
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
Experience the drama of the explosive cosmos and the astonishing discoveries being made about the universe's wildest phenomena.
The violent birth of the universe was only the first bang of a very bumpy ride. This unfathomably cacophonous beginning has spawned blasts, implosions, cosmic cannibalism, collisions, and countless other fleeting energetic events punctuating the cosmos. Although often brief, these transient phenomena pack a powerful punch.
Armed with decades of theoretical progress, unrivaled computing power, and cutting-edge technology, astronomers find themselves at the cusp of understanding not just the events themselves, but also how those events reveal the story of the entire cosmos. In Things That Go Bump in the Universe, astronomer and science writer C. Renée James introduces us to her colleagues around the world, who are using pioneering research techniques to explore everything from the very first explosions in the universe to the dark energy that could destroy it all. Along the way, James describes the history of transient astronomy, how the universe presents itself through various astronomical messengers, and the unexpected connections between different phenomena. Capturing the drama of a wild, violent cosmos for the curious reader, James explains a different category of transient event in each chapter, using easy-to-understand metaphors and stories to explain the science behind these awe-inspiring, cosmological encounters.
Things That Go Bump in the Universe explores the incredible discoveries being made in this revolutionary field, the tools used to detect cosmic events, and the astronomical mysteries that continue to puzzle observers and theorists. James weaves together the stories of our turbulent universe—informative, entertaining, frequently perplexing, and occasionally philosophical—and the people who are trying to make sense of it.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Prologue. Flashes of Insight
- Chapter 1. Catching Cosmic Fireflies
- Chapter 2. Out of the Question
- Chapter 3. Putting the “Super” in Supernova
- Chapter 4. Star-Shattering Energy
- Chapter 5. The Search for Smoking Guns
- Chapter 6. Detecting Cosmic Heartbeats
- Chapter 7. Stellar Arrhythmia
- Chapter 8. (Almost) No Star Is an Island
- Chapter 9. The Making of a Superstar
- Chapter 10. Cloudy with a Chance of Neutrinos
- Chapter 11. Not “The End”
- Chapter 12. Collision Course
- Chapter 13. Fallen Stars
- Chapter 14. Don’t Blink
- Chapter 15. Point Blank
- Chapter 16. Cats, Rats, and Fantastic Beasts, and How to Tell Them Apart
- Chapter 17. Cosmic Tremors
- Chapter 18. The Return of the Furbies
- Chapter 19. LIGO, We Have a Problem
- Chapter 20. Impeccable Timing
- Chapter 21. All Together Now
- Chapter 22. Multiple Eyewitness Accounts
- Chapter 23. Furbies—A New Hope
- Chapter 24. The First Bumps in the Universe
- Chapter 25. The Last Hurrah
- Epilogue. Ephemera
- Acknowledgments
- Bibliography
- Index