The Prophet and the Astronomer: a Scientific Journey to the End of Time. (Books: a selection of new and notable books of scientific interest).MARCELO GLEISER Marcelo Gleiser (born 1959 in Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian physicist and astronomer. He received his bachelor's degree in 1981 from the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, his M.Sc. degree in 1982 from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, and his Ph.D. While some may view the apocalypse as a myth from the Book of Revelations in the New Testament, Gleiser asks those folks to reconsider. He explains how ancient prophets and modern astronomers share a common i goal--to understand and make peace with the passage of time. Gleiser says Earth has already seen an apocalyptic event: The meteor meteor, appearance of a small particle flying through space that interacts with the earth's upper atmosphere. While still outside the atmosphere, the particle is known as a meteoroid. Countless meteoroids of varying sizes are moving about the solar system at any time. crash into the Yucatan peninsula that obliterated o·blit·er·ate tr.v. o·blit·er·at·ed, o·blit·er·at·ing, o·blit·er·ates 1. To do away with completely so as to leave no trace. See Synonyms at abolish. 2. the dinosaurs. He considers cataclysmic cat·a·clysm n. 1. A violent upheaval that causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change. 2. A violent and sudden change in the earth's crust. 3. A devastating flood. cosmic phenomena as predicted in Revelations and in other religious doctrines and explores how those views have influenced scientific thought through the ages. He argues that to overcome fear, defy time, and justify our lives, we create scientific as well as religious worlds. For instance, it was Isaac Newton's curiosity about apocalyptic prophecies that led to his discoveries about comets. Gleiser updates his story by concluding with a provocative and accessible overview of the tenets of modern cosmology cosmology, area of science that aims at a comprehensive theory of the structure and evolution of the entire physical universe. Modern Cosmological Theories , including black holes and the notion of time travel. Originally published in Portugal in 2001. Norton, 2002, 256 p., b&w plates, hardcover, $26.95. |
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