Introduction This book is the story of EVERYTHING. You see, there’s big, really BIG and then there’s the Universe. The Universe is everything we know about (and quite a few things we don’t). It’s all the stars, planets, moons, galaxies, comets, dust, gas and the BIG, BIG, BIG areas of space in between. The Universe includes absolutely everything you can experience with your senses. In other words, it’s all the things you can see, hear, taste, touch and smell – as well as all the things you’d rather not. It’s also all the mysterious invisible forces and energies that whizz things around, makes things go BANG and hold some things together while dragging other things apart. Oh, and did I mention that among the Universe’s contents list is time itself? To understand the Universe, it helps to know its history, which scientists believe began about 13.8 billion years ago. This book tells the story of its incredible journey from as next to nothing as you can get… to EVERYTHING you can possibly imagine. Get Atom! There were no slow, long dances in the Era of Nucleosynthesis. The whole thing was all over within 20 minutes of the big Bang. Whoosh! Many protons were left on the dance floor alone, having failed to partner up with neutrons, but they didn’t mind. Protons have a positive electrical charge, so they always look on the bright side. (Science disclaimer: having a positive charge is nothing to do with moods – protons don’t have moods). And there was another upside to not partnering with any neutrons. You see, one chemical element plays by slightly different rules to those I mentioned before, and has no neutrons in its nucleus. That element is hydrogen, which is the most abundant element in the Universe. So, a proton on its lonesome is an entire nucleus of a hydrogen atom all by itself. No neutron necessary. *The total number of photons is: 4,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. Photon Booth The big Bang resulted in trillions and trillions of teeny packets of energy known as photons. Photons make up the light you can see (called visible light), but that’s not all. Photons also form other types of radiation, each with their own levels of energy. Together, they and visible light are known as the electromagnetic spectrum. All of these are made up of photons, travel in wave-like patterns and, if nothing’s in their way, race along at the speed of light: Gamma rays and X-rays are the most energetic of all. Ultraviolet (UV) is emitted by many stars, including the Sun. Visible light and all the colours you see are somewhere in the middle, energy-wise. Infrared is often given off by objects and some infrared radiation can be felt as heat. Microwaves and radio waves are the low-energy champions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Turning Cloudy Those scattered elements from dying early stars mixed with hydrogen and helium in space to form giant-molecular clouds of dust and gas. Scientists call these nebulae. Like a particularly lazy older brother, nebulae often just sat there, doing very little, until they were disturbed in some way such as by a passing object or an exploding star. Then, parts of the cloud collapsed into denser clumps with increasing gravity pulling in more and more material. The clumps’ centres grew hotter and hotter and more and more dense until…can you guess?…they formed a protostar, which later became a star. Boom! Here we go again! Only this time, these STARSSTARS were different. Many were much smaller and lived longer lives – billions of years long. To live long and prosper, these new stars performed quite some balancing act.
✔ Author(s): Clive Gifford,Rob Flowers
✔ Title: A Quick History of the Universe: From the Big Bang to Just Now (Quick Histories)
✔ Rating : 4.7 out of 5 base on (53 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 071126273X
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about A Quick History of the Universe by Clive Gifford
Miah English
Experience a heartwarming journey of self-discovery and love in this beautifully written novel. The protagonist's struggles and triumphs are portrayed with incredible empathy. Richly developed characters and a compelling plot make the story unforgettable. The emotional depth of the narrative resonates long after the book is closed. It's a touching tale that celebrates the human spirit. Perfect for readers seeking an uplifting read.
Arabella Whitfield
Get lost in a fantastical realm where magic and adventure await at every turn. The author's imaginative world-building and captivating narrative draw you in from the start. Engaging characters and thrilling quests make for an exciting read. The plot twists and turns keep you hooked until the very end. It's a book that sparks the imagination and takes you on a wild ride. Perfect for fans of fantasy.
Alicia Lawrence
Unravel the secrets of a small town with a dark past in this gripping thriller. The author's atmospheric writing and suspenseful plot make for a page-turner. Each character's hidden motives and secrets add to the tension. The twists and surprises keep you guessing until the very end. It's a chilling and captivating read that you won't want to put down. Perfect for fans of mystery and suspense.
