The first aliens to arrive on planet Earth were the Dorts. They were amoebalike and frighteningly large, but they did favor us with the Theory of Transformationa brilliant advance over prior attempts by theoretical and particle physicists to create the ultimate, Unified Theory of Everything; but like all great theories, even theirs had limitations. Centuries after the first Dorts arrived, Laura Shane was born. She reinterpreted the Dort Theory by giving it the finishing touch of her genius. It led to the faster than light removal of miles-deep, cone-shaped plugs from planet Earth. The latest and largest such Cone carried a crew of thousands. It was named the Great Cone of Transformation. Through his 3T Corporation, Ned Keller directed the creation of Cones. Despite Lauras unease about her first voyage into space, she and Ned went together on the Great Cones maiden mission. Two weeks later they were light years from home when Neds boss, Jack Lewis, arrived to inform them of an event on Earth with implications for their mission. Unfortunately his concern did not include awareness of what those implications might be; but they were already in peril. It was sabotagethe first in a series of calamities. Before the final calamity began to close in on them (the Big Rip, set to destroy the entire local multiverse) and before Jacks recent arrival, it was still teatime on the Great Cone. Laura and Ned were having a pleasant morning beside her pool. The story begins there, with our attractive young genius sipping tea and deep in thought about her bewildering circumstances and the unchanged perception of all the things around her. Ned was reading comfortably in a nearby lounge chair. Now and then hed look up to speak of love, while shamelessly admiring her long and lovely legs.

Winner of the Gival Press Novel Award When a prisoner in an unnamed labor camp finds his journal of memories taken from his cell, he sets out to console himself and perhaps find in his past a way to reclaim his freedom by again writing down what he can remember. As the prisoner writes and passes through the vivid world of a distant life, he is eventually confronted by a strange memory that, if true, questions the reliability of his memories and whether what he remembers was really his own life or, somehow, someone else's.

Discover the undiscovered with this jargon-free introduction to astrophysics Astronomy is the study of what you see in the sky. Physics is the study of how things work. Astrophysics is the study of how things in the sky work, from large objects to tiny particles. Astrophysics For Dummies breaks it all down for you, making this difficult but fascinating topic accessible to anyone. Tracking the topics covered in a typical undergraduate astrophysics class, this book will teach you the essential pieces to understanding our universe. Get ready to launch into outer space with this ever-changing branch of science. Discover the latest advances in the world of astrophysics Understand how and why galaxies form and evolve Find out the origins of cosmic rays Get a standalone primer on the science or supplement your astrophysics course Students in introductory astrophysics courses and would-be astronomy buffs who want to better understand the mechanics of the universe will love Astrophysics For Dummies.

Tribology of Graphene: Simulation Methods, Preparation Methods, and Their Applications provides an exhaustive reference guide on the tribology of graphene-based materials. The book begins with a discussion on the selection of the proper graphene-based material and then segues into how to choose a deposition method, how to control of its structure and properties, and the most effective working conditions and applications. The latest developments in theoretical simulations of graphene friction, preparation methods, and effective applications are all reviewed, as are the ways various graphene coatings can be successfully employed to decrease friction and wear in nano-, micro- and macro-mechanical applications. - Synthesizes the broad current research in tribological applications of graphene all in one place - Covers theoretical simulations and preparation methods, including insights on how to put them into practice, allowing for quicker and more effective selection of graphene-based material - Provides a broader perspective by discussing both graphene-based composites and additives

Jean-Pierre Vigier continually labeled one of les heretiques de la science, l’eternel resistant et le patriarche is yet a pillar of modern physics and mathematics, with one leg firmly planted in theory and the other in empiricism spanning a career of nearly 60 years with a publication vitae quickly approaching 400! He wrote of his mentor Louis de Broglie “Great physicists fight great battles”, which perhaps applies even more so to 1 Jean-Pierre Vigier himself . If fortune allows a visit to Paris, reported to be the city of love, and certainly one of the most beautiful and interesting cities in the world; one has been treated to a visual and cultural feast. For example a leisurely stroll from the Musee du Louvre along the Champs-Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe would instill even the least creative soul with the entelechies of a poets muse. It is perhaps open to theoretical interpretation, but if causal conditions have allowed one to be a physicist, visiting Paris, one may have taken opportunity to visit the portion of the old Latin quarter in place Jussieu where Pierre et Marie Curie Universite, reported to be ‘the best university in France’, is stationed.

