Book Description

Are we on the verge of solving the riddle of creation using Einstein's "greatest blunder"?

In a work that is at once lucid, exhilarating and profound, renowned mathematician Dr. Amir Aczel, critically acclaimed author of Fermat's Last Theorem, takes us into the heart of science's greatest mystery. In January 1998, astronomers found evidence that the cosmos is expanding at an ever-increasing rate. The way we perceive the universe was changed forever. The most compelling theory cosmologists could find to explain this phenomenon was Einstein's cosmological constant, a theory he conceived--and rejected---over eighty years ago.

Drawing on newly discovered letters of Einstein--many translated here for the first time--years of research, and interviews with prominent mathematicians, cosmologists, physicists, and astronomers, Aczel takes us on a fascinating journey into "the strange geometry of space-time," and into the mind of a genius. Here the unthinkable becomes real: an infinite, ever-expanding, ever-accelerating universe whose only absolute is the speed of light. Awesome in scope, thrilling in detail, God's Equation is storytelling at its finest.
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Reviews (31)

A good read...
Aczel, whose book about Fermat's last theorem was an enjoyable romp through the history of mathematics, now turns his attention to Einstein's theory of general relativity and its implications for cosmology. Based on his work with some historians who are taking a fresh look at Einstein's life and work through recently discovered notebooks and correspondence (Renn, Stachel, et.al), Aczel is able to reveal some previously unknown factoids about the 20th century's greatest scientist. For example, a previously unknown notebook from about 1912 reveals that Einstein had produced his field equation for gravitation nearly 3 years earlier than its final publication in 1915. Apparently Einstein was not convinced of the accuracy of this equation, for he abandoned it, only to rederive it 3 years later with apparently no recollection that he'd been there before. Aczel also spends some effort refuting the popular myth that Einstein was no good at mathematics. He was a superb mathematician, says Aczel, and largely self-taught, which speaks to his agile intellect and intuitive sense for fruitful areas of research.

Unlike any other biographies of Einstein or expositions of relativity that I've read, Aczel takes a "mathematician's eye view" of general relativity, and spends considerable time tracing the development of the geometry of curved space through Gauss, Reimann, and several other lessor known contributors. He also reveals, which I had not known previously, that Einstein kept up an ongoing correspondence with the legendary British mathematician David Hilbert, and that Hilbert published some work of his own based on early copies of Einstein's field equations. This incident has apparently been fodder for considerable historiagraphical debate, and was only recently settled that there was no plagarism or other funny business occurring on the part of either man.

God's Equation is not all Einstein, however. Aczel also introduces us to many of the nagging questions in modern cosmology, and astronomers' attempts to reconcile the recently discovered accelerating expansion of the universe with current theories. Astronomer Saul Perlmutter is central to the story's recent developments, whose supernova observing program lent considerable weight to the accelerating expansion scenario. Taking center stage for this discussion is the resurrection of the cosmological constant, Einstein's famous "blunder," which Aczel argues, has never really left cosmology. As modern astronomers have looked further and further into the universe and back in time, the cosmological constant seems more and more necessary to some theorists, as a repulsive force to counteract the attractive force of gravity (which is itself a brute simplification, since anybody familiar with general relativity knows that gravity is not a force at all, but rather a result of curved spacetime).

Overall, I do recommend this book, though I'm frustrated that Aczel didn't do much more with this opportunity. This book could have easily been twice as long. I get the sense that he was hurried to get it to print for some reason, passing over stories that begged for further clarification (more, for instance, on the eclipse expeditions so central to providing proof for general relativity, and less on the roots of World War I, which delayed the expeditions). All in all, it's an excellent addition to the existing material on Einstein's life and work, and a teaser for more detail on what's really going on in modern cosmology (in the last two or three years, particularly). It makes me hunger for some publications based on Renn and Stachel's work on Einstein. I found a few typographical errors (in a discussion about the effect of Minkowski's lectures on Einstein while at the ETH, he gives a date for Minkowski's birth four years after Einstein published his paper on special relativity).

A great story
This is one of the best popular books I have read about cosmology. What I liked in the book is that it does not try to dazzle the reader with exotic and complicated words. It describes in plain words how Einstein's idea of the "cosmological constant" developed over the years. When it was introduced it looked like a good idea, but was clearly marginal to the interests of current science; later, Einstein himself thought that it was a big blunder; now, almost a century later, the cosmological constant has become a key problem, which links the study of the origin of the Universe with the study of the ultimate building blocks of matter. Aczel's book tells this fantastic story.

After reading it I realized that that the book's title is very proper: it is the story of the search of God. But this is not the God of the common religions: it is Einstein's God, the Mind who wrote the ultimate equation. No title could better describe Einstein's motivation.

While telling this story, Aczel describes the life of Einstein and his times: I read many things about Einstein that I did not know. In conclusion, it is a book worth reading.

Good Explanation of a Mind Boggling Theory
A meandering book that undertakes to explain the one recently observed fact that the universe appears to be expanding with increasing speed, with the historical fact that one of the results of Einstein's cosmology formulas predicted this expansion of the Universe. Einstein thought he was mistaken and corrected the formulas. The author does an admirable job keeping the subject interesting . The reader is exposed to the history of the experiments to prove Einstein's theory along with a large amount of anecdotal and biographical material of the main characters involved. No math is really discussed in this book, just the conclusions of mathematical formulas. I think the author included a little too much extraneous background. The reader should be prepared for an onslaught of material that makes one wonder if the author is begging for material to fill the pages.That point aside, I consider this author still one of the best at explaining science to the layman. On a par with Isaac Assimov in that respect.

Relatively speaking . . .
For fans of "Connections-style" history of science, this is a great read. It does an especially good job of chronicling the interplay between math and physics, and how general relativity could not be developed until the appropriate mathematical constructs were available. Using the cosmological constant as the common thread in exploring how general relativity has shaped our understanding of the evolution of the universe lets Aczel pull everything together in a most satisfying way. There are some weak points, however. Sprinkling a few equations in the text does nothing to clarify his explanations and gives a simplistic view of the real mathematics involved, and his inclusion of irrelevant biographical details of minor players is a bit exasperating. Nonetheless, most readers will find this time well spent.

