Hiding in the Mirror: The Mysterious Allure of Extra Dimensions, from Plato to String Theory and Beyond.

HIDING IN THE MIRROR: The Mysterious Allure of Extra Dimensions, from Plato to String Theory and Beyond LAWRENCE M. KRAUSS

The notion that other worlds exist beyond the realm of perception has captivated the minds of physicists and philosophers for generations. Krauss examines how the quest for the unseen has come to define the fields of physics and cosmology, from the first discoveries of electricity and magnetism to the more speculative ideas of parallel universes, hidden dimensions, and string theory. He also examines how the idea of other dimensions has permeated not only science but also popular culture and literature--from Plato's suggestion that we perceive mere shadows of reality to Lewis Carroll's conception of a rabbit hole for Alice's passage from the real world. Krauss, a theoretical physicist, writes that a Twilight Zone episode sparked his fascination with the concept of hidden worlds. In this book, he provides a detailed overview of the physics behind difficult topics ranging from wormholes in space to the specifics of quantum physics. Meanwhile, the author ponders how these ideas, as weird as they seem, are revealing more and more of the workings of the universe. Viking Adult, 2005, 288 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $24.95.