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Into the Unknown: The Quest to Understand the Mysteries of the Cosmos
A leading astronomer and gifted teacher takes readers on a wondrous tour of how science confronts the big questions—about the universe’s origins, destiny, and fundamental nature—and how it contends with the limits of our knowledge
Humans have learned a lot about the world around us and the universe beyond. We have had powerful insights and created profound theories about the universe and everything in it. Surely the ultimate theory must be waiting, just beyond our current knowledge.
Well, maybe. In Into the Unknown, astrophysicist Kelsey Johnson takes us to the edge of scientific understanding about the What caused the Big Bang? What happens inside black holes? Are there other dimensions? She doesn’t just celebrate what we know but rather what we don’t, and asks what it means if we never find that knowledge. Exploring the convergence of science, philosophy, and theology, Johnson argues we must reckon with possibilities—including those that may be beyond human comprehension. The very places where we run smack into total ignorance are the places where the most important questions—about the philosophy of knowledge, the nature of our cosmos, and even the existence of God—await.
As accessible as it is profound, Into the Unknown invites each of us to join in the great quest for knowledge.
Humans have learned a lot about the world around us and the universe beyond. We have had powerful insights and created profound theories about the universe and everything in it. Surely the ultimate theory must be waiting, just beyond our current knowledge.
Well, maybe. In Into the Unknown, astrophysicist Kelsey Johnson takes us to the edge of scientific understanding about the What caused the Big Bang? What happens inside black holes? Are there other dimensions? She doesn’t just celebrate what we know but rather what we don’t, and asks what it means if we never find that knowledge. Exploring the convergence of science, philosophy, and theology, Johnson argues we must reckon with possibilities—including those that may be beyond human comprehension. The very places where we run smack into total ignorance are the places where the most important questions—about the philosophy of knowledge, the nature of our cosmos, and even the existence of God—await.
As accessible as it is profound, Into the Unknown invites each of us to join in the great quest for knowledge.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2024
63 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 10, 2025
Lots of equations, graphs, and 3-D models so not really a layman book. Yet by covering so many topics, the proper depth was missing.
I have great respect for the credentials of the author, Kelsey Johnson, so I can only guess that some errors I'm finding are editor/publisher/non-science person.
Still, to date we have only managed to get to the moon a couple times in the middle of last century..
"Couple"?
I asked Siri, which tells me: "There have been six crewed landing on the moon between 1969 and 1972, and numerous uncrewed landings"
If the Sun were the size of a grapefruit, the Earth would be roughly the size of one of those little round sprinkles you might put on cupcakes.
"Sprinkles"???
Drake Equation
ne - Fraction of these planets that have a habitable environment.
Wiki...
R∗ = the average rate of star formation in our Galaxy.
fp = the fraction of those stars that have planets.
ne = the average number of planets that can potentially support life per star that has planets.
fl = the fraction of planets that could support life that actually develop life at some point.
fi = the fraction of planets with life that go on to develop intelligent life (civilizations).
fc = the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space.
L = the length of time for which such civilizations release detectable signals into space.
I GUARANTEE you that Kelsey Johnson knows that ne is a NUMBER and not a FRACTION. This is like saying pi=3.15
As a teacher, I recall reviewing an IB Physics textbook to see if it might work with my class. I quickly discovered a couple letters missing from the greek alphabet in chapter 1. They got the speed of light wrong by multiple digits.
The good/bad thing about science books is that you can't usually find great science editors. So the books tend to be left alone in the voice of the writer. If you've ever seen these authors speak in an interview, or public lecture, you recognize their 'voice' in their writing. The bad thing can be that these scientists might not know how to structure a book appropriate for sales, so surely some editing is necessary. But leave the science alone.
Again - Kelsey Johnson did NOT possibly write "Fraction" for ne in the Drake equation. (Equation on page 101, explanation of ne on 103).
Now, I greatly worry what else the editor/publisher has 'tweaked'. Almost DNF right here.
The book has bothered me with more items:
- Lots of funny/quippy/sarcastic little comments that I suppose is trying be palsy to the lay-people that are new to Cosmology. But the Catch-22 here is that you don't fully get the joke because you don't understand Cosmology. However, you can kind-of tell that something funny was stated, and you simply didn't "get it". This can make you feel worse!
I did like how Kelsey talked about her young experience being taken on a class trip to a university and seeing real college professors talking about complex topics. She thereafter answered the question of "What do want to be when you grow up?" with: "An Astrophysicist".
And talking about how after 10 years of education and degrees, she was still left wondering those same child-like questions: "Does intelligent life exist outside the Earth?", etc. Universities tend to overly focus on things like "What temperature is a star?" and "How many light years to the next galaxy?". They end up studying the proverbial trees, instead of the forest.
But then the book chapter order goes:
Ch1: A Little Perspective - OK, a bit of what this book is about
Ch 2.. (I'll tell you in a minute)
Ch 3: What caused the Big Bang?
Ch 4: Does Extraterrestrial Life Exist?
...
Ch 2: "What is knowledge?"
So in this chapter, we dive off into asking if we can prove 1+1=2. I totally understand that we really have to be skeptical and questioning of our knowledge. But this book is for non-astro-majors who want to dive into Ch 3, 4, etc. I think the words of skepticism can be imbeded inside each of the chapters as those topics are talked about. But 26 pages here on the philosophy of knowledge is going to lose readers. Maybe this could/should have been in an appendix? Or like I said, remind the reader in each chapter that these big questions being asked don't yet have 100.00% definitive answers.
Ch 5, What are Dark Matter and Dark Energy
pg 128 we don't think this stuff interacts with light at all
followed quickly by proof that dark matter exists because it bends light (gravitational lens).
Serious editor error using the word "interact"
While I liked that this book did not shy away from putting in multiple equations, I did not think the equations were carefully reviewed. Focus on a single term going up/down tended to be the trend.
The space/time diagram is never put in a beginner/layman type of book. Bold to do this. I don't think it was explained clearly enough though.
pg 194 The next option ins the holographic principle (aka anti-de Sitter/conformal field theory correspondence, aka AdS/CFT). Sorry about the jargon, but if you want to crash a physics party, mention "AdS/CFT" at the door, and they host will assume you are a card-carrying member.
How does this mention of Ads/CFT not have a footnote w/ references in the appendix???
