Let’s start with what this book is not about. It’s not about mathematical constants such as pi and little e, the natural logarithm. It is about constaLet’s start with what this book is not about. It’s not about mathematical constants such as pi and little e, the natural logarithm. It is about constants of physics such as Planck’s constant, the speed of light and the gravitational constant. One of its basic questions is: how constant are constants?
The book is primarily about cosmology focused around the question, is the universe expanding or contracting? What happens to these physical constants in these cases? Are they the same everywhere in the universe at all times and in all places, or can they vary based on expansion and contraction of the universe?
[image] The graph above shows the intensity of light emitted from a black body. Each curve represents behavior at different body temperatures. The Planck constant h is used to explain the shape of these curves. (from Wikipedia)
If the expansion of the universe is slowing, will it eventually stop and re-implode - The Big Crash - perhaps leading to another Big Bang? On the other hand, if the universe is expanding, as it appears to be, and if it continues to expand at an increasing rate, what will happen?
Since you are reading this review, you have probably had at least college math and that is generally sufficient to understand and to enjoy this book. It is not heavy math; the reading level is more like Discovery Magazine or Scientific American. An exception is the last section where the author explores new territory, apparently his own research, and the math gets heavy for the ordinary reader (for me, anyway).
Because these constants might indeed vary over space or over time, it’s fascinating to read the author’s explanation of how little they can vary, at least based on the ranges we know of in the known universe. But how do we truly know?
The author (1952-2020) was a professor of math at Cambridge University and he wrote more than 25 books like this one, all about science and math and mainly focused on cosmology. ...more
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