Why is the universe expanding the way it is? What were the seeds that caused the galaxies, clusters and superclusters to grow? Maintaining a clear distinction between issues of a firm empirical basis and speculative ones, this book addresses a number of key concepts and current controversies in cosmology.
Martin John Rees, Baron Rees of Ludlow, OM, PRS (born June 23, 1942 in York) is an English cosmologist and astrophysicist. He has been Astronomer Royal since 1995, and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge since 2004. He became President of the Royal Society on December 1, 2005.
I read most of New Perspectives, but it assumed more than my very basic knowledge of astrophysics, and I skimmed a bit. If I had been a little better acquainted with the subject, I think I would really have liked it. As it was, I did at least learn a few things. In particular, I hadn't appreciated how direct the path was that started with the quantum fluctuations that appeared when the Universe was the size of an atomic nucleus, and ended with galaxies. I hadn't properly understood either how common large black holes are, and that quasars mark the point, fairly early on in the history of the Universe, when the black holes formed.
It's funny to see which people you can be mistaken for. I bought the book at the Cambridge University Press bookshop in central Cambridge, near the Market. Since I have published a book with CUP, I get a 25% discount - but I must have explained this badly, because the assistant asked whether I was Martin Rees. I wish!
Martin John Rees, Baron Rees of Ludlow, OM, PRS (born June 23, 1942 in York) is an English cosmologist and astrophysicist. He has been Astronomer Royal since 1995, and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge since 2004. He became President of the Royal Society on December 1, 2005. More about Martin J. Rees... Books by Martin J. Rees