Calculating the Cosmos: How Mathematics Unveils the Universe

普及數學教育不餘遺力的伊恩．史都華教授，為您帶來最新的宇宙指南，解釋數學與天文學之間的關係，並且提問：新的科學革命是否正在成形？｢伊恩．史都華優雅地回顧了以數學解釋宇宙的神秘效力…，史都華先生優美地描述了為何牛頓定律可以一直產生驚人的結果。｣-《華爾街日報》｢本書在解惑與娛樂兩方面達到了同樣傑出的成果。作者讓你以新的方式思考熟悉的主題，並且擅於填滿你在知識上的缺口，同時指出那些將來你需要進一步研究的領域。｣-《夜空雜誌》(Sky at Night Magazine)伊恩．史都華最新的宇宙指南，從地球與月亮的形成到太陽系的行星與小行星，從太陽系出發進入銀河與宇宙之中。作者描繪了空間與時間的結構，黑暗物質與黑暗能量，銀河如何形成，為什麼星辰內爆，萬物如何開始，又將如何結束。他細想平行宇宙，地球之外的生命樣貌，以及地球遭小行星撞擊的可能性。史都華教授為讀者展現，自古代巴比倫人之後，數學已經成為研究天文學及宇宙論的驅動力。他描述了克卜勒的天體運行論如何使牛頓的萬有引力論成形，而200年之後發現的火星運行不規則如何觸發愛因斯坦的廣義相對論。以清晰的文字解釋重力、時空關係、相對論與量子理論，並且展現它們之間如何彼此牽連。80年前對宇宙不斷膨脹的發現，引發了宇宙起源的大爆炸理論，這也使得宇宙論學家回過頭來提出了暗物質與暗能量的假設。但是暗物質真的存在嗎？有沒有另一個正在形成的科學革命來挑戰目前的科學正統性？史都華教授透過與天文學和宇宙論相關的問題，來追尋問題的解答。Ian Stewart's up-to-the-minute guide to the cosmos moves from the
formation of the Earth and its Moon to the planets and asteroids of the
solar system and from there out into the galaxy and the 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 will end. He considers parallel universes, what forms
extra-terrestrial life might take, and the likelihood of Earth being hit
by an asteroid.Mathematics, Professor Stewart shows, has been the
driving force in astronomy and cosmology since the ancient Babylonians.
He describes how Kepler's work on planetary orbits led Newton to
formulate his theory of gravity, and how two centuries later
irregularities in the motion of Mars inspired Einstein's theory of
general relativity. In crystal-clear terms he explains the fundamentals
of gravity, spacetime, relativity and quantum theory, and shows how they
all relate to each other. Eighty years ago the discovery that the
universe is expanding led to the Big Bang theory of its origins. This in
turn led cosmologists to posit features such as dark matter and dark
energy. But does dark matter exist? Could another scientific revolution
be on the way to challenge current scientific orthodoxy? These are among
the questions Ian Stewart raises in his quest through the realms of
astronomy and cosmology.