An Accessible Introduction to Complex Physics
In "God's Equation", Amir Aczel explores the recent history of cosmology and physics, interwoven with a biography of Albert Einstein. Despite the fact that he is discussing complex ideas and topics, Aczel manages to explain concepts in an easy-to-understand fashion.

Perhaps the most enjoyable part of the book was the biography of Einstein infused in the chapters. Einstein was an amazing scientist and a fascinating person, and Aczel reveals his life in an interesting way. The reader also learns of the great work of a number of scientific/mathematical genuises of the past- such as Euclid, Planck, and Reimann. Their discoveries, like Einstein's are explained to the reader in a surprisingly accessible way.

The most interesting conclusion of this book is that the universe is expanding, and will expand forever. This seems counterintuitive, for it implies a universe that began a finite time ago and will never re-contract. This is perhaps one of the most important discoveries of all time.

Overall, "God's Equation" is a highly accessible and highly recommended book. It is a fast read, and one that won't be regretted. ... Read more

Book Description

In the bestselling The Physics of Star Trek, the renowned theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss took readers on an entertaining and eye-opening tour of the Star Trek universe to see how it stacked up against the real universe. Now, responding to requests for more as well as to a number of recent exciting discoveries in physics and astronomy, Krauss takes a provocative look at how the laws of physics relate to notions from our popular culture -- not only Star Trek, but other films, shows, and popular lore -- from Independence Day to Star Wars to The X-Files.

• What's the difference between a flying saucer and a flying pretzel?

• Why didn't the aliens in Independence Day have to bother invading Earth to destroy it?
• What's new with warp drives?

• What's the most likely scenario for doomsday?

• Are ESP and telekinesis impossible?

• What do clairvoyance and time travel have in common?

• How might quantum mechanics ultimately affect the fate of life in the universe?

Reviews (16)

Not bad for a sequel, but could have been stronger.
This book is not a bad read, but unfortunately it will be compared to Krauss's previous book, The Physics of Star Trek, which was a much stronger book. His sequel leaves something of the impression that he used most of his best material in the earlier volume. This book lacks the number of illustrations from the world of sci-fi and instead has more theoretical and technical exposition, much of which may be over the head of the lay reader.

Also, readers (X-Files fans in particular) may be disappointed with the way in which the author seems to dismiss the possibility of such things as ESP and clairvoyance. Krauss goes to great lengths to explain why such phenomena are not probable or plausible, according to the laws of physics. But it is precisely because such things seem to operate outside the realm of physics that they have such interest and appeal.

If anything, this book points to the limitations of physics and empirical science as a whole. Some things may simply lie outside the purview of science. Krauss tries to give scientific explanation to things which may more correctly belong to the field of the metaphysical, the supernatural, or the spiritual. In doing so, he demonstrates that science does not hold all the answers.

Believe the title
It seems an immutable law of SF that sequels don't live up to the original work. Fortunately for Dr. Krauss, Star Trek proved an exception to that rule, and his own sequel borrows some of that magic, succeeding both on its own and in comparison to "The Physics of Star Trek".

That being said, the book's title is significant. This is not a book about Star Trek, or even a book about SF in popular culture, but a book about science. The SF is there, but mainly as a springboard to discuss issues in physics, astronomy, and other sciences. And the issues are fascinating: Dr. Krauss explores the theoretical underpinnings of starship propulsion, ESP, and inter-species mating, all with the same careful, humorous style that characterized his first book. And as a bonus, you get one of the best explanations of the principles of quantum mechanics, translated into layman's terms, that I've ever read.

But above all, believe the title. If you're looking for a catalog of science errors made by the writers of SF TV and movies, pick up one of the 'Nitpicker's Guides' assembled by Phil Farrand. If you want extra background material about the fictional worlds of Star Trek, the X- Files, or what-have-you, just browse through the SF section of your local bookstore (or Amazon)--the words are out there. But if you want a solid, entertaining look at the way things work on the real Planet Earth, then pick up this book.

Not as good as the original
This book expands on the theme of the "Physics of Star Trek": namely drawing upon the science of today to ponder the validity and feasibility of the sci-fi science. Like its predecessor though somewhat to a lesser extent, this book suffers from a lack of vision by adhering to today's understanding of science (see my review for that book). The end result is still a readable and nice introduction to important questions in modern physics using science fiction as an example.

I found this book somewhat less interesting than its predecessor. For one thing there is some repetition with "The Physics of Star Trek". Further, the most interesting issues have already been addressed in the earlier book, leaving the crumbs to this one. So, if you have read the first book, you might not be as excited by this one. Nevertheless it is still an enjoyable read.

A word of caution, despite the "Star Trek" in the title, there is very little Star Trek in this book. Instead, the author expands the comparison to cover other cinematic shows like "X-files" or "Independence Day" (the "Beyond" part of the title). While this is OK and does not diminish the interest of the book, pure Star Trek fans who buy this book expecting to read about Star Trek will be disappointed.

BEYOND BEAM ME UP SCOTTY........
Author Laurence Krauss is Chairman of the Department of Physics at Case Western Reserve. He is also the author of several other books including THE PHYSICS OF STAR TREK. This book explores such topics as alien invasions, time travel, quantum reality and more in movies like X-Files, Star Wars, Indepedence Days and in other aspects of popular culture and life today. Divided into 15 chapters at 190 pages (including index) it's a fairly easy read or maybe you'd like to listen on the audio version from Amazon.
It would have been great to include a glossary since those of us that don't have a physics graduate degree might enjoy glancing at that prior to reading the text. As science fiction quickly becomes science fact, this book belongs on any techie's shelf.

Nice, but first book was much better
I am a big fan of books that use science to critically examine the (im)possibilities of Science Fiction. Lawrence Krauss did an excellent job in his 'Physics of Star Trek' book, but I am much less pleased by this sequel.

Because this book is not focussed on one SF series, it lacks the structure of the first book. Krauss seems to pick out at random some elements of science commonly used in science fiction and again at random refers to some movies or books using them.

