The Whole Shebang: A State-of-the-Universe(s) Report
Encyclopedia
The Whole Shebang: A State-of-the-universe(s) Report is a non-fiction science book written by author Timothy Ferris
originally published in 1997. In his book he provides a wide-range report of current research on cosmology
, the study of the universe
, and its trends going into the 21st century. He reports on theories about the possibility that our universe is one among many, the Big Bang
theory, Black holes, the "expanding" universe, and a "curved" space. The book has twelve chapters with most of it exploring the Big Bang theory and the mass density of the universe.
. As a professor he has taught astronomy, English, history, journalism, and philosophy at four universities. Ferris has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
in the category of general non-fiction for his physics and astronomy knowledge.
(dark matter and all mass density) and how it is measured. Cosmologists believe the universe is flat and that Ω equals one. They theorize the universe will continue expanding but at a slower and slower rate, never stopping completely. He explains that foundation models of the universe are not three-dimensional, but have a fourth spacetime continuum
. Ferris says cosmologist Andrei Linde
estimates the radius of the universe to be an "astronomical" number of one followed by a trillion zeros centimeters.
The book is an overview which examines mapping of large scale structures, weird quantum effects and cosmic evolution. Ferris talks of black holes and what would happen if an astronaut jumped into one. He goes on to explain that a "boltzmon" is very small particle, but contains a galaxy's worth of information. The book examines the pursuit of cosmologists to describe the universe conveniently in one mathematical formula, a goal Albert Einstein
was trying to achieve in his "unified theory." The book also explains that virtually every society worldwide from ancient Egyptians to Native Americans to dwellers of modern cities have a supposition and hypothesis of the universe, which ultimately influences their thinking consciously and subconsciously.
and matter
in the Big Bang theory were able to move faster than the speed of light
. He further explains that "space" itself was being created at the same time as its astronomical object
s therein. These objects and "space" together were expanding at this speed greater than light, at least for the first fraction of a second. Ferris writes for the reader to understand that "space" was created in the Big Bang and did not preexist. He explains that all "space" and matter in the universe were in a singularity before the Big Bang even started. This means a curvature of spacetime that's immeasurably large.
He goes on to explain that in Albert Einstein's special theory of relativity, the rule that nothing can go faster than the speed of light, does not apply to galaxies in an expanding universe. He further explains that while that rule may apply in a preexisting static space, it does not apply in an expanding universe. In an expanding cosmic universe galaxies can travel away from each other at speeds in excess of the speed of light. As a result of this there are galaxies so far away that the light from them have not reached earth yet and therefore we don't even know they exist. Ferris refers to this phenomenon as a boundless steadily increasing and changing universe with a changing density.
Ferris in his book explains the dynamism of the universe and the origins of chemical elements. He further examines the mystery of the clumping together of the stars within galaxies. He gives an excerpt of the search for a Darwin type theory
and explanation of the history of the universe. His research in how quantum mechanics
works gives rise to why there may be many universes, not just one. While some may shun away from what appears to be difficult scientific material, journalist Charles Krauthammer
encourages non-technical people to read the book because it is as intuitive an account of its essential idea – the curvature of space – as I have ever read.
Ferris uses most of his book searching for the cosmic mass density value of Ω. He points out that if Ω is a number under 1, the
universe will expand forever. Contrary to this he shows that if Ω is a number greater than 1 then the universe will eventually collapse into itself in a "big crunch", the opposite of the Big Bang. Ferris then shows, in a third possibility, that the universe is hanging in the balance in a critical density that says Ω looks to be exactly 1. Ferris makes the summation the universe will then always expand, but at a slower and slower rate that never completely comes to a halt. He follows this up with some exceptions that Ω is not always observed as exactly 1 by all cosmologists.
Ferris believes that the Big Bang theory is correct because of microwave background radiation which gives space a temperature of 3 kelvin
s. The Hubble telescope has also shown, through the Doppler effect
, that galaxies are moving away in proportion to their distances from earth, which is evident by the redshift
caused by lower frequencies generated from their normal frequency radiation
.
These detectable wavelength frequencies are at other than those of visible light. He explains in detail the Hubble constant, the ratio of the speed of a galaxy to its distance from earth.
Ferris speculates that there is at least one, if not several, Black Holes in the middle of our own Milky Way galaxy. Visible light is unable to reach our telescopes from the center of the galaxy, so higher radio ways are used for "viewing." He suggests that by searching for Bekenstein-Hawking radiation then we might be able to find these Black Holes.