Ch 6 "What Happens Inside a Black Hole"
I do like that the author admits to being gutsy with the topics in this book:
pg 199Most self-respecting physicists I know just stop talking about black holes at this point and for good reason - we know we don't know what happens. Acknowledging that stupidity and bravery can look very similar, I'm going to keep going, in part because this is where things get really interesting - if I stopped writing every time we hit the boundary of what we know, the title of this book would need to be something more like 'Things We Can Empirically Test About the Cosmos'. Besides, to quote once more the second law of the late Arthur C. Clarke, "The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible."
Ch 7 "What is the Nature of Time?"
We see the Schrodinger wave equation, and talk of CPT (Charge, Parity, Time). This is a deep chapter that deserves its own book. Sub-topic of "Topology of Time" starts a paragraph heading mid-chapter.
Ch 8 Are There Hidden Dimensions
Grad-school physic level discussions here. Nice to bring up these topics, but if this strong of a topic is to be included, then STOP with all the funny quips/remarks like this is a beginner/layman book.
Ch 9 "What Determines the Laws of Nature?"
I liked the Conway's Game of Life discussion, showing how initial conditions greatly influence 'the game' as time goes on.
Try: https://playgameoflife.com/ to run a simulation.
But then when the four forces of nature were talked about (Gravity, Electromagnetism, Strong, Weak), I was let down by the lack of depth here.
I did like seeing her open attitude toward talking about possible higher power or intelligence:
I think this philosophical conundrum does prove there is an aspect of the cosmos (which may or may not include a higher power) that defies current human logic and comprehension. This should not really be a surprise if we have an ounce of humility about our own intellectual ability - just because we might be the most intelligent species on this planet does not imply we represent the pinnacle of intelligence, nor that we are able to understand everything about reality, try as we might.
Ch 10 "Is the Universe Fine-Tuned?"
You need to be a physics major to appreciate this chapter. The author admits that people may know the speed of light (299,792,458 m/s) is constant, but WHY is it this number? Why are any of the constants inside the front cover of a physics textbook at the values that they are? What happens if they change by a small %?
Again, a whole book needs to be written on this topic. I don't need/want footnote #2 that takes me to the back of the book, to read:
2. If you don't actually have a good physics book, you should have one on your shelf. You never know when you might need it. If nothing else, they are really good for pressing flowers.
Most of the footnotes in this book lead to very technical and very recent research articles in journals. But I'm NOT a fan of funny footnotes in such a technical book.
Ch 11 "What is Our Place in the Universe"
I do like that the author truly wishes everyone would take more time to think about these larger questions. I personally find it amazing how studying such a technical subject like astrophysics can lead to the very philosophical thoughts about meaning of life.
I browse the New Nonfiction section of my local public library every week. I always examine new books with Dewey Decimal 500-599 (math/science). Upon picking up this book, I skimmed it and immediately saw some intimidating equations (second order partial differential equations, 3-D complex topographic images), so I think anyone else picking up a book like this will either:
1) Grab it (like me) because I like more complex books that don't fear putting in the math
2) Immediately put it back on the shelf per math complexity.
So, since this book quickly sorts to people liking the complexity, I really don't think this group likes to have funny quips and slightly sarcastic remarks CONSTANTLY throughout the book. Just when an explanation needed the technical aspect to be unleashed, a funny remark about the complexity was given, and then it was on to the next topic.
I really struggled to finish this book, and that is VERY unlike me per my love of physics.
Still, I think I'd love to sit in on one of her classes at UVA (University of Virginia), or attend any lecture/conference where she is speaking.
I just think that if the topics chosen of this strength (solidly above non-layman) then a more serious tone should have been reflected throughout the book.
3.5*
I have great respect for the credentials of the author, Kelsey Johnson, so I can only guess that some errors I'm finding are editor/publisher/non-science person.
Still, to date we have only managed to get to the moon a couple times in the middle of last century..
"Couple"?
I asked Siri, which tells me: "There have been six crewed landing on the moon between 1969 and 1972, and numerous uncrewed landings"
If the Sun were the size of a grapefruit, the Earth would be roughly the size of one of those little round sprinkles you might put on cupcakes.
"Sprinkles"???
Drake Equation
ne - Fraction of these planets that have a habitable environment.
Wiki...
R∗ = the average rate of star formation in our Galaxy.
fp = the fraction of those stars that have planets.
ne = the average number of planets that can potentially support life per star that has planets.
fl = the fraction of planets that could support life that actually develop life at some point.
fi = the fraction of planets with life that go on to develop intelligent life (civilizations).
fc = the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space.
L = the length of time for which such civilizations release detectable signals into space.
I GUARANTEE you that Kelsey Johnson knows that ne is a NUMBER and not a FRACTION. This is like saying pi=3.15
As a teacher, I recall reviewing an IB Physics textbook to see if it might work with my class. I quickly discovered a couple letters missing from the greek alphabet in chapter 1. They got the speed of light wrong by multiple digits.
The good/bad thing about science books is that you can't usually find great science editors. So the books tend to be left alone in the voice of the writer. If you've ever seen these authors speak in an interview, or public lecture, you recognize their 'voice' in their writing. The bad thing can be that these scientists might not know how to structure a book appropriate for sales, so surely some editing is necessary. But leave the science alone.
Again - Kelsey Johnson did NOT possibly write "Fraction" for ne in the Drake equation. (Equation on page 101, explanation of ne on 103).
Now, I greatly worry what else the editor/publisher has 'tweaked'. Almost DNF right here.
The book has bothered me with more items:
- Lots of funny/quippy/sarcastic little comments that I suppose is trying be palsy to the lay-people that are new to Cosmology. But the Catch-22 here is that you don't fully get the joke because you don't understand Cosmology. However, you can kind-of tell that something funny was stated, and you simply didn't "get it". This can make you feel worse!
I did like how Kelsey talked about her young experience being taken on a class trip to a university and seeing real college professors talking about complex topics. She thereafter answered the question of "What do want to be when you grow up?" with: "An Astrophysicist".
And talking about how after 10 years of education and degrees, she was still left wondering those same child-like questions: "Does intelligent life exist outside the Earth?", etc. Universities tend to overly focus on things like "What temperature is a star?" and "How many light years to the next galaxy?". They end up studying the proverbial trees, instead of the forest.
