Cosmic Queries: StarTalk's Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We're Going

by Neil deGrasse Tyson, James Trefil

Overview

In this thought-provoking follow-up to his acclaimed StarTalk book, uber astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson tackles the world's most important philosophical questions about the universe with wit, wisdom, and cutting-edge science.
For science geeks, space and physics nerds, and all who want to understand their place in the universe, this enlightening new book from Neil deGrasse Tyson offers a unique take on the mysteries and curiosities of the cosmos, building on rich material from his beloved StarTalk podcast.
In these illuminating pages, illustrated with dazzling photos and revealing graphics, Tyson and co-author James Trefil, a renowned physicist and science popularizer, take on the big questions that humanity has been posing for millennia—How did life begin? What is our place in the universe? Are we alone?—and provide answers based on the most current data, observations, and theories.
Populated with paradigm-shifting discoveries that help explain the building blocks of astrophysics, this relatable and entertaining book will engage and inspire readers of all ages, bring sophisticated concepts within reach, and offer a window into the complexities of the cosmos.
For all who loved National Geographic's StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson, Cosmos: Possible Worlds, and Space Atlas, this new book will take them on more journeys into the wonders of the universe and beyond.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781426221774
Publisher:	National Geographic
Publication date:	03/02/2021
Pages:	312
Sales rank:	5,462
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Legendary astrophysicist NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON is the host of the popular podcast StarTalk Radio and Emmy award-winning National Geographic Channel shows StarTalk and Cosmos. He earned his BA in physics from Harvard and his Ph.D. in astrophysics from Columbia. The author of more than a dozen books, including the best-selling Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Tyson is the first Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium. He lives in New York City with his wife and two children. Facebook: Neil deGrasse Tyson. Instagram: @neildegrassetyson. Twitter: @neiltyson.
JAMES TREFIL, Clarence J. Robinson Professor of Physics at George Mason University, is internationally recognized not only as a distinguished scientist but also as an expert in making complex scientific ideas understandable. He is the author of numerous magazine articles and books on science for the general public, including both editions of National Geographic's highly successful Space Atlas. He lives in Fairfax, Virginia, with his wife.

Table of Contents

Author's Note 9

Introduction 11

Chapter 1 What Is Our Place in the Universe? 12

Chapter 2 How Do We Know What We Know? 38

Chapter 3 How Did the Universe Get to Be This Way? 72

Chapter 4 How Old Is the Universe? 98

Chapter 5 What Is the Universe Made Of? 126

Chapter 6 What Is Life? 152

Chapter 7 Are We Alone in the Universe? 180

Chapter 8 How Did It All Begin? 212

Chapter 9 How Will It All End? 236

Chapter 10 What Does Nothing Have to Do With Everything? 264

Acknowledgments 293

Further Reading 295

Illustrations Credits 299

Index 303

About the Authors 311

Editorial Reviews

01/25/2021

“In the gulf between the depths of human curiosity and the limits of human ignorance” is a space to ask questions, write astrophysicist Tyson (StarTalk) and physicist Trefil (Imagined Life) in this breezy survey of physics’s curiosities. The authors answer such matters as where the universe came from, how it will end, and whether intelligent life beyond Earth exists. In “How Old Is the Universe,” they cover a “simultaneously practical yet dull experiment” conducted in 1964, in which signals from deep space were picked up by a satellite and provided evidence for the Big Bang theory. In “How Will It End” they describe the eventual death of the sun through its transformation into a red giant “engulfing the orbits” of inner planets. Photographs, drawings, and scores of Tyson’s tweets pepper the pages, but less satisfying are the authors’ inconsistencies in their answers to the questions. While some explanations are simplistic (their discussion of biology, for example), others are tough to parse (as with their explanation of the “cosmological constant” from “an early version of part of Einstein’s general relativity” theory). Lay readers curious about the mysteries of the universe will want to take a look. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"Tyson and Trefil succinctly lead the reader through almost every aspect of cosmic history while addressing age-old questions with new verve. . . . Despite the book's title, arguably its real value is in just
how efficiently it covers what we currently know about this chunk of spacetime we call home."—Forbes.com

“Based on the popular talk show and podcast StarTalk, this collection of essays explores many of the universe’s most intriguing mysteries. From dark matter, the Big Bang, and other space oddities to quarks, multiverses, and other quantum curiosities . . . the authors invite readers to contemplate these fascinating questions which scientists have pondered for centuries. As expected from National Geographic publications, the book is beautifully illustrated. Its stunning color photographs enhance the enjoyment of this cosmic reading journey.—Library Journal

