Edge of the Universe: A Voyage to the Cosmic Horizon and Beyond - Hardcover

The observable universe, the part we can see with telescopes, is incredibly vast. Yet recent theories suggest that there is far more to the universe than what our instruments record—in fact, it could be infinite. Colossal flows of galaxies, large empty regions called voids, and other unexplained phenomena offer clues that our own ""bubble universe"" could be part of a greater realm called the multiverse. How big is the observable universe? What it is made of? What lies beyond it? Was there a time before the Big Bang? Could space have unseen dimensions? In this book, physicist and science writer Paul Halpern explains what we know and what we hope to soon find out about our extraordinary cosmos.

• Explains what we know about the Big Bang, the accelerating universe, dark energy, dark flow, and dark matter to examine some of the theories about the content of the universe and why its edge is getting farther away from us faster
• Explores the idea that the observable universe could be a hologram and that everything that happens within it might be written on its edge
• Written by physicist and popular science writer Paul Halpern, whose other books include Collider: The Search for the World's Smallest Particles, and What's Science Ever Done For Us: What the Simpsons Can Teach Us About Physics, Robots, Life, and the Universe

Advance Praise for Edge of the Universe

"Edge of the Universe is a breezy romp through the universe as we know it. Paul Halpern covers all of the big topics in cosmology with a crisp and engaging tone, at a level that even a novice can follow, and pairs it with pop cultural references and very engaging scientific history. He gives a grand view of not only what we know, but also what we don't entirely understand, from inflation and the edge of the universe to the 'Axis of Evil' in the cosmic microwave background and the dark flow of galaxies."
?Dave Goldberg, io9.com contributor and coauthor of A User's Guide to the Universe

"Cosmology today is more exciting than it has ever been in its 2,500-year history. In this lively book, Halpern explains why and leaves us desperate to see what surprises the universe has in store."
?Graham Farmelo, author of The Strangest Man: The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Mystic of the Atom

"A delightful introduction to all the major topics in modern cosmology. In user-friendly language, Halpern manages to describe the ins and outs of this complex subject, from the well-established to the highly speculative. This is truly a remarkable accomplishment."
?Gino Segré, author of Faust in Copenhagen: A Struggle for the Soul of Physics

"A fantastic romp along the frontiers of modern cosmology?and beyond. Halpern makes us wonder about our place in the vast universe, both in space and time, and marvel at the mystery of dark matter, dark energy, extra dimensions, parallel universes, and so much more."
?Dr. Clifford Pickover, author of The Physics Book: From the Big Bang to Quantum Resurrection, 250 Milestones in the History of Physics

"In this lively, fast-paced, and authoritative book, Paul Halpern takes us not only to the edge of the universe but to the edge of our knowledge of the universe."
?Marcus Chown, author of Solar System: A Visual Exploration of the Planets, Moons, and Other Heavenly Bodies that Orbit Our Sun