But then the book chapter order goes:
Ch1: A Little Perspective - OK, a bit of what this book is about
Ch 2.. (I'll tell you in a minute)
Ch 3: What caused the Big Bang?
Ch 4: Does Extraterrestrial Life Exist?
...
Ch 2: "What is knowledge?"
So in this chapter, we dive off into asking if we can prove 1+1=2. I totally understand that we really have to be skeptical and questioning of our knowledge. But this book is for non-astro-majors who want to dive into Ch 3, 4, etc. I think the words of skepticism can be imbeded inside each of the chapters as those topics are talked about. But 26 pages here on the philosophy of knowledge is going to lose readers. Maybe this could/should have been in an appendix? Or like I said, remind the reader in each chapter that these big questions being asked don't yet have 100.00% definitive answers.
Ch 5, What are Dark Matter and Dark Energy
pg 128 we don't think this stuff interacts with light at all
followed quickly by proof that dark matter exists because it bends light (gravitational lens).
Serious editor error using the word "interact"
While I liked that this book did not shy away from putting in multiple equations, I did not think the equations were carefully reviewed. Focus on a single term going up/down tended to be the trend.
The space/time diagram is never put in a beginner/layman type of book. Bold to do this. I don't think it was explained clearly enough though.
pg 194 The next option ins the holographic principle (aka anti-de Sitter/conformal field theory correspondence, aka AdS/CFT). Sorry about the jargon, but if you want to crash a physics party, mention "AdS/CFT" at the door, and they host will assume you are a card-carrying member.
How does this mention of Ads/CFT not have a footnote w/ references in the appendix???
Ch 6 "What Happens Inside a Black Hole"
I do like that the author admits to being gutsy with the topics in this book:
pg 199Most self-respecting physicists I know just stop talking about black holes at this point and for good reason - we know we don't know what happens. Acknowledging that stupidity and bravery can look very similar, I'm going to keep going, in part because this is where things get really interesting - if I stopped writing every time we hit the boundary of what we know, the title of this book would need to be something more like 'Things We Can Empirically Test About the Cosmos'. Besides, to quote once more the second law of the late Arthur C. Clarke, "The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible."
Ch 7 "What is the Nature of Time?"
We see the Schrodinger wave equation, and talk of CPT (Charge, Parity, Time). This is a deep chapter that deserves its own book. Sub-topic of "Topology of Time" starts a paragraph heading mid-chapter.
Ch 8 Are There Hidden Dimensions
Grad-school physic level discussions here. Nice to bring up these topics, but if this strong of a topic is to be included, then STOP with all the funny quips/remarks like this is a beginner/layman book.
Ch 9 "What Determines the Laws of Nature?"
I liked the Conway's Game of Life discussion, showing how initial conditions greatly influence 'the game' as time goes on.
Try: https://playgameoflife.com/ to run a simulation.
But then when the four forces of nature were talked about (Gravity, Electromagnetism, Strong, Weak), I was let down by the lack of depth here.
I did like seeing her open attitude toward talking about possible higher power or intelligence:
I think this philosophical conundrum does prove there is an aspect of the cosmos (which may or may not include a higher power) that defies current human logic and comprehension. This should not really be a surprise if we have an ounce of humility about our own intellectual ability - just because we might be the most intelligent species on this planet does not imply we represent the pinnacle of intelligence, nor that we are able to understand everything about reality, try as we might.
Ch 10 "Is the Universe Fine-Tuned?"
You need to be a physics major to appreciate this chapter. The author admits that people may know the speed of light (299,792,458 m/s) is constant, but WHY is it this number? Why are any of the constants inside the front cover of a physics textbook at the values that they are? What happens if they change by a small %?
Again, a whole book needs to be written on this topic. I don't need/want footnote #2 that takes me to the back of the book, to read:
2. If you don't actually have a good physics book, you should have one on your shelf. You never know when you might need it. If nothing else, they are really good for pressing flowers.
Most of the footnotes in this book lead to very technical and very recent research articles in journals. But I'm NOT a fan of funny footnotes in such a technical book.
Ch 11 "What is Our Place in the Universe"
I do like that the author truly wishes everyone would take more time to think about these larger questions. I personally find it amazing how studying such a technical subject like astrophysics can lead to the very philosophical thoughts about meaning of life.
I browse the New Nonfiction section of my local public library every week. I always examine new books with Dewey Decimal 500-599 (math/science). Upon picking up this book, I skimmed it and immediately saw some intimidating equations (second order partial differential equations, 3-D complex topographic images), so I think anyone else picking up a book like this will either:
1) Grab it (like me) because I like more complex books that don't fear putting in the math
2) Immediately put it back on the shelf per math complexity.
So, since this book quickly sorts to people liking the complexity, I really don't think this group likes to have funny quips and slightly sarcastic remarks CONSTANTLY throughout the book. Just when an explanation needed the technical aspect to be unleashed, a funny remark about the complexity was given, and then it was on to the next topic.
I really struggled to finish this book, and that is VERY unlike me per my love of physics.
Still, I think I'd love to sit in on one of her classes at UVA (University of Virginia), or attend any lecture/conference where she is speaking.
I just think that if the topics chosen of this strength (solidly above non-layman) then a more serious tone should have been reflected throughout the book.
3.5*
dnf
October 11, 2025Extremely off putting (to me) writing style. I came for hard science, and unfortunately it was buried under too much of philosophizing I wasn’t into.
November 16, 2024
I have now read this book twice, and it is likely that I will read many parts of it again. Kelsey grapples with big questions, gives us the science we need to accompany her on the journey, and leaves us with curiosity, awe, and a greater understanding of the universe.
Plus it is an enjoyable read! I need a good yarn for any information to stick these days, and this book is filled with playful anecdotes, everyday accounts (oh gosh, it’s great to learn science from a scientist who is also a mom!), & thoughtful remembrances.
Plus it is an enjoyable read! I need a good yarn for any information to stick these days, and this book is filled with playful anecdotes, everyday accounts (oh gosh, it’s great to learn science from a scientist who is also a mom!), & thoughtful remembrances.
April 6, 2025
I found this book through attending a panel discussion that included the author. Presented by the Harvard book store it featured 3 astronomers to discuss the frontiers of Cosmology. I was moved by the event and felt I should purchase the book. Avi Loeb another panel member known for his “crazy” ideas was the star of the show to me, it seemed he himself was alien and had another digit of IQ to work with.