Delineating the huge strides taken in cosmology in the past ten years, this much-anticipated second edition of Malcolm Longair's highly appreciated textbook has been extensively and thoroughly updated. It tells the story of modern astrophysical cosmology from the perspective of one of its most important and fundamental problems – how did the galaxies come about? Longair uses this approach to introduce the whole of what may be called "classical cosmology". What’s more, he describes how the study of the origin of galaxies and larger-scale structures in the Universe has provided us with direct information about the physics of the very early Universe.

This book of problems and solutions in classical mechanics is dedicated to junior or senior undergraduate students in physics, engineering, applied mathematics, astronomy, or chemistry who may want to improve their problems solving skills, or to freshman graduate students who may be seeking a refresh of the material. The book is structured in ten chapters, starting with Newton’s laws, motion with air resistance, conservation laws, oscillations, and the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Formalisms. The last two chapters introduce some ideas in nonlinear dynamics, chaos, and special relativity. Each chapter starts with a brief theoretical outline, and continues with problems and detailed solutions. A concise presentation of differential equations can be found in the appendix. A variety of problems are presented, from the standard classical mechanics problems, to context-rich problems and more challenging problems. Key features: Presents a theoretical outline for each chapter. Motivates the students with standard mechanics problems with step-by-step explanations. Challenges the students with more complex problems with detailed solutions.

Almost from its inception, Einstein's general theory of relativity was known to sanction spacetime models harboring singularities. Until the 1960s, however, spacetime singularities were thought to be artifacts of the idealizations of the models. This attitude evaporated in the face of a series of theorems, due largely to Stephen Hawking and Roger Penrose, which showed that Einstein's general theory implies that singularities can be expected to occur in a wide variety of conditions in both gravitational collapse and in cosmology. In the light of these results some physicists adopted the attitude that, since spacetime singularities are intolerable, general relativity contains within itself the seeds of its own destruction. Others hoped that peaceful coexistence with singularities could be achieved by proving a form of Roger Penrose's cosmic censorship hypothesis, which would place singularities safely inside black holes. Whatever the attitude one adopts toward spacetime singularities, it is evident that they raise a number of foundational problems for physics and have profound implications for the philosophy of space and time. However, philosophers of science have been slow to awaken to the significance of these developments. Indeed, this is the first serious book-length study of the subject by a philosopher of science. It features an overview of the literature on singularities, as well as an analytic commentary on their significance to a number of scientific and philosophical issues.

Here is an expression of realisations from the knowledge of our existence, surroundings and the universe as a whole. Using advanced technologies researchers and scientists uncovering mysteries of unknown realities relentlessly. The immeasurable enormity of objects, energy and space-time variations exhibit how negligible and irrelevant our presence or existence. We are developing new science and technology continuously to observe the effects of the master program so precisely tuned to create from birth to death of living and nonliving beings on one side as well as magnificent, incomprehensibly huge, inquisitively wonderful universe governed by separate precise programs on the other side. This may have triggered the idea of a creator (for some almighty or god) willingly setting these programs faultlessly. This also brings in, idea of consciousness, mind, emotions or curiosity. Being agnostic I fail to accept even real evidences unquestionably. In following chapters I mentioned few realities presented by scientists which gave me most valuable realisations to be cherished. Interestingly we are struggling to find out existence of this enormous creation, but those magnificent objects never bother for our existence, lead to realize, “are we so insignificant?” This journey is obviously endless and engrossing.

Bismuth-containing compounds comprise a relatively unexplored materials system that is expected to offer many unique and desirable optoelectronic, thermoelectric, and electronic properties for innovative device applications. This book serves as a platform for knowledge sharing and dissemination of the latest advances in novel areas of bismuth-containing compounds for materials and devices, and provides a comprehensive introduction to those new to this growing field. Coverage of bismides includes theoretical considerations, epitaxial growth, characterization, and materials properties (optical, electrical, and structural). In addition to the well-studied area of highly mismatched Bi-alloys, the book covers emerging topics such as topological insulators and ferroelectric materials. Built upon fundamental science, the book is intended to stimulate interest in developing new classes of semiconductor and thermoelectric materials that exploit the properties of Bismuth. Application areas for bismide materials include laser diodes for optical communications, DVD systems, light-emitting diodes, solar cells, transistors, quantum well lasers, and spintronic devices.