While his analyses are usually sound and well written, they lack the thoroughness of the analyses in the first book. Where in the first book he examined every conceivable scientific road to make an SF phenomenon / machine work before considering it impossible, he now seems to stick to one or two explanations and when these don't work he discards the phenomenon / machine (e.g. faster than light travel or ESP). This leaves the reader with a lot of "Yes, but.." and "What if"'s.

In addition, I found the very frequent referrences to other esteemed scientists who are all geniuses and are all performing ground breaking science becoming irritating after a while. A book like this should focus on the science at hand and not the people that perform it. Of course scientists deserve due credit for their achievements, but people shouldn't be presented like they are the best thing that has happened to this world since the invention of toilet paper. Such praise is always subjective and does not belong in a book that attempts to be objective. ... Read more

Book Description

Deconditioning is an integrated physiological response of the body to a reduction in metabolic rate, that is, to a reduction in energy use or in exercise level. This multi-author volume presents selected background information on the many aspects of ground-based and in-flight physiological research and applications, with an emphasis on human research programs on prolonged bed rest, immersion and confinement studies simulating conditions of space flight as well as data from humans in space. Deconditioning and Reconditioning will be of special interest to health professionals and clinical physicians. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Are we alone? As the search for extraterrestrial intelligence comes more and more into the mainstream, scientists like David Darling step up to explain what we know and what's possible. His book Life Everywhere explores the history and current state of the field called, perhaps unfortunately, astrobiology. Devoted neither to organisms skimming the sun's surface nor to possible signs of intelligence among celebrities--though not explicitly rejecting these phenomena--astrobiology is concerned with the basic questions of life: What is a living organism? Is it common, or likely, elsewhere in the universe? Is it worth trying to communicate across light years? Darling, an astronomer and science journalist, has a knack for explaining complexities and fine details that carries his prose forward where other authors have foundered; the reader is swept up in the enthusiasm of the researchers Darling describes. Writing of the astronomical search for signs of life far off in the galaxy, he captures the thrill of this work:

Their efforts will revolutionize astrobiology, more so perhaps than spacecraft parachuting down out of the orange sky of Titan or roving the rock-strewn deserts of Mars. The world-shaking headlines of the next twenty years will likely come from giant instruments, on the ground and in Earth orbit, gazing with far sight at the planetary systems of other stars.

Since most research germane to the field has been done here on Earth, Darling explores such hot topics as heat vents and other geothermal mini-biomes, meteoritic dissection, and, of course, SETI's radio telescope arrays. Mars, Venus, and the moons of the outer planets are all major characters, and their stories will reinvigorate most readers' excitement about the prospects of having neighbors just down the cosmic street. Ending with a set of hypotheses and brief explorations of their ramifications if shown to be true, Life Everywhere is an outstanding and thought-provoking look at what could ultimately be the most world-shaking research ever conducted.--Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Highly recommended book
David Darling's excellent new book does an effective job of presenting the main topics of astrobiology in a conversational writing style that is easy to read and understand. Without assuming prior knowledge on the part of the reader it clearly explains the very latest research with fascinating details and well-chosen examples that will hold the interest of experts as well as newcomers.
Life Everywhere explores the conditions assumed to exist on prebiotic Earth and the various explanations for how life arose. Supporters of the various hypotheses are lumped together as "surface, sunlight" guys (who believe in Darwin's "warm little pond") and "deep, dark" guys (who believe that life arose near hydrothermal vents). Each new discovery gives a new advantage to one team or the other. The book also discusses the possibility of life on other planets and moons in our solar system, and it gives the most convincing and clear explanation I've found for the possible role of comets in the origin of life's building materials.
The science in Life Everywhere is solid, and the treatment of opposing theories is open and even-handed, with the exception of the Rare Earth theory which, according to Dr. Darling, is a theory based more on theological conservatism than on scientific fact. Life Everywhere is not a large book, but it contains a wealth of up-to-date information about the new science of astrobiology. If you are interested in the scientific study of life's beginnings and limits and the search for life on other worlds, I strongly recommend Life Everywhere as the first book to read for anyone new to the subject. For anyone already familiar with the basics of astrobiology, this is still an interesting new look at a rapidly-evolving science.

A Great Read for Beginners and Professionals Alike
How can David Darling's wonderful new book "Life Everywhere" appeal to both beginners who know nothing about astrobiology and seasoned veterans who have already read many books about extraterrestrial life? The key is a massive amount of fresh, up-to-date material coupled with superb organization, an exceptionally clear writing style, and the lavish use of anecdotes and examples that make otherwise difficult material fun and understandable. Get a headache thinking about planets or moons in orbit? Visualize a spinning dinner plate with a helping of mashed potatoes in the center and a used stick of chewing gum at the rim! Among other things, David explains how rather than narrowing the search for the origin of life astrobiologists keep finding interesting new ways that life may begin. He describes the formidable survival skills of such lifeforms as "Conan the Bacterium," and he explains emerging technology that will allow us to identify Earth-like planets in other solar systems and then monitor chemical processes would be highly suggestive of life. I particularly enjoyed his sure-to-be controversial analysis of the "Rare Earth" Hypothesis", and his chance discovery of how pre-Copernican thinking may influence science today. Finding Jupiter-sized planets and mashing-up Martian meteorites are important and worthwhile scientific activites, but if you think that astrobiology is little more than this, read David Darling's "Life Everywhere" and think again!

"Politically Correct"
This is one of eight books on Astrobiology which were rushed out after the publication of Joseph's revolutionary and ground breaking text, in May of 2000. Like the other seven competing volumes, this text differs from Joseph's, in that it strictly holds to the "party" line, as approved by the United States government, and repeats, without any critical analysis, mainstream scientific dogma. Now, don't get me wrong. Although he avoids mentioning Joseph's book--which clearly triggered the writing of his own--Darling does an otherwise good job of provding a "politically correct" overview of the status quo. If you are interested in the views held by mainstream, government funded scientists, this is the book for you.

Must read... but beware...
I would definitely recommend to buy and read this book, but beware... this book is very thought provocing! I have had a Christian (Catholic) education and although I have always been very interested in exact sciences, I never read a book before that challenges you to reconsider so fundamentally the origin of life. I bought this book from Amazon.com ZShops and even now, 6 weeks later, it is not yet completely finished because I needed time after every chapter to let sink down the information.

