In this meditation on religion and science, Lightman explores the tension between our yearning for permanence and certainty, and the modern scientific discoveries that demonstrate the impermanent and uncertain nature of the world. As a physicist, he has always held a scientific view of the world. But one summer evening, while looking at the stars from a small boat at sea he was overcome by the sensation that he was merging with a grand and eternal unity, a hint of something absolute and immaterial. This is his exploration of these seemingly contradictory impulses, and the journey along the different paths of religion and science that become part of his quest. -- adapted from publisher info.

A leading astronomer takes readers behind the scenes of the thrilling science of stellar archaeology and explains how sections of the night sky are "excavated" in the hunt for extremely rare, 13-billion-year-old relic stars and how this quest reveals tantalizing new details about the origins and evolution of the cosmos.

Written by the international expert on women in science, this, the first biography of Caroline Herschel, the first professional female scientist, reveals the hardships experienced by a woman pursuing a male profession.

This book takes the reader on an exploration of the structure and evolution of our universe. The basis for our knowledge is the Big Bang theory of the expanding universe. This book then tells the story of our search for the first stars and galaxies using current and planned telescopes. These telescopes are marvels of technology far removed from Galileo's first telescope but continuing astronomy in his ground breaking spirit. We show the reader how these first stars and galaxies shaped the universe we see today. This story is one of the great scientific adventures of all time.

What is the origin of the universe? Are we alone in the Universe? Using clear and plain language, the author explores these two interesting scientific-philosophical themes with a broad range of studies, including astronomy, cosmology, chemistry, biology, geology and planet science.The first part discusses the origins of everything, from the Big Bang to humankind. It follows the long course of evolution — from original matter to the formation of more complex structures, from the furthest galaxies to the nearest stars, from planets to organic molecules, from the first and most elementary forms of life through to the reptiles, the dinosaurs and the advent of man.The second part traces the history of the Earth and evaluates the risks of extinction in the future as predicted by scientists. Is the Earth the only habitable planet in the Universe? This question initiates the discussion on the importance of the Earth's position in the solar system and the significance of our geologically alive planet.The final part is dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial beings with identifiable life forms. It also describes attempts for searching, from the past to the near future.This remarkable book provides the best answers we have to the epic questions about us and our place in the universe.

"The square kilometre array and South Africa's quest to hear the songs of the stars"--Cover.

From the New York Times-bestselling author of The Secret World of Weather and The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs, learn to tap into nature and notice the hidden clues all around you Before GPS, before the compass, and even before cartography, humankind was navigating. Now this singular guide helps us rediscover what our ancestors long understood—that a windswept tree, the depth of a puddle, or a trill of birdsong can help us find our way, if we know what to look and listen for. Adventurer and navigation expert Tristan Gooley unlocks the directional clues hidden in the sun, moon, stars, clouds, weather patterns, lengthening shadows, changing tides, plant growth, and the habits of wildlife. Rich with navigational anecdotes collected across ages, continents, and cultures, The Natural Navigator will help keep you on course and open your eyes to the wonders, large and small, of the natural world.

Like the stars in the universe, human personalities seem endless.Infinite Personalities: Searching for the Stars, explores popular character traits more commonly found within the realty profession. The book uses unique caricatures to portray these "stars of the real estate universe." Instead of emphasizing personal behavior psychology, Infinite Personalities discusses popular traits broken down into three overall segments of positive, negative, and neutral - otherwise known as "the good," "the bad," and "the ugly." Realty industry roles, operating styles, behavioral temperament, and other notable variables formulate unique caricatures presented as cartoons. Poetry and prose enhance the caricatures, along with observations, mottos, and applicable quotations.Infinite Personalities demonstrates that real estate "stars" come in various shapes and forms. Depending on the given viewpoint, these stars are good, bad, or ugly, based on the classic Spaghetti Western movie of 1966. In other words, Infinite Personalities is not a textbook or a technical work, but a colorful exploration of human nature within the real estate business world. As the book title suggests, the Infinite Personalities is an open-ended, unfinished project. The illustrated caricatures are as relevant today, as they were in the past, and will be in the future. New personalities are waiting for discovery. So please periodically visit infinitepersonalities.com.Ultimately, hoping Infinite Personalities will help you find your personality, as well as identify other real estate stars!

Look for Freddie and his friends, surrounded by a variety of zany people and objects, in many interesting settings. Each scene includes a list of objects and characters to find.

“A definitive guide to astronomy’s hottest field.” —The Economist Since its formation nearly five billion years ago, our planet has been the sole living world in a vast and silent universe. But over the past two decades, astronomers have discovered thousands of “exoplanets,” including some that could be similar to our own world, and the pace of discovery is accelerating. In a fascinating account of this unfolding revolution, Lee Billings draws on interviews with the world’s top experts in the search for life beyond earth. He reveals how the search for exoplanets is not only a scientific challenge, but also a reflection of our culture’s timeless hopes, dreams, and fears.