Parallel Worlds: a Journey through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos.PARALLEL WORLDS: A Journey through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos MICHIO KAKU Dr. Michio Kaku (加來 道雄 Kaku Michio, born January 24, 1947 in the United States) is a Japanese American theoretical physicist, tenured professor, and co-founder of string field theory, a branch of superstring theory. Data and images collected by satellites such as the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe This article or section documents a current spaceflight. Details may change as the mission progresses.  For the radio station, see . and the Cosmic Background Explorer Cosmic Background Explorer: see infrared astronomy. Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) U.S. satellite that from 1989 to 1993 mapped the cosmic background radiation field. In 1964, microwave radiation was discovered that permeated the cosmos uniformly. have enabled scientists to zero in on what happened just 380,000 years after the Big Bang big bang Model of the origin of the universe, which holds that it emerged from a state of extremely high temperature and density in an explosive expansion 10 billion–15 billion years ago. . That's when astronomers think the energy left over from the original fireball fireball, very bright meteor leaving a trail in the sky that can remain visible for several minutes; often a distinct sound, perhaps caused by very low frequency radio waves, is associated with it. gave birth to the stars and galaxies that have now been circulating around the universe for billions of years. This scientific foundation supports new and compelling ideas about how old the universe is, what it's made of, and how it will end. Most astronomers now hold that the universe is accelerating without limit and becoming colder and colder, with the potential to burn out trillions of years from now. But that's just what's happening in our universe. As Kaku explains, some theories suggest that there may actually be multiple universes. Kaku details the intricacies of superstring theory and its latest iteration, M-theory, in this scenario. While outlining such mind-bending ideas, Kaku answers questions a novice might ask, such as how long a light-year is. But he also summarizes cutting-edge astronomy to inform readers of all levels of scientific expertise. Doubleday, 2004, 428 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $27.95. |
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