This book very clearly explains what astrobiology is about and gives you lots of ideas to think about.
One minor point : the writing style is not always very fluent.
Overall a really good book and a must have !

I welcome other people that want to discuss the content of this book with me : send me an e-mail !

a great introduction to a fascinating subject
Darling is a reader-friendly writer who introduces the subject of astrobiology with enthusiasm and clarity. He provides and excellent background of the work that led to this topic as a specialty in its own right, and charts the territories in which future developments are sure to occur. Darling is honest and sincere in his writing, which distinguishes him from certain other writers in the field who seek religious objectives by way of scientific sounding language. Darling's work is erudite and objective...and easy to read. Good work!! ... Read more

Book Description

Written by many experts in the field, this book brings together, in one place, the state of the art of membrane and inflatable structures technology for space applications. With increased pressure to reduce costs associated with design, fabrication, and launch of space structures, there has been a resurgence of interest in membrane structures for extraterrestrial use. Applications for membrane and inflatable structures in space include lunar and planetary habitats, RF reflectors and waveguides, optical and IR imaging, solar concentrators for solar power and propulsion, sun shades, solar sails, and many others. The text begins with a broad overview and historical review of membrane and inflatable applications in space technology. It proceeds into theoretical discussion of mechanics and physics of membrane structures; chemical and processing issues related to membrane materials; developments in deployment; and ground testing. The book then proceeds into current applications and case studies. ... Read more

Book Description

A unified and systematic treatment of the main results and techniques of relativistic fluid dynamics with an emphasis on waves and shock waves. The first four chapters provide an introduction to the fundamental principles of relativistic fluid dynamics and magneto-fluids.The remaining chapters present specific topics, including non-linear electromagnetic waves in relativistic cold plasmas, relativistic asymptotic waves, and relativistic shock waves.Examples of the applications of the theory to plasma physics, nuclear physics and astrophysics are presented. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Serves a hungry audience
The subject of perfect and imperfect fluids in curved backgrounds obviously has direct relevance to astrophysical phenomena; and particularly in this age of the HST / gravity wave observatories. However, the subjectremains mathematically burdened by the singularities of black holes andshocks; and many old unresolved problems exist in this field. This text isan ideal source for researchers seeking to learn what is known, what can bedone, and what remains to be done.

The monograph contains sections onperfect and imperfect fluids in flat space, perfect and imperfect fluids incurved space,relativisticmagneto-hydrodynamics (ala Vlasov), combustion,shocks, and more.Emphasis is given to alternative / standard /non-standard formulations and analyses that are conducive to fieldconfigurations that evolve into shocks. Numerical researchers -- among manyothers including astrophysicists-- will find much useful material in thosesections alone.

The writing of this text is concise with a level of rigorthat is affordable to beginning graduate students and workers in the field. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Are You Ready?
I promise you Mr. Hogan will cause you to reconsider some of your most closely held beliefs. Beliefs that until now were so obvious there was little need to even think about the rationale behind them. From AIDS to global warming to evolution to the history of the solar system to the ozone layer to relativity and the big bang, Mr. Hogan asks whether existing data might be just as well (or better) be explained by alternatives other than the conventional wisdom.

While the author clearly has his own beliefs, he does not shove them down the throat of the reader, but offers alternatives to the common wisdom and challenges the reader to think more clearly about their long-held assumptions and how they got them. This is done in the spirit that scientific inquiry is not afraid of facts, but strives to reach conclusions consistent with the facts. I don't believe anyone can come through a careful reading of this book without beginning to question at least some beliefs and assumptions that they previously accepted without a second thought.

Some parts of sections two and three about cosmology and relativity get a little complicated, so if you find yourself beginning to get bogged down, skip ahead to the later sections, and come back to these sections at your leisure rather than quitting.

This book is a marvelous read. ... Read more

Book Description

This textbook is a general introduction to the dynamics of astrophysical fluids for students with a knowledge of basic physics at the undergraduate level.No previous knowledge of fluid dynamics or astrophysics is required because the author develops all new concepts in context.The first four chapters cover classical fluids, relativistic fluids, photon fluids and plasma fluids, with many cosmic examples being included.The remaining six chapters deal with astrophysical applications: stars, stellar systems, astrophysical plasmas, cosmological applications, and large scale structure of the universe. Astrophysical fluid dynamics is a promising branch of astronomy, with wide applicability. This textbook considers the role of plasma and magnetism in planets, stars, galaxies, the interplanetary, interstellar and intergalactic media, as well as the universe at large. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The curator of NASA's art collection and the agency's chief historian have collaborated to put together this arresting collection of paintings, drawings, and sculptures representing more than 30 years of space exploration. From the Mercury flights to the Mars Pathfinder mission, artists interpret the sights and emotions of each journey. Some focus on the astronauts, some on the machinery, some on the behind-the-scenes action. Each work is unique, whether realistic or impressionistic. This is a gorgeous book--perfect for space buffs, science historians, and anyone interested in a different perspective on human efforts to explore the universe. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Outstanding Arrangement and Selection of Artwork
Mr. Bertram Ulrich demonstrates rare talent in picking out selections from NASA's art collection that are emblematic of different period's of the Agency's history.

An exquisitely illustrated history of the space program.
Mary Kalamaras was the in-house STC editor not the author. Please correct. I wanted, when planning the publication of this book, to publish an exciting and riveting history of the space program. I wanted to illustrate it with the extraordinary art collection that NASA has been building from its inception, inviting artists from Robert Rauschenberg to Norman Rockwell to attend its launches and observe and document its work. This published work is my dream come true. Brilliantly written and finally designed by Nai Chang, and superbly printed, it is everything a gift book is supposed to be: a great story informed by extraordinary images... in this case one of the most absorbing stories of the twentieth century. Lena Tabori, until August 1,1998, Publisher/President of Stewart, Tabori & Chang. ... Read more

Book Description

With this book, for the first time the public can become acquainted with the Apollo spacecraft in detail and learn the story of its design and construction.Full color drawings in exacting detail provide inside and out views of the Command and Service Modules completewith details of construction and fabrication.