My original review was much longer but decided to keep it short. Others have done a reasonable job at discussing the contents. The book is clearly in the popular science realm, flirting with an academic style. Having said that it is approachable by anyone.
With the risk of proselytizing, I would encourage everyone to find a dark clear night and just spend an hour looking at the stars. Most everything you see is a star in our galaxy, if you are fortunate enough to be a very dark place perhaps you can see the milky way, our galaxy. Just remember there are another 2 trillion or so more galaxies in the observable universe. Bonus points if you take a kid with you.
My original review was much longer but decided to keep it short. Others have done a reasonable job at discussing the contents. The book is clearly in the popular science realm, flirting with an academic style. Having said that it is approachable by anyone.
With the risk of proselytizing, I would encourage everyone to find a dark clear night and just spend an hour looking at the stars. Most everything you see is a star in our galaxy, if you are fortunate enough to be a very dark place perhaps you can see the milky way, our galaxy. Just remember there are another 2 trillion or so more galaxies in the observable universe. Bonus points if you take a kid with you.
June 17, 2025
These are the kinds of books I enjoy the most—they keep me going with my reading habit. I especially appreciated both the parts I was already familiar with and the ones that introduced me to new ideas.
For example, I found the explanation of the zero-energy universe hypothesis fascinating. It suggests that gravity acts as a balancing force against the positive energy of matter and radiation. The total energy of the universe could be zero—not because something came from nothing, but because it's a perfectly balanced arrangement. The mystery lies in understanding how this balance is structured.
I also learned about Saccorhytus, a tiny creature from the Cambrian era, which is believed to have lived without an anus! Fascinating and completely unexpected.
The author narrated the audiobook herself, and her voice is plain, simple, and homely. It felt like one of my close relatives was telling me a story—someone I know well and trust. The book is well-organized, with chapters that flow smoothly, and I loved the way she explained both the known and the unknown. I could listen to books like this all day long.
Kelsey, I loved your book. The end note of this book is awesome!
For example, I found the explanation of the zero-energy universe hypothesis fascinating. It suggests that gravity acts as a balancing force against the positive energy of matter and radiation. The total energy of the universe could be zero—not because something came from nothing, but because it's a perfectly balanced arrangement. The mystery lies in understanding how this balance is structured.
I also learned about Saccorhytus, a tiny creature from the Cambrian era, which is believed to have lived without an anus! Fascinating and completely unexpected.
The author narrated the audiobook herself, and her voice is plain, simple, and homely. It felt like one of my close relatives was telling me a story—someone I know well and trust. The book is well-organized, with chapters that flow smoothly, and I loved the way she explained both the known and the unknown. I could listen to books like this all day long.
Kelsey, I loved your book. The end note of this book is awesome!
November 9, 2024
This is an excellent book of you have ever had any questions about the universe. Dr. Johnson takes pains to make everything accessible on the best vein of popular science.
It is quite evident that she wants to bring you along on the journey, whether or not you consider yourself a seasoned scientist, an interested amateur, or a curious novice. Her ability to interject personality and humor into the text keeps it from becoming a slog even though she is presenting concepts most readers might not have broached before. You can tell she has experience with undergraduate education and she hopes you will really put in effort to understand. Not because you have to or feel you ought to, but because you want to know what’s happening in the universe, in science as it stands now and where it’s going.
I love how she interjects where science might soon pass our current understanding as she explains it, where she interjects her wonder about the universe, but how she also always circles back to what we know, how we know it, and where science might venture next.
It is quite evident that she wants to bring you along on the journey, whether or not you consider yourself a seasoned scientist, an interested amateur, or a curious novice. Her ability to interject personality and humor into the text keeps it from becoming a slog even though she is presenting concepts most readers might not have broached before. You can tell she has experience with undergraduate education and she hopes you will really put in effort to understand. Not because you have to or feel you ought to, but because you want to know what’s happening in the universe, in science as it stands now and where it’s going.
I love how she interjects where science might soon pass our current understanding as she explains it, where she interjects her wonder about the universe, but how she also always circles back to what we know, how we know it, and where science might venture next.
May 12, 2025
This book is one of the best that I have read this year, and it is about astrophysics. It's incredible. I love her writing and the way she has a sense of the awe and wonder along with the science. It's so great because Dr. Johnson makes her science accessible. I cannot recommend this enough for anyone who like me shares an interest where science crosses with spirituality or a sense of the sacred. It is also a particularly compelling read for any young budding female scientists. She shares her story from early on to her life now as an established astrophysicist. She can walk you through equations which show the likelihood of extraterrestrial life. She encourages curiosity and critical thinking, emphasizing that science is about questioning assumptions and continuously refining our understanding of reality. It's such a wonderful example of writing, you will forget you are reading about physics.
January 15, 2025
Kelsey Johnson's "Into the Unknown" offers an astonishingly clear, enjoyable, humorous, and thought-provoking perspective on what we do, and do not, know about our place in our Universe.
I, like Kelsey, am a professor and an astrophysicist. During my three decades of research and teaching at Harvard, I've become more and more interested in how people -- scientists and the lay public -- think about science. Kelsey and I know that science is fun, that it's messy, and that *good* scientists perpetually leave their minds open to change in light of new evidence or better ideas. Many in the public, on the other hand, often see science as a dull, math-driven, linear march toward things that might produce some useful technologies.
What this book does so extraordinarily well is to show HOW a good scientist, in contemplating and explaining some very complex concepts (think string theory), seeks to connect what she knows into a clear picture of what we do and do not (think we) understand. Other books lay out the "history" of modern physics as a chronology, where one discovery leads to another. But, in "Into the Unknown," ideas are woven together using a narrative approach that draws as much on philosophy and storytelling as it does on the logic of science. The result is the most engaging scientific non-fiction book I have read in years--and I read MANY of these.
"Into the Unknown'" is drawn from Prof. Johnson's popular undergraduate class at the University of Virginia, and her brilliant pedagogy carries over well to the book. The narrative--which is also terrific as an audiobook read by the author--foreshadows the importance of concepts to which it will return later, and reminds the reader of the importance of material discussed earlier, in exactly the way a great and friendly teacher would.
In my Harvard course on "Prediction: The Past and Present of the Future," I will use "Into the Unknown's" discussion of how our Universe's single dimension of time, alongside three of space, leads to an understanding of causality that could be completely different in alternative Universes with more or fewer dimensions of time and space. If we're lucky, the author will visit us in Cambridge to extend the discussion in person!
