PRESS

BOOK OF THE MONTH - BANG!

28 Nov 2006

SKY AT NIGHT MAGAZINE – DECEMBER 2006
PAGE 102
BOOK OF THE MONTH
Bang!

Brian May, Patrick Moore And Chris Lintott
Carlton Books £20
191 pages - Hardback

An easily digestible history of the Universe, from the instant space and time came into being
Even if curiosity alone makes you pick up this book, it’s well worth it. This unlikely grouping of authors brings together a rock star, an astronomy legend and an established cosmologist, and the product is an immensely well-written book.

Bang! tells the story of the Universe as scientists understand it today, from the moment that time and space were created to the end of time itself. In chronological order, you’re taken on a journey that is at times awe-inspiring and always insightful. If you’ve ever wondered how the stars came to exist and what progress modern science has made towards our understanding of the Universe, then this book is for you.

At its heart, Bang! is a science book, and the authors haven’t been afraid to tackle difficult ideas like inflation theory, dark energy, the emergence of life and whether wormholes really exist. However, the book contains no maths and is written in a clear and straightforward way; this is a very accessible read.

It’s visually pleasing too: astronomy is an area that’s fortunate to have access to views from instruments such as the Hubble Space Telescope, which has opened up the far corners of the observable Universe to everyone. Amazing images are scattered throughout the book and are supplemented by graphics that attempt to explain abstract and difficult concepts like inflation and the fate of black holes.

The book also has an index, which means it can be enjoyed either as a good read in its own right or used for quick reference when a clear explanation of an astronomical theory is required. Even though the authors tackle some difficult ideas, they use clear and everyday language, making Bang! suitable for beginners. There’s also another aid for anyone without a scientific background – a brief glossary.

The human side of the story of the Universe is told through the biographies of some of the pioneers in the field. Among others, the book features the colourful Fritz Zwicky, who studied stars at the end of their lives and coined the term ‘supernova’; and Arthur Stanley Eddington, who used observations of a solar eclipse to show that Einstein was correct when he predicted that massive objects can bend light.

It’s fascinating to discover more about the personalities and motivations of these eminent figures and to be able to reconcile the person with their astronomical legacy.

As if all this wasn’t enough, the book includes a beginner’s guide to practical astronomy. In this section you can learn how to navigate around the night sky and how to observe the beautiful sights in our own Solar System.

The authors end the book by acknowledging that its contents are open to change as research progresses; such is the nature of the scientific method. But this will surely inspire us even more and, with information on the many instruments in use today, there are plenty of opportunities for further reading. Bang! encapsulates the tremendous efforts made over the decades to understand and contextualise our place within he vastness of space.

*****
Dr Lucie Green is a scientist at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory

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