The Apollo spacecraft is the most intricate and exacting machine ever built, and it had to be as near to perfect as it could be made, every time.With over 3 million components, a performance record of 99.9% would still leave 3,000 parts that could fail -- any one of which might result in the deaths of the crew.With the exception of Apollo 13, the spacecraft lived up to expectations on every lunar mission, and even Apollo 13, after a major explosion, managed to circle the Moon and bring its crew home safely.

Virtual Apollo is a book long overdue; the care and completeness with which it has been created speak for themselves.Thanks to the dedication and hard work that have gone into this book, we can now truly appreciate the magnificent machine that was the Apollo spacecraft and marvel at the achievements of the many thousands of engineers and technicians who stayed on Earth but were on the mission every step of the way. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A Brilliant Book
Scott Sullivan has produced the book I was waiting for! I have been desiring a book about Apollo CM/SM details and construction, and this was the one that was worth waiting for.

Though I have been an Apollo addict for years, and have read all the NASA Mission Reports (also available from Apogee Books) some things were difficult for me to actually visualize without Scott's CAD drawings. Part of the problem with previous books, even well illustrated books, was the uniqueness and density of the CM design. For instance in space, there is no up, so it becomes sometimes difficult by reading accounts the interrelationship between the LEB and associated spaces. Now it is crystal clear.

I hope that Scott Sullivan will come out with a LM book to accompany this brilliant work. Thank you, Scott!

Good for the Casual Reader...Only
My main criticism of the book, and this hit me the second I opened to the 2-D layouts in front, was that the SPS engine bell is too bulbous, and the forward radiator panels are too "square" in appearance. They should be more rectangular in shape. If these had been interior features, I could easily have overlooked them. But with the good reference material available today on Apollo, including photographs taken from every angle and David Weeks' fine CSM drawings, it just seems to me that the engine bell in particular should have been shown right. Refer to Mike Mackowski's S.I.M. #6 and David Weeks' Service Module drawings for the correct SPS outline. Second, very little detail is provided for the two hatches (extremely intricate and vital sub-systems) or the docking system, apart from a basic 3-D view of the docking probe and ring. These areas should have been treated with a great-deal more attention. Mr. Sullivan does indicate the multiple-pane arrangement of the CM windows, but it would have been helpful to see how they were affixed into thier respective frames in both the inner and outer hulls. A simple, 2-D section view through one of the side windows, for example would have told a lot about the overall window structure. The crew couches and instrument panels, aside from being rendered in color, really don't show anything over and above the level of detail in the spacecraft handbook illustrations. I would have at least expected some overall dimensions of the couches, if not of the attenuation struts, mirrors and floodlights. Lastly, it would have been nice to see a little more detail on the "J" Mission Scientific Instrument Module bays carried aboard Apollo 15 thru 17, as well as specific differences between the actual flown spacecraft (Apollo 4 and 6 thru ASTP) as no two of these spacecraft were alike.

If you're a casual reader with merely a moderate interest in the American Space Program, you'll find this book enjoyable. But if you're a seriously sold-out space nut like me, and you're looking for hard, accurate dimensional data for a large-scale model of an Apollo Spacecraft, keep looking, because you won't find it here.

Might as well be NASA plans
This book could have been mistaken for NASA official design plans. Includes 3d images to give an idea of where things are within the CSM. Detailed descriptions of CM and SM as well as docking port. Has instrument panel diagrams and cockpit control layout designs. Includes abort checklists, etc. and everything you need to learn how to build and fly your very own Apollo 18, which was aborted due to budget cuts. NOTE: Does not include description or diagram of of Saturn V or 1B booster rockets or details of missions except an in-depth description of the Apollo 1 tragedy.

A must-have for the space buff
This is such a good, concise and welldone book about the Apollo CSM. For the first time it gives you an idea what it must have been like, going to the moon in this machine, made by the lowest bidder. The drawings are all very clear. I am allready waiting and hoping that the author will make a similar book about the Apollo LM.

a must have for the space buff
I was entranced with Mercury, Gemini and Apollo as a kid but find myself even more compellingly interested in it as I get older. People familiar with cars and houses can readily gauge the space of a house or the size of a car by looking at pictures. But aircraft, for instance, are difficult to imagine in photographs except for pilots. I was surprised when I finally saw a real B17 that it was not quite as huge and massive as I had imagined.
Spacecraft are very difficult for people to understand because they rarely see a real one. It's impossible for someone to grasp the Saturn V unless they visit one of the few remaining artifcacts on display. The conical and cylindrical design of the Apollo capsule made it hard for people to fathom exactly how it was layed out inside. In addition spacecraft are the most densely packed devices made with an incredible amount of apparatus stuffed inside them.
This ingenious book finally slices open the Apollo Command & Service modules in a colorful and revealing way so that even the average person can quickly grasp it's design and the way it looked.
In addition the book shows in detail exactly how it worked and how it all fitted together.
This book is a must have article for any Apollo buff. ... Read more

Book Description

This volume is a reference source of fundamental formulae in physics and astrophysics. In contrast to most of the usual compendia it carefully explains the physical assumptions entering the formulae. All the important results of physical theories are covered: electrodynamics, hydrodynamics, general relativity, atomic and nuclear physics, and so on. Over 2100 formulae are included, and the original papers for the formulae are cited together with papers on modern applications in a bibliography of over 1900 entries. For this new edition, a chapter on space, time, matter and cosmology has been included and the other chapters have been carefully revised. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A very-very useful book even for researchers
Well, if you'd like to have a lot of useful mathemathical formulae on hand when making your astrophysical computations (at any topics as I can admit) then this is the very book you need. My only problem with it is that it doesn't cover all the formulae I needed for my computations but maybe I'm not fair wishing the impossible... Anyway it spared me a really big amount of time when on my desk. ... Read more

Book Description

This new edition of Professor Kitchin's popular Astrophysical Techniques retains the aims of the earlier edition in providing a comprehensive and clearly understandable account of the instruments and techniques used in modern astronomy and astrophysics. Many new instruments and techniques are included for the first time, and some topics have been eliminated on the grounds that they have not been used by either professional or amateur astronomers for many years.

