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The Known Unknowns: The Unsolved Mysteries of the Cosmos Kindle Edition
by Lawrence M. Krauss (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 62 ratings
Internationally known theoretical physicist and bestselling popular science writer Lawrence Krauss explores cosmology's greatest unanswered questions.
Three of the most important words in science are 'I don't know'. Not knowing implies a universe of opportunities – the possibility of discovery and surprise. Our understanding of cosmology has advanced immeasurably over the last five hundred years of modern science, yet many fundamental mysteries of existence persist. How did our Universe begin, if it even had a beginning? How big is it? What's at the bottom of a black hole? How did life on Earth arise? Are we alone? Is time travel possible?
These mysteries define the scientific forefront, the threshold of the unknown. To explore that threshold is to gain a deeper understanding of just how far science has progressed. In The Known Unknowns, internationally known theoretical physicist and bestselling popular science writer Lawrence Krauss explores cosmology's greatest known unknowns. Covering time, space, physical law, life and consciousness, Krauss introduces readers to the topics that will shape the state of science of the next few decades, and invites us to ponder and appreciate the universe in which we live.
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PRAISE FOR LAWRENCE KRAUSS:
'Brilliant and fundamental, this is the necessary book about our prime global emergency' Ian McEwan on The Physics of Climate Change.
'Lawrence Krauss is a fine physicist, a talented writer, and a scientist deeply engaged with public affairs' Lord Martin Rees, former president of the Royal Society.
'Brimming with information lucidly analysed' Richard Dawkins on The Physics of Climate Change.
'Elegant, rigorous, timely... The ideal book for anyone interested in the science of global warming' Elizabeth Kolbert on The Physics of Climate Change.
'Lucid and gripping'-- Noam Chomsky on The Physics of Climate Change
About the Author
Lawrence M. Krauss is an internationally known theoretical physicist and the author of the New York Times bestselling books, The Physics of Star Trek, A Universe from Nothing and The Physics of Climate Change. He has made significant contributions to our understanding of the Universe and has received numerous awards for his research and writing. He is currently President of the Origins Project Foundation and host of the Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss. He tweets @LKrauss1.
Product details
ASIN : B09CHGZXD8
Publisher : Apollo; 1st edition (11 May 2023)
Language : English
File size : 4133 KB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Not Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
Print length : 241 pagesBest Sellers Rank: 183,203 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)30 in Science Essays & Commentary (Kindle Store)
33 in Theoretical & Mathematical Astronomy
41 in Cosmology (Kindle Store)Customer Reviews:
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 62 ratings
About the author
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Lawrence M. Krauss
I was born in New York City and shortly afterward moved to Toronto, spending my childhood in Canada. I received undergraduate degrees in mathematics and physics from Carleton University in Ottawa Canada, and my Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1982.
After three year a stint in the Harvard Society of Fellows, I was a professor at Yale University for eight years and then, when I was 38 I moved to become Ambrose Swasey Professor of Physics, professor of astronomy, and Chairman of the Physics Department at Case Western Reserve University. Since then I have held endowed positions at a variety of Universities around the world in departments ranging from physics and astronomy, to earth and space exploration.I retired from academia in 2019 at age 65 when I became President of The Origins Project Foundation, (www.originsprojectfoundation.org) and independent non-profit foundation furthering the public understanding of science, and enhancing connections between science and culture. In the same year I became host of The Origins Podcast with Lawrence M. Krauss (www.theoriginspodcast.com), where I have extended video dialogues with the most interesting people in the world.
My research focuses on the beginning and end of the Universe. Among my contributions to the field of cosmology, I helped lead the search for dark matter, and proposed the existence of dark energy in 1995, three years before its observational discovery, which received the Nobel Prize in 2011.
I write regularly for national media, including The New York Times, The New Yorker, the Wall St. Journal, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, Quillette, Prospect, and other magazines, as well as doing extensive work on radio and television and most recently in feature films.
I am strongly committed to public understanding of science, and have helped lead the national effort to preserve sound science teaching, including the teaching of evolution, for which I was awarded the National Science Board's Award for the Public Understanding of Science. I also served on Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential campaign science policy committee. I was honored to be Chair of the Board of Sponsors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists from 2006-2018, and from 2010-2019 was on the Board of Directors of the Federation of American Scientists.
