Calculating the CosmosCalculating the Cosmos

"The author presents an exhilarating guide to the cosmos, from our solar system to the entire universe. He describes the architecture of space and time, dark matter and dark energy, how galaxies form, why stars implode, how everything began, and how it's all going to end. He considers parallel universes, the fine-tuning of the cosmos for life, what forms extraterrestrial life might take, and the likelihood of life on Earth being snuffed out by an asteroid. Beginning with the Babylonian integratIon of mathematics into the study of astronomy and cosmology, the author traces the evolution of our understanding of the cosmos. "--From publisher description.