According to Anthony Campbell's book review Ferris explains why cosmologists have their present day philosophies. He points out that Ferris shows a mutual relationship between the very small and the very big. In the book the relativity specialists and the particle physicists
seem to give rise to a universe that is from a single entity, a black hole perhaps. Ferris postulates that the strings
of the superstring theory
may be black holes.
In the book Ferris gives a detailed account of dark matter
, a mysterious component of the universe that influences the behavior of galaxies. Cosmologists have made note of five levels of structures larger than galaxies. These are the so called galaxy groups and clusters
, galaxy cloud
s, supercluster
s, and supercluster complexes. Ferris points out in his book that it appears unlikely that the universe has a fractal geometry, that is larger and larger structuring complexes, because of his theories behind dark matter.
Ferris writes that the theory of a universe that expanded exponentially in the first fraction of a second may be one of the most productive thoughts in modern cosmology because it provides answers for many of the mysteries. He also writes of the state of the quantum theory
to be indeterminate. Ferris tends to side with David Bohm
's so called "hidden-variables" quantum theory in spite of the theoretical problems involved.
Ferris admits that there is a tendency for descriptions of cosmology towards philosophy and also to lean towards theology
. His theories lean towards the basis that the span of human being existence is part of the universe design. His views of God are not as taught in churches and synagogs but that the existence of the ultimate cause and the essential nature of things are really unknown. He points out that one can not support the personal theology theories of conventional religions against today's established principles of cosmology. Ferris wraps up his book with intellectual arguments for God with his Contrarian Theological Afterword.
Timothy Ferris
Timothy Ferris is a science writer and the best-selling author of twelve books, including The Science of Liberty and Coming of Age in the Milky Way , for which he was awarded the American Institute of Physics Prize and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize...
originally published in 1997. In his book he provides a wide-range report of current research on cosmology
Cosmology
Cosmology is the discipline that deals with the nature of the Universe as a whole. Cosmologists seek to understand the origin, evolution, structure, and ultimate fate of the Universe at large, as well as the natural laws that keep it in order...
, the study of the universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
, and its trends going into the 21st century. He reports on theories about the possibility that our universe is one among many, the Big Bang
Big Bang
The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological model that explains the early development of the Universe. According to the Big Bang theory, the Universe was once in an extremely hot and dense state which expanded rapidly. This rapid expansion caused the young Universe to cool and resulted in...
theory, Black holes, the "expanding" universe, and a "curved" space. The book has twelve chapters with most of it exploring the Big Bang theory and the mass density of the universe.
Author
Ferris is a prizewinning author that has been called "the greatest science writer in the world." He conceived and produced the Voyager phonograph recordVoyager Golden Record
The Voyager Golden Records are phonograph records which were included aboard both Voyager spacecraft, which were launched in 1977. They contain sounds and images selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth, and are intended for any intelligent extraterrestrial life form, or for...
. As a professor he has taught astronomy, English, history, journalism, and philosophy at four universities. Ferris has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
in the category of general non-fiction for his physics and astronomy knowledge.
Quantum physics
He starts the book with quantum physics explaining ΩOmega
Omega is the 24th and last letter of the Greek alphabet. In the Greek numeric system, it has a value of 800. The word literally means "great O" , as opposed to omicron, which means "little O"...
(dark matter and all mass density) and how it is measured. Cosmologists believe the universe is flat and that Ω equals one. They theorize the universe will continue expanding but at a slower and slower rate, never stopping completely. He explains that foundation models of the universe are not three-dimensional, but have a fourth spacetime continuum
Spacetime Continuum
Jonah Sharp alias Spacetime Continuum is a producer of electronic music. After starting his musical career as a jazz drummer in London, UK, he moved to San Francisco, USA. During the 1990s Sharp released a series of albums on the Astralwerks record label...
. Ferris says cosmologist Andrei Linde
Andrei Linde
Andrei Dmitriyevich Linde is a Russian-American theoretical physicist and professor of Physics at Stanford University. Dr. Linde is best known for his work on the concept of the inflationary universe. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Moscow State University. In 1975, Linde was...
estimates the radius of the universe to be an "astronomical" number of one followed by a trillion zeros centimeters.
