Status
Available
Call number
Publication
New York : Scribner, 2020.
Description
From one of the most dynamic rising stars in astrophysics, an accessible and eye-opening look at five ways the universe could end, and the mind-blowing lessons each scenario reveals about the most important concepts in cosmology. We know the universe had a beginning. With the Big Bang, it expanded from a state of unimaginable density to an all-encompassing cosmic fireball to a simmering fluid of matter and energy, laying down the seeds for everything from black holes to one rocky planet orbiting a star near the edge of a spiral galaxy that happened to develop life as we know it. But what happens to the universe at the end of the story' And what does it mean for us now' Dr. Katie Mack has been contemplating these questions since she was a young student, when her astronomy professor informed her the universe could end at any moment, in an instant. This revelation set her on the path toward theoretical astrophysics. Now, with lively wit and humor, she takes us on a mind-bending tour through five of the cosmos's possible finales: the Big Crunch, Heat Death, the Big Rip, Vacuum Decay (the one that could happen at any moment!), and the Bounce. Guiding us through cutting-edge science and major concepts in quantum mechanics, cosmology, string theory, and much more, The End of Everything is a wildly fun, surprisingly upbeat ride to the farthest reaches of all that we know.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member nicdevera
Some introductory stuff, but that's to be expected. Any time a science communicator talks about the CMB, you know the pigeon stories are coming up. I just quickly zipped through the noob stuff, it gets interesting.
LibraryThing member fpagan
Big Crunch, Heat Death, Big Rip, vacuum decay, cyclic bouncing -- all these end-of-the-universe scenarios have been well discussed in other authors' books, but Mack uses them as a framework for an introduction to scientific cosmology in general. The level is decidedly popular, the style is
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sometimes a bit jocular, and the length is by no means too great. The author's knowledge is solid, and the coverage is completely up to date. Show Less
LibraryThing member neurodrew
Take your pick: heat death, the big crunch, the big rip, or vacuum decay
Katie Mack writes clearly with a taste for puns and other witticisms, about possible scenarios for the end of the universe. The types of ending depend on values of certain parameters, like the cosmic constant that defines the
Katie Mack writes clearly with a taste for puns and other witticisms, about possible scenarios for the end of the universe. The types of ending depend on values of certain parameters, like the cosmic constant that defines the
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rate of expansion, the thermonuclear equation of state, and the not very reassuring concepts of quantum mechanics (there could be right now a quantum tunneling effect that pushes the Higgs field to the true vacuum state, and that state expands outward at the speed of light, converting everything into nothing). Dr. Mack at the end wonders if the theorizing is important, since there is nothing humans could do to avoid these futures, and most of them are trillions of years in the future. She concludes that the idea that simple rules of physics and math can lead to such grand speculation is in itself worthwhile. Show Less
LibraryThing member jfe16
From the Big Bang to . . . the Big Crunch? Heat Death? The Big Rip? Vacuum Decay? Bounce?
After the Big Bang, several events and systems come into play, including the Cosmic Microwave Background, Planck Time, the Grand Unified Theory, Cosmic Inflation, and quarks. Perhaps we need a Theory of
Theoretical astrophysicist Katie Mack takes readers into the universe from its birth pangs to its several possible, gruesome doomsday scenarios. Along the way, readers contemplate the expanding universe, singularities, the collapsing universe, dark matter, entropy, black holes, spiral galaxies, cosmic fireballs . . . and the finality of the cataclysmic death of the universe.
The author’s expertise is readily apparent as the science communicated here touches on quantum mechanics, cosmology, string theory, the cosmic dawn, galaxies, and more . . . all presented in an intelligible, clever, entertaining dialogue sprinkled with just the right amount of astrophysical terminology. There are no long, complex mathematical equations spread over multiple pages, just a compelling, engaging conversation about what the future might hold, astrophysically speaking.
There’s a lot to digest here with concepts that might be brand new to some readers. Yet each one, understandably presented, is comprehensible even for those who are not conversant with theoretical astrophysics or the evolution of the cosmos. The author’s enthusiasm and candor, the esoteric phenomena, and the complex science all combine to immerse the reader in the brilliance of science, theory, and discovery.
Highly recommended . . . don't miss this one.
After the Big Bang, several events and systems come into play, including the Cosmic Microwave Background, Planck Time, the Grand Unified Theory, Cosmic Inflation, and quarks. Perhaps we need a Theory of
Show More
Everything to help us determine exactly what the future of the future might be.Theoretical astrophysicist Katie Mack takes readers into the universe from its birth pangs to its several possible, gruesome doomsday scenarios. Along the way, readers contemplate the expanding universe, singularities, the collapsing universe, dark matter, entropy, black holes, spiral galaxies, cosmic fireballs . . . and the finality of the cataclysmic death of the universe.
The author’s expertise is readily apparent as the science communicated here touches on quantum mechanics, cosmology, string theory, the cosmic dawn, galaxies, and more . . . all presented in an intelligible, clever, entertaining dialogue sprinkled with just the right amount of astrophysical terminology. There are no long, complex mathematical equations spread over multiple pages, just a compelling, engaging conversation about what the future might hold, astrophysically speaking.
There’s a lot to digest here with concepts that might be brand new to some readers. Yet each one, understandably presented, is comprehensible even for those who are not conversant with theoretical astrophysics or the evolution of the cosmos. The author’s enthusiasm and candor, the esoteric phenomena, and the complex science all combine to immerse the reader in the brilliance of science, theory, and discovery.
Highly recommended . . . don't miss this one.
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LibraryThing member nmele
In a little over 200 pages, Katie Mack walked me through time from the Big Bang to the Heat Death of the universe. She also walks readers through much of physics as presently known. That's incredible, frankly, but there's more: Mack writes snappy prose and leavens her lessons with humor that is
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sometimes mordant and sometimes whimsical. I laughed a lot reading this book, and how often can one say they laughed reading a book about possible ways the universe will end? or a book about the general theory of relativity? or a book about the second law of thermodynamics? (Well, that last one could become a fairly humorous book.) Mack explains these and other topics without resorting to even the simple mathematics most popular science books include. This is simply a great read and a great way to gain a basic understanding of physics and how it works. I especially appreciated her explanations of the cosmological constant, which I had been fuzzy on before reading her book, dark matter and dark energy. Physics-it's fun! Show Less
LibraryThing member Daniel.Estes
Astrophysicist Katie Mack has written about the life of the cosmos—what we know, what we sort of know, and what the science tells us might happen one day—and it's mostly accessible to the layperson if you have some interest and astronomy knowledge to start.
LibraryThing member paulgtr234
Wow.
What a fantastic book. Katie Mack is funny, yes. Her sense of humor about the cosmos and our understanding of its inner workings makes it all more enjoyable to read about. Her sense of awe at the wonderous beauty of nature and its weird rules is infectious.
I think the most impressive part of
You will find no advice on how to escape an inescapable heat death here, but once you have read her work you won't mind the inevitability of it all - or at least not as much.
What a fantastic book. Katie Mack is funny, yes. Her sense of humor about the cosmos and our understanding of its inner workings makes it all more enjoyable to read about. Her sense of awe at the wonderous beauty of nature and its weird rules is infectious.
I think the most impressive part of
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this book is the way that she explains in clear and concise prose some of the most arcane concepts of modern cosmology. Yes the universe will end but you'll feel better about it after reading this book. You will walk away with a much deeper insight into the modern state of our understanding as well. That is no mean feat.You will find no advice on how to escape an inescapable heat death here, but once you have read her work you won't mind the inevitability of it all - or at least not as much.
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LibraryThing member MallorieLuna
Sometimes it's good to just scream thinking about the end of everything, cause then when it's all said and done you can get back to the business of living in the now.
LibraryThing member JudyGibson
First of all, no I didn't understand anything in this book. But that didn't bother me because it was such a fun read. Yes the author is a serious physicist and yes she knows how to do the math. But more important, while imparting serious information about what we know (and don't know) about the
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eventual death of the universe, she keeps it entertaining. Loads of ironic parenthetical comments, long humorous footnotes, and ample quotations and references to SciFi help lighten the load. Show Less
LibraryThing member Nodosaurus
This book explores a number of different scenarios for the end of the universe. Each is a current theory and Dr. Mack goes into non-mathematical explanations for how and why it would happen.
The book is enlightening and enjoyable.
The book is enlightening and enjoyable.
LibraryThing member debbiereads
To explain all the ways the universe might end, this takes you through lots of astrophysical concepts. Accessible to readers as scientifically illiterate as me. I still can’t cope with Boltzmann brains, though.
Subjects
Awards
BookTube Prize (Octofinalist — Nonfiction — 2021)
The New York Times Notable Books of the Year (Nonfiction — 2020)
Language
Original publication date
2020
Physical description
226 p.; 22 cm
ISBN
198210354X / 9781982103545