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Through the arc of a single oxygen atom's voyage through eternity,
the story of life and the universe is told by world-renowned scientist and acclaimed
author Lawrence Krauss. Hailed by many as the heir to
Carl Sagan, the author of the runaway bestseller The Physics of Star Trek
tackles here his most ambitious challenge to date. From the earliest moments of
the Big Bang to the emergence of life on Earth, from a riveting description of
the atom's beginnings inside an exploding star to a thought-provoking discussion
of the possible end of life in the universe, Krauss infuses this cosmic tale with
humor, insight, and accessibility. Beginning his story below the Earth's crust,
deep in an underground water chamber, Krauss moves back in time before water existed
and ends long after the planet on which the water is found is no more.
We are all, literally, star children. Every atom in our bodies
was once inside the fiery inferno of an exploding star. At the same time, each
of us is connected to all other life on this planet in ways we rarely imagine.
While we are accustomed to giving ages to rocks, trees, and people, atoms have
lived countless lifetimes. They have been around since the dawn of time and will
survive long after the demise of the Earth. The atom of oxygen that you are breathing
in at this moment is likely to have been part of Caesar's last breath or part
of the first creature to walk on the ground. In this and countless other ways
in which the web of life is spun, the story of this atom becomes inextricably
our story, its many lives our lives. Krauss's Atom encompasses
the twentieth century revolutions in physics, astronomy, and biology, right up
to the present moment, and visits the individuals and machines that delve into
the mysteries of the universe. It is also a story that will forever change the
way you think about the universe, and your place within it. Lawrence
M. Krauss is the author of The Physics of Star Trek, as well as five other
highly regarded popular science books. He is internationally recognized for his
research at the interface of particle physics and astrophysics, and he appears
regularly on television and radio. He writes for the New York Times and lectures
around the world for popular and scientific audiences. Krauss received his Ph.D.
in physics from MIT and joined the Harvard Society of Fellows in 1982 and then
the Physics and Astronomy departments at Yale University in 1985. He is presently
the Ambrose Swasey Professor of Physics, Professor of Astronomy, and Chair of
the Department of Physics at Case Western Reserve University. |