Drawing together an ever-diverging array of observational techniques, using the common thread of detection-imaging-ancillary instruments pattern, the author provides readers with a unified view of contemporary astrophysical investigation. This fully illustrated text starts from first principles and explains each method up to the point at which the reader can begin practical work and even start designing it. Exercises with answers are used to reinforce the ideas presented in each chapter. There is also an extensive bibliography to enable further study, appendices of tables of astrophysical data and a new section on web sites and on-line resources.

The treatment of the topics is at a level appropriate to a science-based undergraduate degree. As far as possible the mathematics and physics background that may be needed for a topic is developed or given within that section. Science undergraduates taking an astronomy option will find Astrophysical Techniques an essential study aid. Amateur astronomers of any level will find this book to be of immense value. Professional astronomers should use this book as a source of information on areas unfamiliar to them, ... Read more

Book Description

This book deals with psychological, psychiatric, and psychosocial issues that affect people who live and work in space. Unlike other books that focus on anecdotal reports and ground-based simulation studies, this book emphasizes the findings from psychological research conducted during actual space missions. Both authors have been active in such research. What is presented in this readable text has previously been found only in scientific journal articles. Topics that are discussed include: behavioral adaptation to space; human performance and cognitive effects; crewmember interactions; psychiatric responses; psychological counter-measures related to habitability factors, work-design, selection, training, and in-flight monitoring and support; and the impact of expeditionary missions to Mars and beyond. People finding this book of interest will include: psychology and social science students and professors in universities; medical students and residents in psychiatry and aerospace medicine; human factors workers in space and aviation professions; individuals involved with isolated environments on Earth (e.g., the Antarctic, submarines); aerospace workers in businesses and space agencies such as NASA and ESA; and anyone who is interested in learning the facts about the human side of long-duration space missions. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Real Story of Space Psychology
This is a book that reviews all the essentials about the psychology of living in space. This is particularly important as we are now on a "fast track" to get to Mars with humans, I hope in my lifetime. This adventure will be extremely dangerous not only from the physical hardships but also because of the mental risks.

The authots have reviewed everything that is known about the field, especially what has been learned from Space Station and other experiments in isolated settings. It is readable, especially the last chapter, where the Mars material comes up as the practical problem to solve. Yet, this book is scientific and has all the references needed for more technical research.

All in all I found this a fascinating read. ... Read more

Book Description

For the past twelve billion years, galaxies have governed the Universe, bringing form to the firmament, light to the void. Each one a giant system of as many as hundreds of billions of stars, the galaxies are the building blocks of the cosmos, and through new data from modern telescopes--including the Hubble Space Telescope--we are discovering dizzying new facts about how they formed, how they evolve, and what they are made of. This book acquaints readers with these facts and findings--and with what they can tell us about the lives of galaxies over cosmic time, from their emergence shortly after the Hot Big Bang to their ongoing gyrations and transmutations.

Orienting us with an insider's tour of our cosmic home, the Milky Way, William Waller and Paul Hodge then take us on a spectacular journey, inviting us to probe the exquisite structures and dynamics of the giant spiral and elliptical galaxies, to witness colliding and erupting galaxies, and to pay our respects to the most powerful galaxies of all--the quasars. A basic guide to the latest news from the cosmic frontier--about the black holes in the centers of galaxies, about the way in which some galaxies cannibalize each other, about the vast distances between galaxies, and about the remarkable new evidence regarding dark energy and the cosmic expansion--this book gives us a firm foundation for exploring the more speculative fringes of our current understanding. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent, But Not For the Casual Reader
If you are new to astronomy and are looking for a primer on galaxies and cosmology, do not buy this book. If, however, you have exhausted the million and one "begginer's guide to (insert cosmologically correct buzzword here) " books, then this is the book for you.
The amount of detail is increadible and rewarding. The reader is given detailed, text book-like information on galaxy genesis, structure and developement. Everything from million mass black holes at the center of spirals, to the structure of our own Milky Way, to gas flow patterns in spiral arms, even to the increadible pyrotechnics exhibited by merging galaxies is addressed in a clear, concise and entertaining narrative.
I can not recommend this book enough. Part of the fun has been reading the descriptions of some of the naked eye galaxies and then finding them in the telescope. It is great to see that little smudge in the eyepiece and to know what's REALLY going on.
Although I have enjoyed the beginner books and they definately served their purpose, it was time to sink my teeth into something meatier. I couldn't be more pleased.

A pleasant introduction to the geography of the Universe
I thoroughly enjoyed this nicely written guide to the structure and organization of galaxies near and far. It opens with a general outline of what galaxies are and what they look like, then describes those galaxies surrounding our Milky Way, finally it looks at the Cosmos as a whole, exploring (as so many have) the Big Bang etc. What I loved about this book is that it had some meat to it. I've grown tired of astronomy books that simply outline the science so that 94% of the population can smile and shake their heads about black holes and the like. I don't think this book is written for the masses, but it is written for that 1% of people that really want to learn something about galaxies. It has loads of information, several sets of lovely astro-photos, and a usable glossary and index. Though it has textbook content, I found it easy and enjoyable to read. I recommend it to those with an interest in astronomy looking for a bit of substance. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

A Good Step-2 in Learning Modern General Relativity.
This is a very good book on modern relativity and cosmology; although a few imporant astronomical findings were made AFTER the publication. The authors work very hard (and long!) in explaning the material to the readers.

However, you won't like the book if it is your first step towards general relativity OR you are very eager to learn it. This is simply because the development of the subject is very slow, and the length of the book will give you the false impression that general relativity takes years to understand (although it may take sometime to believe). The theory itself doesn't take very long to undersand, but it's implications may.

DON'T turn to this book for an introduction to Special Relativity(SR). It assumes you already know it and puts (SR) in a geometric language. Frist learn basic SR from any modern physics book.

Likewise, for reasons given earlier, your Step-1 towards general relativity, should be Foster and Nighangle's book: 'A Short Course in General Relativity'.Because it is short,less demanding, and covers the basics clearly and completely. The fact that Foster's book uses old notation is not a disadavantage. Only when you see how meesy the old notation is, you will appriciate the modern notation of Thorne's.