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Readers with even a tiny interest in the intersection of science and philosophy will speed through its humorous and engaging contemplation of wonder, awe, math, physics, humanity, and the unknown the way they would a great novel. "Into the Unknown" lets us feel proud that humans CAN contemplate their place in a Universe of which they "know" so little.
A+ Prof. Johnson!
Alyssa Goodman, Robert Wheeler Willson Professor, Harvard
I, like Kelsey, am a professor and an astrophysicist. During my three decades of research and teaching at Harvard, I've become more and more interested in how people -- scientists and the lay public -- think about science. Kelsey and I know that science is fun, that it's messy, and that *good* scientists perpetually leave their minds open to change in light of new evidence or better ideas. Many in the public, on the other hand, often see science as a dull, math-driven, linear march toward things that might produce some useful technologies.
What this book does so extraordinarily well is to show HOW a good scientist, in contemplating and explaining some very complex concepts (think string theory), seeks to connect what she knows into a clear picture of what we do and do not (think we) understand. Other books lay out the "history" of modern physics as a chronology, where one discovery leads to another. But, in "Into the Unknown," ideas are woven together using a narrative approach that draws as much on philosophy and storytelling as it does on the logic of science. The result is the most engaging scientific non-fiction book I have read in years--and I read MANY of these.
"Into the Unknown'" is drawn from Prof. Johnson's popular undergraduate class at the University of Virginia, and her brilliant pedagogy carries over well to the book. The narrative--which is also terrific as an audiobook read by the author--foreshadows the importance of concepts to which it will return later, and reminds the reader of the importance of material discussed earlier, in exactly the way a great and friendly teacher would.
In my Harvard course on "Prediction: The Past and Present of the Future," I will use "Into the Unknown's" discussion of how our Universe's single dimension of time, alongside three of space, leads to an understanding of causality that could be completely different in alternative Universes with more or fewer dimensions of time and space. If we're lucky, the author will visit us in Cambridge to extend the discussion in person!
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Readers with even a tiny interest in the intersection of science and philosophy will speed through its humorous and engaging contemplation of wonder, awe, math, physics, humanity, and the unknown the way they would a great novel. "Into the Unknown" lets us feel proud that humans CAN contemplate their place in a Universe of which they "know" so little.
A+ Prof. Johnson!
Alyssa Goodman, Robert Wheeler Willson Professor, Harvard
June 12, 2025
Johnson aims to disrupt the nonchalance with which everyone puts out of mind the remaining mysteries of the universe. She presents the leading theories for such things as time, the fundamental particles of matter and the underlying forces that govern the universe and even existence itself. She communicates how much humanity knows, how much is still unknown and just how crazy the real answers could be. While her aim to get the reader to confront astrophysical mysteries is achieved, a secondary aim, to get them to care, is much less successful.
October 10, 2025
Book Review: Into the Unknown by Kelsey Johnson — 87%
Kelsey Johnson’s Into the Unknown manages to strike that rare balance between accessibility and genuine curiosity about the universe. It’s a book that invites you to think beyond what’s already been thought — though sometimes, it gets tangled in the very limits of the models it presents.
Johnson explores how science pushes at the edges of what we know: AI, the structure of space and time, the microscopic order of matter, and the evolutionary ingenuity of life. She touches on some fascinating points — like how AI in classrooms blurs the line between learning and problem-solving. That part hit home for me, especially after my daughter figured out how to bypass the tedious math in pixel-work exercises by reverse-engineering the code behind them. That’s the real lesson of AI — not cheating, but learning to think like a system designer. Understanding the rules so deeply that you can see around them. As long as you still know the math, as she does, I call that intelligence in action.
The book’s strength lies in sparking questions that refuse to stay small. For instance, Johnson describes how the universe was “allowed to expand” because “no information was being transferred.” That statement exposes a major philosophical rift in modern cosmology — one that cannot be patched with semantics. Because space itself is information. Every curve, every quantum fluctuation, every metric parameter is part of an informational fabric. When that fabric expands, information is moving, evolving, and being reconfigured. Saying “no information was transferred” is like claiming the ocean flowed but no water moved.
This point unravels the convenient fiction behind inflationary cosmology. If the speed of light defines the maximum rate at which information can propagate, yet the universe’s expansion outpaces it, then the only escape hatch is to admit the environment itself was changing the rules. In other words: during cosmic inflation, the universe was in sandbox mode — defining its own constants as it went. The speed of light wasn’t violated; it was being written. That’s how reality bootstrapped itself. The physicists’ “no violation” defense works only because they freeze the background, like a spherical cow in a vacuum. But in the real system, the pasture moved, not the cow. That’s how the Big Bang managed its trick.
The same kind of conceptual wobble shows up when Johnson talks about time: she says there aren’t “different directions” of time, only “branches.” But that’s a distinction without a difference. A branch is a direction — just one embedded in a higher-dimensional temporal topology. She almost reaches the heart of the matter but stops just before admitting that branching timelines imply a multidirectional time geometry — an informational manifold where continuity and causality are locally defined, not absolute.
Her aside about quark “colors” is another example of language tripping over metaphor. “Color” in quantum chromodynamics has nothing to do with visible light; it’s an abstract label for a kind of charge that obeys the mathematics of the SU(3) symmetry group. Quarks come in three such “colors” — red, green, and blue — because combining all three yields a color-neutral particle, just as combining visible light does white. It’s a naming convention, not a literal hue. Confusing? Certainly. But it’s an elegant way to keep track of how the strong force binds the universe together, one mathematically balanced symmetry at a time.
Even her smaller facts, like “ants don’t have lungs,” sharpen that same sense of alien normalcy — a reminder that life, physics, and intelligence all evolve toward efficiency, not familiarity.
So, Johnson’s Into the Unknown succeeds in doing what pop science rarely accomplishes: it provokes genuine philosophical engagement. It reminds you that the universe isn’t static, that our rules are context-dependent, and that true learning — whether it’s a kid dissecting the code behind her math homework or a physicist redefining causality — means seeing the system from above.
Rating: 87%.
Conceptually rich, occasionally imprecise, but ultimately worth the thought it provokes. It doesn’t just tell you about the unknown — it forces you to recognize how much of what we call “known” is still under construction.
