; 12 chapters; main narrative of 155 pages; glossary; further reading, index)

+++++

It's hard to decide which idea is stranger--parts of the universe where time runs backward, several different varieties of multiple universes, wandering planets teeming with life, alien garbage piling up on earth . . .. Still, every one of the dozen mind-bending theories Chown describes has been proposed by serious scientists and has at least some scientific value. Chown has interviewed many cutting-edge (and perhaps some over-the-edge) scientists, and presents their findings clearly and entertainingly. Every chapter will make you stop, think and wonder.

Chown is a superb science writer. He's a long-time contributor to the British science weekly, New Scientist, and author of several previous books. He reminds me of Steven Hawking. Both are terse, crystal clear, and are able to explain complex ideas lucidly. Chown is particularly good at coming up with elegant metaphors that cut through to the core of an idea.

It's a quick, informative and exciting read. It deserves two thumbs up in many different universes.

Robert Adler
Science writer, author of Science Firsts: From the Creation of Science to the Science of Creation (Wiley, 2002)

The magic and wonder of science is not in learning boring facts and figures, it is about becoming aware of the possibilities that exist in each and every one of us. I'm a great fan of Marcus' work. His writing can and does inspire the man in the street. I should know, I left school at 14, with no knowledge of science. His books have inspired me--and that takes some doing. Now I'm doing a university degree and my life has changed.

In this highly readable text, Marcus Chown, Cosmology Consultant for "New Scientist", illustrates sciences imaginative speculations on the possibilities of time travel, the existence of endless realities, multiuniverses, mirror worlds, a universe created by scientists in laboratories, and extra space dimensions, the fifth dimension, that could well be revealed to us in the not so distant future.

What is so astonishing about these speculations is that they're grounded in scientific theory and known facts, making them highly credible and probable. Even more astounding, is the great scientific minds from around the world are putting these seemingly bizarre postulates to the test, and their findings are nothing less than amazing.

One of the more interesting chapters "Was the Universe Created by Angels?" suggests an outlandish idea (outlandish from a secular scientific perspective): that our universe is the outcome of an experiment carried out by a superior intelligence in another universe. What makes this theory plausible is the fact that our universe is based on clear and simple principles that can be observed. Our observable cosmos is orchestrated on basic laws of physics in perfect balance, "a fined-tuned universe" enabling life to exist and reproduce. This is the anthropic principle:

"There would appear to be only two possible explanations: One is that the universe was designed specifically by God. The other is that the Universe is the way it is because if it wasn't, we would not be here to remark on the fact. According to this topsy-turvy reasoning...it is hardly surprising that we find ourselves in a universe which is fine-tuned to allow the existence of galaxies, stars and life. We could hardly have evolved in a universe that was not!" (P.106)

It is here that philosophy and science merge to attempt to explain the great mysteries of our existence.

As a reader not too acquainted with quantum theory, astronomy and physics in general, this text is written simply and straightforward, explaining at times complex physics in easy to comprehend prose. Chown's obvious enthusiasm about his subject is also highly infectious, prompting this reader to investigate further.

Entertaining and informative.

This fascinating book on cosmology straddles the worlds of science and science fiction, addressing questions like the nature of time, e.g. Can it run backwards?, multiple realities and the possibility of the multiverse or infinite universes. Part One, The Nature Of Reality, considers regions of the universe where time may run backwards, infinite realities, wave functions and matterwaves plus a stuff or entity called ortho-positronium. Part Two, The Nature Of The Universe, considers invisible galaxies, stars and planets, mirror matter, the interaction between ordinary and mirror matter, black holes and their significance in the model of the universe, the possibility of intelligent life creating a universe and even how to build a universe. Relativity, quantum physics, the ideas of Hoyle and Chandrasekhar and many others are involved in the speculations. Part Three discusses the likelihood of life on earth having been seeded from space, the comet connection, life as a cosmic phenomenon and the strong possibility of finding alien artefacts on the earth and the moon. The book concludes with a glossary of terms, a reading list with separate headings for Fiction and Non-Fiction and a thorough index. It is a stimulating and thought provoking read written in a manner that everyone can understand. I highly recommend it.

This is very well written and easy to read. OK, it might not be all that easy to understand but at least Chown puts the ideas down in a fashion that allows you to think about them and wonder. Read it in parts. Think it over as you go. Give it a day or so to sink in. Then go back and read some more. There are a lot of books out there that try to convey these issues but this is the first one that I have read that does not talk down to the read nor does it leave the reader just staring out in space.

Marcus Chown deserves an award. He jumps forward without wasting time for rewriting Newton's or Einstein's history, and expands on what is new and controversial: Schulman's reversed time, Maris' electron bubbles, Tegmark quantum interpretation, Harrison's natural selection of self-reproducing universes, Mark Hadley's unification of QT and GR, Gnienko's and Foot's "mirror" matter, plus very interesting probability calculation by Arhipov - whether we can find ET junk on Earth; just a few subjects that you will not find even in currently published new Brian Greene's book "The Fabric of the Cosmos".
Excellent writing, so well, that lack of any pictures or drawings is not detrimental at all.