Excellent introduction, good overview on applications
This book can be divided into three logical parts. The first part includes an overview of 4 dimensional physics (spacetime physics, chapter 1), an introduction to special relativity (physics in flat spacetime, chapters 2 to 7), an introduction to the tensor calculus (the mathematics of curved spacetime, chapters 8 to 15) and describes in detail Einstein's general theory of relativity (Einstein's geometric theory of relativity, chapters 16 to 22).
This first part is the best introduction to the theory of relativity I have ever read. The mathematics is introduced in a very comprehensive manner, there are lots of exercises where the reader can get used to the tensor calculus. The physical explanations are just brilliant and what is more important general relativity is introduced in the manner Einstein itself viewed it: as a geometric representation of gravity! Other books on this subject formulate general relativity only algebraically (like quantum theory) but this hides the importance of the idea that all gravitational effects can be extracted from the geometry of spacetime. The algebraic formulation may be regarded as more modern by some authors, it must be said however that no algebraic formulation managed to give more physical insight. The algebraic treatment tries to unify the view of general relativity and quantum field theory, but the physical discrepancies between the two theories remain unsolved.
The second part starts with the application of general relativity to stars (stars and relativity, chapters 23 to 26), goes on to the universe (the universe, chapters 27-30) and to black holes (gravitational collapse and black holes, chapters 31 to 34), and describes finally gravitational waves (gravitational waves, chapters 35 to 37) and experimental methods (experimental tests of general relativity, chapters 38 to 40).
This second part is a good overview, but many details of the computations of the applications are not shown. For the readers interrested in the details the two volume book by Zel'dovich and Novikov "Stars and Relativity"/"The Structure and Evolution of the Universe" is much better (but also much longer).
The third part finally describes the frontiers of general relativity (frontiers, chapters 41 to 44). Like part two it gives a good overview not showing many computational details.

The pinnacle of 1970s textbook layouts
I used to drool over this book in the university bookshop. It was, by far, the best laid-out textbook I had ever seen. It was expensive, even by the standards of 1980, the year I eventually bought it.

This probably disqualifies me as an Amazon reviewer, but I have to admit that I've never read it. I was a mathematician by degree, and am now a writer on marketing matters. Whenever I need inspiration on how to lay out and explain a complex concept which needs both words and diagrams, this is the book I return to.

a true classic
I believe this is a must for every theoretical physicists.
This is a huge book containing so much information. I could
say it is flawless, and it virtually has no typos(Look at
books on superstring published so far). This is one of the
best books in a hundred years. Read it with Wald's General
Relativity.

Not as good as they would have you believe
Virtually everyone who works or who worked or who would like to work in GR brags up this book and boasts of reading it from cover to cover. Most have not. I, unfortunately, have. It rambles and is scatterbrained and halfa* on many topics. The would be investigator would be better off following another course of study in differential topology and differential geometry, almost any other relativity text or texts, and the literature. It should be kept in mind, however, that when this book was first published the global methods were like lie algebra was at one time - researchers writing papers for and to each other with nobody else in mind. This was a supposed attempt to make the material available to a wider audience. It may have degenerated into intellectual onanism. ... Read more

Book Description

Behind every NASA space mission there were literally thousands of people involved in design, manufacture, support, management, etc.Most of these people had the opportunity to plan their work in detail and then test and refine it until it was as good as could be.Mission Control, however, was quite a different situation - in the midst of a mission there is no time for lengthy investigations, and your answers had better be right first time and every time; lives depend on it.

Most of what we learn about NASA's space missions comes from statements carefully planned and massaged by managers and public relations people.With Apollo EECOM: Journey of a Lifetime we finally get an insider's view of how the Flight Controllers operated and just what they faced when events were crucial.This book is the life story of Sy Liebergot, former NASA Flight Controller, with emphasis on his years working in Mission Control.

Following the disastrous tank explosion during the Apollo 13 mission, it was the Flight Controllers that made possible the safe return of the three endangered astronauts.Aboard Apollo 13, Lovell, Haise and Swigert performed wonders battling for their lives, but without the expertise, quick thinking and technical support of Mission Control, they never could have come home.

Sy Liebergot was there and relates the details as they really happened.And Apollo 13 is just one of the many exciting stories he tells us.Truly and insider's view, this book discusses not just the events, but also the people that decided and enacted those events.These are the details that were never shown on anyone's TV screen; finally we get to learn what type of people the NASA Mission Controllers really were, and how they handled the demanding tasks that were theirs alone. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

EECOM-the real story
If you want a personal story about an eecom in the exciting time
of Apollo this is it. He tells his real story, warts and all.
Technical enough that you are able to understand what it was
all about and able to follow what was happening. The enclosed
CD was especially important. I understood for the first time
everyone's job by hearing them in the "loop". It was interesting
to see what happened in the end of Apollo, and how far away the
space program has gotten from where it started.I liked this book
because of his real observations,not the usual sugarcoating we
sometimes get in these kinds of books.

Another biography
In general, a good book, not a great book. If you have to collect all books about the Apollo and/or space program, than you'll end up buying this no matter what you read about it. If you are not a collector, get it out of the library or borrow it.
Gave some background information on the life and times of a flight controller, some of which is not found elsewhere.
This is filled with his opinions on others, but what the heck, it is his book.
Sy does face considerable challenges in his life and ends up in a much better place than one would have expected.
It is a quick read and again, gives some background on the space story from another who lived it.

A great, personal insight.
This book isn't one of those thick, literary historical tomes that we have seen a good many of in the last few years from former NASA managers. Rather, this feels like you have been personally invited into Sy's living room to sit on the sofa and look over his memorabilia while he tells you about it over your shoulder. It's a surprisingly frank and honest look at his life. Rather than trying to build himself up to be an historical figure, he pulls no punches with an account of a difficult, scrappy early life where he had to learn to survive his family, then work out how to leave and make something of himself. He tells this compelling story so well that I would have read it even if he had not gone on to join NASA - something I also felt when reading Scott Carpenter's account of his difficult upbringing in his recent memoir. When Liebergot moves on to his years at NASA, we get a refreshingly different account of how things worked there. Most other books on this era have been written by those in the upper echelons of management, but Liebergot here shows us what it was like for the footsoldier in the trenches, with a few little accounts of tempers lost in mission control and other disagreements that the official histories try and gloss over. Rather than do this as a tell-all, Liebergot includes his own failings in the mix - he doesn't hide the fact that he is now on his third marriage, nor the reasons. Liebergot was there for some of NASA's finest undertakings, and this book tells you what it was like from a human perspective - the weariness, the shortcomings, the oversights - that round out the picture very well.