The book is an overview which examines mapping of large scale structures, weird quantum effects and cosmic evolution. Ferris talks of black holes and what would happen if an astronaut jumped into one. He goes on to explain that a "boltzmon" is very small particle, but contains a galaxy's worth of information. The book examines the pursuit of cosmologists to describe the universe conveniently in one mathematical formula, a goal Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
was trying to achieve in his "unified theory." The book also explains that virtually every society worldwide from ancient Egyptians to Native Americans to dwellers of modern cities have a supposition and hypothesis of the universe, which ultimately influences their thinking consciously and subconsciously.
Synthesis
Ferris explains in the beginning of his book the cosmological model as it has arrived to us today from ancient philosophy. He then goes into quantum physics, deep explanations of the Big Bang Theory and that "space"Outer space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
and matter
Matter
Matter is a general term for the substance of which all physical objects consist. Typically, matter includes atoms and other particles which have mass. A common way of defining matter is as anything that has mass and occupies volume...
in the Big Bang theory were able to move faster than the speed of light
Speed of light
The speed of light in vacuum, usually denoted by c, is a physical constant important in many areas of physics. Its value is 299,792,458 metres per second, a figure that is exact since the length of the metre is defined from this constant and the international standard for time...
. He further explains that "space" itself was being created at the same time as its astronomical object
Astronomical object
Astronomical objects or celestial objects are naturally occurring physical entities, associations or structures that current science has demonstrated to exist in the observable universe. The term astronomical object is sometimes used interchangeably with astronomical body...
s therein. These objects and "space" together were expanding at this speed greater than light, at least for the first fraction of a second. Ferris writes for the reader to understand that "space" was created in the Big Bang and did not preexist. He explains that all "space" and matter in the universe were in a singularity before the Big Bang even started. This means a curvature of spacetime that's immeasurably large.
He goes on to explain that in Albert Einstein's special theory of relativity, the rule that nothing can go faster than the speed of light, does not apply to galaxies in an expanding universe. He further explains that while that rule may apply in a preexisting static space, it does not apply in an expanding universe. In an expanding cosmic universe galaxies can travel away from each other at speeds in excess of the speed of light. As a result of this there are galaxies so far away that the light from them have not reached earth yet and therefore we don't even know they exist. Ferris refers to this phenomenon as a boundless steadily increasing and changing universe with a changing density.
Ferris in his book explains the dynamism of the universe and the origins of chemical elements. He further examines the mystery of the clumping together of the stars within galaxies. He gives an excerpt of the search for a Darwin type theory
Development of Darwin's theory
Following the inception of Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection in 1838, the development of Darwin's theory to explain the "mystery of mysteries" of how new species originated was his "prime hobby" in the background to his main occupation of publishing the scientific results of the Beagle...
and explanation of the history of the universe. His research in how quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
works gives rise to why there may be many universes, not just one. While some may shun away from what appears to be difficult scientific material, journalist Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer, MD is an American Pulitzer Prize–winning syndicated columnist, political commentator, and physician. His weekly column appears in The Washington Post and is syndicated to more than 275 newspapers and media outlets. He is a contributing editor to the Weekly Standard and The New...
encourages non-technical people to read the book because it is as intuitive an account of its essential idea – the curvature of space – as I have ever read.
Ferris uses most of his book searching for the cosmic mass density value of Ω. He points out that if Ω is a number under 1, the
universe will expand forever. Contrary to this he shows that if Ω is a number greater than 1 then the universe will eventually collapse into itself in a "big crunch", the opposite of the Big Bang. Ferris then shows, in a third possibility, that the universe is hanging in the balance in a critical density that says Ω looks to be exactly 1. Ferris makes the summation the universe will then always expand, but at a slower and slower rate that never completely comes to a halt. He follows this up with some exceptions that Ω is not always observed as exactly 1 by all cosmologists.
Kelvin
The kelvin is a unit of measurement for temperature. It is one of the seven base units in the International System of Units and is assigned the unit symbol K. The Kelvin scale is an absolute, thermodynamic temperature scale using as its null point absolute zero, the temperature at which all...
s. The Hubble telescope has also shown, through the Doppler effect
Doppler effect
The Doppler effect , named after Austrian physicist Christian Doppler who proposed it in 1842 in Prague, is the change in frequency of a wave for an observer moving relative to the source of the wave. It is commonly heard when a vehicle sounding a siren or horn approaches, passes, and recedes from...
, that galaxies are moving away in proportion to their distances from earth, which is evident by the redshift
Redshift
In physics , redshift happens when light seen coming from an object is proportionally increased in wavelength, or shifted to the red end of the spectrum...
caused by lower frequencies generated from their normal frequency radiation
Radiation
In physics, radiation is a process in which energetic particles or energetic waves travel through a medium or space. There are two distinct types of radiation; ionizing and non-ionizing...
