Science journalist Dunkley offers a fascinating, accessible introduction to the universe, covering topics ranging from the Big Bang and the "cosmic dawn" of the first stars to the ongoing search for exoplanets and for dark matter and energy. Dunkley begins close to home, with the Earth and Moon, before moving outward from the solar system to the Milky Way, to the edge of the known universe. Along the way, she explains how stars fuse atoms to create energy, and how white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes form. The topic of black holes introduces a discussion of how scientists can search for-and find-things humans cannot see, by observing how their gravity affects the light around them. Similarly, a précis on Einstein's theory of general relativity leads into how the universe began and evolved into an ever-expanding, varied space, and not simply a "monotonously regular sea of atoms and dark matter." In a cosmos-spanning work that also offers a tantalizing glimpse of the possibility of realities beyond this one, Dunkley gives readers a commanding view onto the universe and the wonders to be found in it. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

The pleasant, informal style of Our Universe makes this traditional history of cosmology accessible to an audience with a modest scientific background. The tour begins with a survey of how the understanding of our place in the universe evolved to its present level, along with a discussion of some of the main features of our solar system. Dunkley (Princeton) then takes up larger distances with an examination of stellar evolution; in the process, she highlights the main players who set the bases for our current perspectives. Dunkley introduces the physics needed to understand the observations, but limits herself to very basic, pedagogically sound explanations. The rest of the text is devoted to a summary of modern cosmology that covers the expansion of the universe and the evolution of its structure from the very early universe, to atoms and galaxies, to the present. The talk about dark matter and dark energy is rather condensed, but gives a feel for current understandings. As in earlier portions of the text, the observational results are often accompanied by balanced insight into the techniques used to attain them. The brief finale about the future is refreshing. This book belongs in all college libraries. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers and lower-division undergraduates. --Kenneth L. Schick, emeritus, Union College (NY)