I became a scientist in part because I read books by other scientists, such as Albert Einstein, George Gamow, Sir James Jeans, etc, when I was a child, and was inspired meeting various scientist-heroes including Richard Feynman and my popular writing returns the favor. One of my greatest joys is when a young person comes up to me and tells me that one of my books motivated them to become a scientist.
I believe science is not only a vital part of our culture, but is fun, and I try and convey that in my books and lectures. I am honored that Scientific American referred to me as a rare scientific public intellectual, and that all three three major US Physics Societies: the American Physical Society, the American Association of Physics Teachers, and the American Institute of Physics, have seen fit to honor me with their highest awards for research and writing.
I have now written 12 popular books on various aspects of science and culture, including the two New York Times Bestsellers, The Physics of Star Trek, and A Universe from Nothing. These two books sold over 500,000 copies in English alone and the latter was translated into 25 languages.
My last book, The Physics of Climate Change, was published in March 2021. I wrote it during the pandemic, when I was able to take time to fully immerse myself in updating my knowledge of climate science and trying to translate it into popular language. This book cuts through the confusion by succinctly presenting the underlying science of climate change. It presents the underlying science behind climate change, free of political bias, or jargon so that all readers can understand one of the most important issues of our time, and allows laypeople to assess which climate predictions are firmest and which are more speculative . A departure from much of the focus of my previous books, it addresses a timely issue that should impact on the basis of ongoing public policy.
My newest book, The Edge of Knowledge: Unsolved Mysteries of the Cosmos (in the UK it is entitled The Known Unknowns: The Unsolved Mysteries of the Cosmos) is a roller coaster ride taking us to the limits of what we know, and more importantly, what we know we don't know about the Universe. Divided into 5 sections: Time, Space, Matter, Life, and Consciousness, it takes the greatest unsolved problems in science. It is a celebration of how far we have come in understanding the universe, while providing an invitation to the next generation of young people to take up the challenge. The Universe continues to surprise us, but it will only do that if we keep asking questions, and keep exploring it. The rewards are ultimately a better understanding of our own place in the cosmos, including where we came from, and where we are heading.
When not writing or doing research or relaxing at home with my family, I love to mountain bike, fly fish, and scuba dive.
You can find more about my research, my activities, and my opinions on my substack site Critical Mass at LawrenceKrauss.substack.com or web page lawrencemkrauss.com or on my twitter feed @Lkrauss1 or at https://wakelet.com/@LawrenceKrauss
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Mlangefeld62
5.0 out of 5 stars The Known Unknowns by Lawrence KraussReviewed in the United States on 19 March 2024
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Book arrived when promised and I immediately realized it was the British version of a book I had already read by Lawrence Krauss called "The Edge of Knowledge". I read it anyhow and enjoyed it.
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Czarnykot
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating!Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 August 2023
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A superbly well written book as are all books by Laurence M Krauss. I would be fibbing if I said I understood everything in the book, especially about particle physics. Nevertheless this book is well worth reading for anyone interested in science. The book is not just about advances in particle physics. The final chapters about “how did life get started” and is there life elsewhere in the universe, as well as on consciousness and AI are thoroughly absorbing. “The known Unknowns” is an excellent book and highly recommended.
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Steven Lythe
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good read ,very specific.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 April 2024
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Suitable for technically minded.
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Datta
2.0 out of 5 stars Nothing new!Reviewed in the United States on 4 August 2023
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Disclosure: Managed to read only about half the book. The book should come with a label of “ for those who have never read a pop science book”. Struggling to see the point of writing this book. Just a rehash of pretty standard stuff from popular science books in the last decade , with very little new insights , banal writing, no discernible objective or message . The reader just gets a watered down factoid compilation, with occasional historical and experimental references thrown in. Makes for thoroughly boring read.
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Andy Cox
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly engaging & ExcellentReviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 August 2023
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This books covers the big ticket items in a very readable and engaging manner. Really informative and a brilliant read. It keeps you captivated from start to finish.
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