This book explores the most important event of all: the beginning of the Universe. Scientists are building an increasingly clear picture of the events that followed the moment when matter, along with time and space, came into being.
What is the Big Bang theory? Fifteen billion years ago, the Universe - space, time, matter and radiation - was brought into existence in a searing hot fireball called the Big Bang. As the fireball expanded and cooled, tiny subatomic particles coalesced into atoms. These atoms then merged under the action of gravity to form galaxies and stars. Some stars developed planetary systems, and on some of these planets - at least one that we know about - a special kind of chemistry arose, called life.
Unravelling this picture of the birth and evolution of the Universe has been one of the greatest triumphs of the human intellect. The challenge now is to find out how the Universe will eventually die.
Using latest research findings and stunning photographs, this book presents a comprehensive and easy-to-read review of historical theories and of science's current best answers to the fundamental questions.