Kelsey Johnson’s Into the Unknown manages to strike that rare balance between accessibility and genuine curiosity about the universe. It’s a book that invites you to think beyond what’s already been thought — though sometimes, it gets tangled in the very limits of the models it presents.
Johnson explores how science pushes at the edges of what we know: AI, the structure of space and time, the microscopic order of matter, and the evolutionary ingenuity of life. She touches on some fascinating points — like how AI in classrooms blurs the line between learning and problem-solving. That part hit home for me, especially after my daughter figured out how to bypass the tedious math in pixel-work exercises by reverse-engineering the code behind them. That’s the real lesson of AI — not cheating, but learning to think like a system designer. Understanding the rules so deeply that you can see around them. As long as you still know the math, as she does, I call that intelligence in action.
The book’s strength lies in sparking questions that refuse to stay small. For instance, Johnson describes how the universe was “allowed to expand” because “no information was being transferred.” That statement exposes a major philosophical rift in modern cosmology — one that cannot be patched with semantics. Because space itself is information. Every curve, every quantum fluctuation, every metric parameter is part of an informational fabric. When that fabric expands, information is moving, evolving, and being reconfigured. Saying “no information was transferred” is like claiming the ocean flowed but no water moved.
This point unravels the convenient fiction behind inflationary cosmology. If the speed of light defines the maximum rate at which information can propagate, yet the universe’s expansion outpaces it, then the only escape hatch is to admit the environment itself was changing the rules. In other words: during cosmic inflation, the universe was in sandbox mode — defining its own constants as it went. The speed of light wasn’t violated; it was being written. That’s how reality bootstrapped itself. The physicists’ “no violation” defense works only because they freeze the background, like a spherical cow in a vacuum. But in the real system, the pasture moved, not the cow. That’s how the Big Bang managed its trick.
The same kind of conceptual wobble shows up when Johnson talks about time: she says there aren’t “different directions” of time, only “branches.” But that’s a distinction without a difference. A branch is a direction — just one embedded in a higher-dimensional temporal topology. She almost reaches the heart of the matter but stops just before admitting that branching timelines imply a multidirectional time geometry — an informational manifold where continuity and causality are locally defined, not absolute.
Her aside about quark “colors” is another example of language tripping over metaphor. “Color” in quantum chromodynamics has nothing to do with visible light; it’s an abstract label for a kind of charge that obeys the mathematics of the SU(3) symmetry group. Quarks come in three such “colors” — red, green, and blue — because combining all three yields a color-neutral particle, just as combining visible light does white. It’s a naming convention, not a literal hue. Confusing? Certainly. But it’s an elegant way to keep track of how the strong force binds the universe together, one mathematically balanced symmetry at a time.
Even her smaller facts, like “ants don’t have lungs,” sharpen that same sense of alien normalcy — a reminder that life, physics, and intelligence all evolve toward efficiency, not familiarity.
So, Johnson’s Into the Unknown succeeds in doing what pop science rarely accomplishes: it provokes genuine philosophical engagement. It reminds you that the universe isn’t static, that our rules are context-dependent, and that true learning — whether it’s a kid dissecting the code behind her math homework or a physicist redefining causality — means seeing the system from above.
Rating: 87%.
Conceptually rich, occasionally imprecise, but ultimately worth the thought it provokes. It doesn’t just tell you about the unknown — it forces you to recognize how much of what we call “known” is still under construction.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2025
I've long had a fascination with this subject matter and this book does a great job at addressing various "big questions" involving life and existence coming from a scientific approach, while still acknowledging there are some things we don't know and may be beyond our capacity to know. I like how Johnson approaches each issue covering what we think we know and why we think we know it before diving into what we don't know, but still investigating possible solutions without claiming to be able to give definitive answers. And some things just seem to be truly weird and may not have answers that we can understand at our current intellectual/evolutionary development or ever. Even the most fundamental of concepts are unfathomably strange, such as why is there something instead of nothing?
Back around 1998, I got really obsessed with questions like these to the point of feeling a little paralyzed in my daily life. I suppose it was a full-blown existential crisis. I was banging my head against the wall wondering things like where the universe came from, and if the answer is God, then where did God from? Did there used to be absolutely nothing and then spontaneously something came out of it? If so, how did that happen? Or conversely has something always existed? If that's the case, that's mind-boggling, too. It used to be fun to sort of puzzle over questions like these, and then put them aside and go on with daily life, but for some reason around that time it became a little all-consuming to me. Eventually, I was able to accept that there are some things that we can't know the answer to, and I can enjoy occasionally puzzling over this stuff again, but I wish I had been able to read this book back then. I sometimes had a hard time back then articulating things that were making my brain hurt and I think this book does a really good job at that, and it would have been helpful to see someone else addressing the same questions I had, even if the conclusion is inevitably "we don't know." I always found the "we don't know" part unsatisfactory, but it's simply a fact and you ultimately have to accept it. Also, isn't the universe more interesting when it contains mysteries? Life would probably be pretty boring if we knew everything.
Back around 1998, I got really obsessed with questions like these to the point of feeling a little paralyzed in my daily life. I suppose it was a full-blown existential crisis. I was banging my head against the wall wondering things like where the universe came from, and if the answer is God, then where did God from? Did there used to be absolutely nothing and then spontaneously something came out of it? If so, how did that happen? Or conversely has something always existed? If that's the case, that's mind-boggling, too. It used to be fun to sort of puzzle over questions like these, and then put them aside and go on with daily life, but for some reason around that time it became a little all-consuming to me. Eventually, I was able to accept that there are some things that we can't know the answer to, and I can enjoy occasionally puzzling over this stuff again, but I wish I had been able to read this book back then. I sometimes had a hard time back then articulating things that were making my brain hurt and I think this book does a really good job at that, and it would have been helpful to see someone else addressing the same questions I had, even if the conclusion is inevitably "we don't know." I always found the "we don't know" part unsatisfactory, but it's simply a fact and you ultimately have to accept it. Also, isn't the universe more interesting when it contains mysteries? Life would probably be pretty boring if we knew everything.