.
These detectable wavelength frequencies are at other than those of visible light. He explains in detail the Hubble constant, the ratio of the speed of a galaxy to its distance from earth.
Ferris speculates that there is at least one, if not several, Black Holes in the middle of our own Milky Way galaxy. Visible light is unable to reach our telescopes from the center of the galaxy, so higher radio ways are used for "viewing." He suggests that by searching for Bekenstein-Hawking radiation then we might be able to find these Black Holes.
According to Anthony Campbell's book review Ferris explains why cosmologists have their present day philosophies. He points out that Ferris shows a mutual relationship between the very small and the very big. In the book the relativity specialists and the particle physicists
Particle physics
Particle physics is a branch of physics that studies the existence and interactions of particles that are the constituents of what is usually referred to as matter or radiation. In current understanding, particles are excitations of quantum fields and interact following their dynamics...
seem to give rise to a universe that is from a single entity, a black hole perhaps. Ferris postulates that the strings
String theory
String theory is an active research framework in particle physics that attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity. It is a contender for a theory of everything , a manner of describing the known fundamental forces and matter in a mathematically complete system...
of the superstring theory
Superstring theory
Superstring theory is an attempt to explain all of the particles and fundamental forces of nature in one theory by modelling them as vibrations of tiny supersymmetric strings...
may be black holes.
Dark matter
In astronomy and cosmology, dark matter is matter that neither emits nor scatters light or other electromagnetic radiation, and so cannot be directly detected via optical or radio astronomy...
, a mysterious component of the universe that influences the behavior of galaxies. Cosmologists have made note of five levels of structures larger than galaxies. These are the so called galaxy groups and clusters
Galaxy groups and clusters
Galaxy groups and clusters are the largest known gravitationally bound objects to have arisen thus far in the process of cosmic structure formation. They form the densest part of the large scale structure of the universe...
, galaxy cloud
Galaxy cloud
A galaxy cloud is a group of galaxy clusters and a substructure of a supercluster. The Local Supercluster contains the Virgo cluster, the Canes Venatici Cloud and the Virgo II Cloud....
s, supercluster
Supercluster
Superclusters are large groups of smaller galaxy groups and clusters and are among the largest known structures of the cosmos. They are so large that they are not gravitationally bound and, consequently, partake in the Hubble expansion.-Existence:...
s, and supercluster complexes. Ferris points out in his book that it appears unlikely that the universe has a fractal geometry, that is larger and larger structuring complexes, because of his theories behind dark matter.
Ferris writes that the theory of a universe that expanded exponentially in the first fraction of a second may be one of the most productive thoughts in modern cosmology because it provides answers for many of the mysteries. He also writes of the state of the quantum theory
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
to be indeterminate. Ferris tends to side with David Bohm
David Bohm
David Joseph Bohm FRS was an American-born British quantum physicist who contributed to theoretical physics, philosophy, neuropsychology, and the Manhattan Project.-Youth and college:...
's so called "hidden-variables" quantum theory in spite of the theoretical problems involved.
Ferris admits that there is a tendency for descriptions of cosmology towards philosophy and also to lean towards theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. His theories lean towards the basis that the span of human being existence is part of the universe design. His views of God are not as taught in churches and synagogs but that the existence of the ultimate cause and the essential nature of things are really unknown. He points out that one can not support the personal theology theories of conventional religions against today's established principles of cosmology. Ferris wraps up his book with intellectual arguments for God with his Contrarian Theological Afterword.
Reviews
- Excellent ... a heroic synthesis of cosmic knowledge today. – Jim Holt, The Wall Street Journal.
- An enjoyable and useful book, a heroic synthesis of cosmic knowledge today. – The Wall Street Journal.
- A beathtakingly wide canvas ... Ferris is admirably lucid. – Owen Gingerich, The New York Times book review.
- As the title implies, the topics covered in this book are nearly as vast and far reaching as the universe itself. The one constant, however, is that Ferris never strays too far from the central theme of the book, the big bang theory. This text has the potential to be a great asset to many science classrooms. The two concerns that I have, however, are in the level of complexity and the wide scope. Andrew Richardson, science student at Western Washington UniversityWestern Washington UniversityWestern Washington University is one of six state-funded, four-year universities of higher education in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in Bellingham and offers bachelor's and master's degrees.-History:...
.