"So you want to make your own universe. Zeeya Merali's new book won't quite give you an instruction kit—but it's the closest thing we have at the moment. A fun and mind-expanding ride through modern ideas of how universes come to be."
Synopsis
Whether our universe was created is one of the greatest questions of human history. Now physicists are asking something new: might it be possible to create a universe ourselves? As startling as it sounds, modern physics suggests that within the next few decades, scientists may be able to perform this seemingly divine feat. We could build an entirely new universe, sequestered in a small black hole in a lab, complete with its own physical laws, star systems, galaxies, and even intelligent life. At its heart, the desire for universe creation starts with our scramble to understand the roots of our own universe. A Big Bang in a Little Room takes the reader on a journey through the history of cosmology and unravels—particle by particle, theory by theory, and experiment by experiment—the ideas that could allow for the creation of a new universe. Beyond simply explaining the science, A Big Bang in a Little Room tells the story of the people who have been labouring for more than thirty years to make this seemingly impossible dream a reality. And as they ponder the possibility of messages in our universe’s radiation, investigate the idea that our world is a massive computer simulation, or ask whether a multiverse would allow for a God, these physicists raise a daunting question: was our universe, too, created inside someone else’s laboratory? A mind boggling journey through the most quixotic quest of modern physics, A Big Bang In A Little Room will turn everything you thought you knew about our universe on its head. There might not be one universe, one creator, or even one you. But there is one certainty: the you in this universe will enjoy this wild ride through the craziest idea of our times —and you won’t forget it anytime soon.
Reviews
Merali’s journey will leave you marveling at the implications of DIY universe building and questioning the origins of our own strange universe.
Is it possible to create a universe in a lab? Is it moral? In this fascinating and provocative book, Merali walks a delicate line between physics and theology with charm, integrity, and wit. She deftly navigates heady scientific ideas and profound ethical questions, and her lively interactions with physicists bring their abstract theories to life. Whether you find it ultimately convincing or quixotic, Merali’s journey will leave you marveling at the implications of DIY universe building and questioning the origins of our own strange universe.
To appreciate the diverse personalities who seek amazing links between cosmos and microworld on the speculative frontiers of physics, you should read this book.
A fun and mind-expanding ride through modern ideas of how universes come to be.
So you want to make your own universe. Zeeya Merali's new book won't quite give you an instruction kit—but it's the closest thing we have at the moment. A fun and mind-expanding ride through modern ideas of how universes come to be.
Other Publications
Trick or Truth? The Mysterious Connection Between Physics and Mathematics
Co-edited with Anthony Aguirre and Brendan Foster
How Should Humanity Steer the Future?
Co-edited with Anthony Aguirre and Brendan Foster
Questioning the Foundations of Physics: Which of Our Fundamental Assumptions Are Wrong?
Co-edited with Anthony Aguirre and Brendan Foster