August 22, 2025
Into the Unknown is a disjointed attempt to bridge the chasm between cutting-edge physics and a general audience. Although Kelsey Johnson is certainly qualified to write on the topic, it occasionally seems like something she is targeting for her college level Intro to Physics freshmen even though these topics, and especially the cutting edge "Into the Unknown" of our knowledge on the topics, tends to be more subject material for graduate level physics classes. For those who feel the book beyond them, Johnson should be admired for her honest and personal approach, sharing anecdotes about her life and career that make the complex subject matter feel more human and accessible. So we are dealing with a book in the popular science realm tackling topics that belong in different space.
This duality in tone is both the book's greatest asset and its most significant liability. On one hand, many will find the author's personality, playful humor, and thoughtful remembrances to be a refreshing way to learn science. This approach makes the journey an enjoyable one, keeping the book from becoming a "slog" and helping the information "stick." Conversely, others will see this same style jarring and even condescending, with frequent "jokes" that might make one wonder if Kelsey is really a dad, not a mom. For those who are more familiar with the subject, you will probably catch several small errors that are probably the fault of an editor or maybe a ghost writer. I was reading an advance copy so hopefully some of these will be caught and corrected.
Ultimately, the book's true value lies not in its flawless execution or its ability to serve as a definitive textbook, but in its capacity to inspire awe and intellectual curiosity. It is an excellent read for anyone who has read Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of Time" or maybe Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" and would like something current and perhaps a little deeper. The author excels at articulating the very mysteries that confound us, moving from what we know to what we don't know, and honestly acknowledging that some questions may be forever beyond our comprehension. The book succeeds as a guide to the journey of scientific inquiry itself, reminding us that the universe is far more interesting for its beautiful and enduring strangeness.
This duality in tone is both the book's greatest asset and its most significant liability. On one hand, many will find the author's personality, playful humor, and thoughtful remembrances to be a refreshing way to learn science. This approach makes the journey an enjoyable one, keeping the book from becoming a "slog" and helping the information "stick." Conversely, others will see this same style jarring and even condescending, with frequent "jokes" that might make one wonder if Kelsey is really a dad, not a mom. For those who are more familiar with the subject, you will probably catch several small errors that are probably the fault of an editor or maybe a ghost writer. I was reading an advance copy so hopefully some of these will be caught and corrected.
Ultimately, the book's true value lies not in its flawless execution or its ability to serve as a definitive textbook, but in its capacity to inspire awe and intellectual curiosity. It is an excellent read for anyone who has read Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of Time" or maybe Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" and would like something current and perhaps a little deeper. The author excels at articulating the very mysteries that confound us, moving from what we know to what we don't know, and honestly acknowledging that some questions may be forever beyond our comprehension. The book succeeds as a guide to the journey of scientific inquiry itself, reminding us that the universe is far more interesting for its beautiful and enduring strangeness.
May 5, 2025
The universe is full of mysteries. That is not a surprising statement at all. What are these mysteries, how does the universe itself work, what is the universe made up of. Now those are matters worthy of the attention of a highly qualified astronomer who is also able to write in an understandable manner for the general reader. And that combination is what we have in this new book by Kelsey Johnson. She is a scholar with a PhD degree in astronomy, a professor at the University of Virginia, and the past president of the American Astronomical Society. She is also a very good writer fully understanding that the majority of her readers will have varying to none knowledge of astronomy. She is able to tackle some of astronomy's greatest challenges: what was the Big Bang; does extraterrestrial life exist; what is dark matter and dark energy; what happens inside a black hole; what is time and are there other dimensions; and what really are the laws of nature. Johnson says these are true mysteries, and that she does not have the final answer for any of them. She actually begins her book with a chapter exploring the basic idea of knowledge and how we can actually know anything for certain. In this respect, Johnson is very much in the same vein as Alan Lightman in his recent book The Shape of Wonder authored with Martin Rees. Lightman is a scholar of both physics and the humanities. Johnson's approach is really a humanist one setting out how man actually knows anything about the universe and how much is it possible that man can fully learn. This is a very good book to read. It is one written by a talented and approachable writer on a topic that has both historic and universal appeal. Yes, I highly recommend this book.
July 1, 2025
I felt the beginning of the book and the approach was a bit elementary, but it did advance to physics that were a bit beyond me in the end. I felt all was well covered, but I wished. she had gotten a bit more into fields, which I tend to think of as fundamental. Not a physicist, not a scientist, just well read and awed by science, which I read about almost exclusively to develop my own philosophy. I feel quantum physics can provide some clues about how and why. To me uncertainty, probability, and randomness provide a very hopeful counter to fatalistic determinism. In a sense the world operates with both at the same time, just as it does with order and chaos, structure and change. It operates in a world of parameters within the possible, randomness within bounds. The probable is allowed its chance. To me, and I may have this totally wrong, quantum physics tells me there are no absolute absolutes. Absolute zero cannot be achieved. Absolute black is not possible. Absolute nothingness is not and never has been achievable. Although virtual and here and gone in an instant, popping in and out of existence, there has always been something. From where does this energy come from? No clue. From uncertainty itself I guess. Anyway, the other thing I wish to say is that I think we can have a bit clearer view of all of this if we apply a more holistic view of ourselves and the universe. It is not a separate thing from us. It is us and we are part it. Oh, one other thing. The driving force of complexity is emergent phenomena. The whole, the results, is greater than the sum of its parts. This I think is the secret to much of what we wonder about. Just an amateur but I think I'm on the right track. Check out fields and their frequencies; a fascinating topic.
March 13, 2025
Into the Unknown is a book about astrophysics and physics, but it's also much more than that. It's a book about what we know and how we know it, as well as what we don't know. It looks at the big questions, exploring them, and poking at the limits. Johnson emphasizes that we have to keep asking questions and putting forward ideas, even if right now have no way to fully test them, else we'll never stray off the path of what we already know. In the end, the book does a great job of combining science with some philosophy, particularly the philosophy of how we know things.
The books is structured to ask big questions. After an introductory chapter on "What Is Knowledge?" it continues with chapters including "What Caused the Big Bang?", "What Are Dark Matter and Dark Energy?", "What Happens Inside Black Holes?", "What Is the Nature of Time?", and "Is the Universe Fine Tuned?" As you can see, these are big questions, and we only have partial answers (if even that) to some of them.
Johnson writes in an entertaining and easy to understand style, even when she's describing complicated subjects. She uses some very good examples and analogies to make what she's describing clear, making topics like multiple dimensions easier to visualize than most other sources I've read. She also at times talks about questions she asks her students and homework she gives them, making me wish I really had a teacher like her.