“‘In the gulf between the depths of human curiosity and the limits of human ignorance’ is a space to ask questions, write astrophysicist Tyson (StarTalk) and physicist Trefil (Imagined Life) in this breezy survey of physics’s curiosities. Lay readers curious about the mysteries of the universe will want to take a look.”—Publishers Weekly

"[An] exuberant and enticing resource."—Booklist

"A well-organized and well-written book . . . Tyson explains the cosmos in an understandable way for those who have had some science interest, exposure or classes but who have not majored in science. He is one of the few scientists that can break it down in an understandable way and keep it very interesting."—@litandlife

"I love Neil deGrasse Tyson. You can just feel his joy in everything space related and his love of sharing his knowledge."—@bookscookslooks

"A well-organized and well-written book — Tyson explains the cosmos in an understandable way for those who have had some science interest, exposure or classes but who have not majored in science. He is one of the few scientists that can break it down in an understandable way and keep it very interesting."—@litandlife

"A lively, richly illustrated celebration of scientific inquiry."—Kirkus Reviews

"Cosmic Queries is a book that can bring astrophysics into the orbit of even the most novice space explorer. . . . I have never been so at ease reading a science text in my life. The illustrations were so helpful and the format kept me interested throughout the pages. Neil deGrasse Tyson’s engaging style is what really brought me into the book and kept me glued to its pages."—@amysbooketlist (5-star review)

"[An] exuberant and enticing resource."—Booklist

'If you're a fan of Neil deGrasse Tyson's StarTalk podcast, you're bound to find much in this book to enjoy.'—BBC Sky at Night Magazine (4-star review)

"I love Neil deGrasse Tyson. You can just feel his joy in everything space related and his love of sharing his knowledge."—@bookscookslooks

"Cosmic Queries is a book that can bring astrophysics into the orbit of even the most novice space explorer. I have never been so at ease reading a science text in my life. The illustrations were so helpful and the format kept me interested throughout the pages. Neil deGrasse Tyson's engaging style is what really brought me into the book and kept me glued to its pages."—@amysbooketlist (5-star review)

"Based on the popular talk show and podcast StarTalk, this collection of essays explores many of the universe's most intriguing mysteries. From dark matter, the Big Bang, and other space oddities to quarks, multiverses, and other quantum curiosities, . . . the authors invite readers to contemplate these fascinating questions which scientists have pondered for centuries. As expected from National Geographic publications, the book is beautifully illustrated. Its stunning color photographs enhance the enjoyment of this cosmic reading journey."—Library Journal

"In the gulf between the depths of human curiosity and the limits of human ignorance? is a space to ask questions, write astrophysicist Tyson (StarTalk) and physicist Trefil (Imagined Life) in this breezy survey of physics's curiosities. . . . Lay readers curious about the mysteries of the universe will want to take a look."—Publishers Weekly

"Tyson and Trefil succinctly lead the reader through almost every aspect of cosmic history while addressing age-old questions with new verve. . . . Despite the book's title, arguably its real value is in just how efficiently it covers what we currently know about this chunk of spacetime we call home."—Forbes.com

"A lively, richly illustrated celebration of scientific inquiry."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

★ 03/01/2021

Based on the popular talk show and podcast, StarTalk, this collection of essays explores many of the universe's most intriguing mysteries. From dark matter, the Big Bang, and other space oddities to quarks, multiverses, and other quantum curiosities, Hayden Planetarium director Tyson (Astrophysics for People in a Hurry) and Trefil (physics, George Mason Univ.; The Story of Innovation) tackle a variety of topics in this follow-up to StarTalk, the first book based on the TV show. Written in a conversational style much like the eponymous podcast, the authors attempt to break down these subjects into interesting stories and fun facts, making them readily accessible to a general audience with little or no familiarity with astrophysics and quantum mechanics. Asking how old is the universe or what are the building blocks of life, among other queries, the authors invite readers to contemplate these fascinating questions which scientists have pondered for centuries. As expected from National Geographic publications, the book is beautifully illustrated. Its stunning color photographs enhance the enjoyment of this cosmic reading journey. VERDICT Casual readers and science buffs alike will appreciate Tyson's folksy approach to explaining difficult scientific concepts. An engaging work that will have wide appeal.—Donna Marie Smith, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., FL

Library Journal

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