BOOK; Our Mathmatical Universe by Max Tegmark

[ron_m80]

If you are curious about the scientific knowledge we have attained about our universe this book might be for you. It starts off easy enough with some basic concepts (how we determined the size of the planets before space exploration, what math was used, and how it has been proven) and moves into more complex topics (wave length measurement used to determine distance, and the data that it presented the scientific world). It does a good job of breaking the subject matter down, with the exception of some quantum theory examples and Schroedinger's cat.

The numbers in the book are huge. The big numbers are much larger than anything I can comprehend, and the small numbers are so far behind the decimal point that I can't grasp them either. Really amazing numbers, but I read past them and was able to finish the book.

I don't claim to have understood it all, but I found it informative and not too heavily scientific aside from the mentioned theories. I do believe that I have a deeper appreciation for where we are in the universe and just how damn amazing and precious of life is on Earth.

If you want answers on the universe, I think this book will provide you with some eye opening knowledge.

-Ron

 

[AKC]

Funny, I just saw an editorial about this and others that challenge the conventional perception of our assumed abilities...

 

[ron_m80]

I might actually recommend reading this book first, and following up with Douglas Adams. the "random high improbability drive" operation made so much more sense after learning of the level IV multi-verse, and some of that quantum theory.

 

[mwerner]

I've been fascinated with the general subject of cosmology for a long time. The Standard Model, dark energy and dark matter, "M" theory (previously, "String" theory).. all that.
At the same time, I am one of those folks who one author described as "innumerate". My knowledge of mathematics is extremely limited. Apparently, whatever portion of the brain makes numbers work doesn't, in my case.

All those high-school general-aptitude tests I took were the same... Highest percentiles across the board till you hit math, and then the graph plummets.... Always a sore point for me.
You can't REALLY understand advanced physics and cosmology without a very thorough grounding in math.

So I chew my way through books geared to the layman and listen to Science Friday.... It's still interesting.

 

[untamed]

^ ^ ^

On a related note, I mentioned this sometime back; for my 18th Birthday, I got 'Stephen Hawking's "Brief History of Time" from a good friend. He knew how geeked-out I was into delving into this apparent "reality" that we have (which may actually be just a facet something else entirely). Later on, I coupled this with "Relativity for the Layman" which I also recommend 100%].

Now, excuse me; allow me to skin Schroedinger's cat. . . :wink: