Title: Cosmic adventure : a renegade astronomer's guide to our world and beyond /
Authors: Berman, Bob.; McKnight, Alan.
Publisher: William Morrow,
Year: 1998
Subjects: Serendipity in science.; Science Philosophy; Astronomy Philosophy
Abstract: Have you ever gazed into the night sky and felt your imagination lift off like a rocket bound for the edge of the universe? Have you ever marveled at a meteor shower's amazing light show? Have you ever wondered what an alien invasion might really be like, or who gets to name new stars, or what happened before the Big Bang? Astronomer Bob Berman has; he's curious on a cosmic scale, and with a blend of wit and wonderment he takes us on a guided tour of the universe, including our own Planet Earth. In this collection of twenty-six profound-to-outrageous essays, Berman gives us the universe in all its perplexity, mystery, and majesty - along with views of contemporary Earth life in all its lunacy.
Contents: Heartbreak from the comet cloud -- Original thinking -- Cosmic blunders -- Naming the universe -- Alien invasion -- It's a gas -- Unwelcome surprises -- Everyday alchemy -- Your number's up -- View from a window seat -- Certainty principle -- Night sweats -- The boundaries of space and logic -- What's in a name? -- Time and time again -- What else is new? -- The most astounding discovery ever -- Going to extremes -- Celestial compulsion -- The vibes of space -- Going places -- Rice is nice: new age reasoning -- Improving on perfection -- Strange moon -- Bohdan's bursters -- Top hits of the cosmic charts.