In short, this is not a polished history of NASA at its finest hour. Rather it is a very loose, informal journey through one man's difficult life, and how he managed to wash up in the right place at the right time.

Disappointed
Much of the book (up to page 80) discusses the authors upbringing, family, military experience, and high diving. I find this material irrelevant. This is one of those books you wouldn't give a 2nd look at the bookstore, but it looks good on Amazon. I'm returning it.

The CD is Amazing
This book is interesting, and a noble effort for a first time author. I have always been fascinated by the Apollo program, and have always found the mission control team interesting. (I highly recommend 'Failure is not an Option' by Gene Kranz.) When I heard that Sy Liebergot had written a book, I pre-ordered it. I generally found the book interesting but not as focused on the Apollo program, NASA or the EECOM job as the title would imply.

I am amazed by the hardships that Sy overcame and my hat is off to him for that, I just wish that his first book had focused more on Apollo and EECOM duties (after all, the title is 'Apollo EECOM') and less on his personal tribulations.

There is one incredibly redeeming feature of the book, though, and it is the enclosed CD, which is a series of recordings of the EECOM loop during the Apollo 13 near disaster as well as some Apollo 15 audio and a spoof song for the post Apollo 13 party.

Overall, a good book, but the CD alone is worth the cost! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Jeanne Cavelos says, "Star Wars fueled my interest in space exploration and the possibility of alien life," leading her to a career in astrophysics. While these movies have inspired her, she admits that may not have been their intention.

In creating the part science fiction/part fantasy/part myth that is Star Wars, George Lucas did not seek to create a futuristic universe that agreed perfectly with our current understanding of science.... How realistic, how possible, is this galaxy far, far away?

The answer when A New Hope first came out was "not at all." But a strange thing has happened in the years since Star Wars first came out. Science is beginning to catch up with George Lucas.

Cavelos looks at Lucas's planets, aliens, droids, technology, and Force with both rationality and affection. The droids R2-D2 and C-3P0, among others, become more interesting and almost credible after her consideration.

The element of Star Wars that is most true to science is the sense of wonder it calls forth, which has very little to do with how close it is to a possible future. Or, as Steve Grand, director of the Cyberlife Institute, said to Cavelos: "I never try to let scientific implausibility get in the way of a good story!" --Mary Ellen Curtin ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Feels like a guilty pleasure, but enjoyable and thoughtful
Reading each chapter of "The Science of Star Wars" made me feel like I was indulging in a guilty pleasure, which is odd, since this is an informative look at science through the prism of the Star Wars movies.

The author has different chapters on planets, lifeforms, spaceships and weapons, droids, and the Force. Each chapter looks at the subject as depicted in the various movies, and then speculates on how likely the subject is scientifically. She has an open-mind; even when the subject seems to be scientifically inaccurate, she writes diplomatically that it seems unexplained, or needs some explanation beyond our understanding.

For the most part, she is a good writer. However, the book is sprinkled with repeated lame jokes about wishing bad things unto Imperial stormtroopers. It's kind of funny the first time, but after that, it becomes silly.

Also, the section discussing the Force delves into a heavy dose of quantum mechanics. There are no equations or diagrams, but it is an extended discussion, albeit at a layperson's level.

Finally, the paperback version contains an update based on "The Phantom Menace."

'The force' is not a farce.
Let me start out by saying that I could hardly put this book down. Once I started, each chapter made me starve for the next. The book, as the title suggests, offers a scientific look with amazing theories and explanations to some of the concepts in the movie, "Star Wars." For example, one may ponder the existence of aliens and the ability to travel at light speed--or even faster! Well, this book provides a thorough look at these questions giving an opportunity for some very accomplished scientists in such fields as physics and statistics to share their views and offer a hypothesis. I especially enjoyed the chapter on 'The Force.' Here I found it incredibly interesting. For there is not only a physical scientific look at this phenomenon but also a parapsychological view, fusing physics, psychology, metaphysics and even quantum mechanics together. In conclusion, this book is an asset to anyone who has pondered the many what ifs... in life. A great read as well as a perfect look at the blending of "Star Wars" with science, the human experience and the human mind. Great Work.

STAR WARS COULD HAPPEN!!?
What I loved about the Star Wars saga is the fact that travel
across the galaxy is as commonplace and taken for granted as
car and air travel is today. And I love the alien world our
heroes visit like the Fourth Moon of Yavin,the Moon of Endor,
Tatooine,Hoth,Bespin,Dagobah and Coruscant.

This book explores the possibility of rapid interstellar travel
and alien planets and extraterrestrial life and the even how to
build lightsabers and blasters with incredible detail. Cavelos

explains that such breaktroughs may or may not happen in a few
thousand years. Who knows what breaktroughs humanity will make?
We may not be at war with aliens or other civilizations and I
hope it won't happen. But I do hope that someday people will be
able to travel to other solar systems and galaxies as quickly
and easily as crossing our oceans. Cavelos gives interesting
detail on wormholes,warp drives,and even what it would be like
to travel at warp drive with the stars stretching into streaks
of light. That will be a very exciting time. I hope that galactic
travel and even intergalctic travel will be used for tourism as
well as exploration and colonization. People will travel to exotic planets and moons like Yavin 4,Endor,Hoth,Coruscant etc.
and even view our own galaxy from above as a glowing celestial
spiral. That would be a very exciting time!!Perhaps it
will happen in the next thousand years or so.

Very Good
I loved this book. Like all Star Wars books I read, I could barely put it down. The only reason it's not perfect is that the whole Star Wars series is very loosely based on science, so this book really has a very shaky fundamental basis. The fact that Jeanne Cavelos can write a great book around this weak foundation, though, is a testament to the skill with which the author writes.

Great Book
I am not a huge, or even big Star Wars fan (heck, I didn't even like the first one), but I loved this book. A great concept, very well done. I could not put it down. ... Read more