This is a book whose aim is to make you think more deeply about the universe, and I recommend it highly.
The books is structured to ask big questions. After an introductory chapter on "What Is Knowledge?" it continues with chapters including "What Caused the Big Bang?", "What Are Dark Matter and Dark Energy?", "What Happens Inside Black Holes?", "What Is the Nature of Time?", and "Is the Universe Fine Tuned?" As you can see, these are big questions, and we only have partial answers (if even that) to some of them.
Johnson writes in an entertaining and easy to understand style, even when she's describing complicated subjects. She uses some very good examples and analogies to make what she's describing clear, making topics like multiple dimensions easier to visualize than most other sources I've read. She also at times talks about questions she asks her students and homework she gives them, making me wish I really had a teacher like her.
This is a book whose aim is to make you think more deeply about the universe, and I recommend it highly.
September 9, 2025
2.5
This book is a curious creature — strange in shape, and stranger still in soul. I opened its pages with the quiet hope of stargazing from the mind’s eye, of wandering through galaxies of thought guided by the light of science. Instead, I found myself drifting in a fog of musings, where facts were fleeting and personal beliefs clouded the sky.
It arrived unbidden, a gift in the post, perhaps for the role I play in the world of astronomy. I expected clarity, insight — answers or at least well-posed questions. What I found was something else entirely: a rambling stream of reflections, a patchwork of half-held notions on religion, the cosmos, and everything in between. The science — when it appeared — felt like passing constellations in a dense, uncharted nebula of sentiment.
I tried to meet the book on its own terms, to appreciate its folksy charm, its conversational tone. But when explanations came, they were so pared down, so oversimplified, they lost all depth — sometimes contradictory, often misleading, rarely illuminating. The author’s aim to make the profound accessible instead made it ephemeral and confused.
This was a book that promised the stars but gave me stardust — scattered, insubstantial, and hard to hold. Had I paid for it, I fear I’d have rated it with a single star. And yet, I feel more sadness than anger. There were great questions here, deserving of careful thought and clear light. I only wish the author had honored them with the rigor — and wonder — they deserve.
This book is a curious creature — strange in shape, and stranger still in soul. I opened its pages with the quiet hope of stargazing from the mind’s eye, of wandering through galaxies of thought guided by the light of science. Instead, I found myself drifting in a fog of musings, where facts were fleeting and personal beliefs clouded the sky.
It arrived unbidden, a gift in the post, perhaps for the role I play in the world of astronomy. I expected clarity, insight — answers or at least well-posed questions. What I found was something else entirely: a rambling stream of reflections, a patchwork of half-held notions on religion, the cosmos, and everything in between. The science — when it appeared — felt like passing constellations in a dense, uncharted nebula of sentiment.
I tried to meet the book on its own terms, to appreciate its folksy charm, its conversational tone. But when explanations came, they were so pared down, so oversimplified, they lost all depth — sometimes contradictory, often misleading, rarely illuminating. The author’s aim to make the profound accessible instead made it ephemeral and confused.
This was a book that promised the stars but gave me stardust — scattered, insubstantial, and hard to hold. Had I paid for it, I fear I’d have rated it with a single star. And yet, I feel more sadness than anger. There were great questions here, deserving of careful thought and clear light. I only wish the author had honored them with the rigor — and wonder — they deserve.
June 17, 2025
As someone who really enjoys reading about science—especially astronomy and astrophysics—I’ve come across quite a few books that tackle the “big questions about the universe and reality.” Authors like Neil deGrasse Tyson, Sean Carroll, and Daniel Whiteson have written extensively in this space, so it’s not hard to find books like Into the Unknown or others with a similar theme.
That said, I really enjoyed this book. Even though books of this kind are becoming more common, there’s always something new to learn—whether it’s a fresh perspective other authors haven’t explored or a clearer explanation of familiar concepts. For me, the standout chapters were the ones on black holes, knowledge, and the nature of what is “real.” There was a subtle philosophical undertone throughout that added a sense of mysticism to the cosmos, which I found especially engaging.
While I think Daniel Whiteson’s We Have No Idea is a stronger take on what this book set out to achieve, this was still a great read—and one I would definitely recommend.
That said, I really enjoyed this book. Even though books of this kind are becoming more common, there’s always something new to learn—whether it’s a fresh perspective other authors haven’t explored or a clearer explanation of familiar concepts. For me, the standout chapters were the ones on black holes, knowledge, and the nature of what is “real.” There was a subtle philosophical undertone throughout that added a sense of mysticism to the cosmos, which I found especially engaging.
While I think Daniel Whiteson’s We Have No Idea is a stronger take on what this book set out to achieve, this was still a great read—and one I would definitely recommend.
November 6, 2024
Thanks to Kelsey Johnson, Basic Books, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Most science books explain to us what science knows. This book takes a different track and tells us about big questions where science doesn’t have the answers. Questions like what is inside a black hole? Is there life elsewhere in the universe? Are there other dimensions and if so, what would they be like? How does time work? The current possibilities of answers to these questions and many more are discussed in a very approachable way.
This book is an excellent, readable book to help us understand some of these big questions better – but be prepared to think deeply about some engaging topics!
Most science books explain to us what science knows. This book takes a different track and tells us about big questions where science doesn’t have the answers. Questions like what is inside a black hole? Is there life elsewhere in the universe? Are there other dimensions and if so, what would they be like? How does time work? The current possibilities of answers to these questions and many more are discussed in a very approachable way.
This book is an excellent, readable book to help us understand some of these big questions better – but be prepared to think deeply about some engaging topics!
June 20, 2025
I’m giving this book 5 stars not because I’m even particularly interested in science, but because the author did a VALIANT job explaining so many mysterious and mind-blowing things about the the universe (or multiverse, or metaverse, take your pick). It took me forever to actually get through this book because I felt like each time I listened and actually stayed present, it required doing a strenuous set of cognitive push-ups. I won’t pretend I will ever fully “get” most of the things she explained, but it’s certainly not due to a lack of her trying. The chapters about time and extra dimensions were particularly mind-boggling for me. Ok, now hold my fries, I’m going to go google tesseracts and 4th dimensional Klein bottles.
July 13, 2025
If you've ever pondered the mysteries of the universe, this book will take your ponderings seriously. Johnson writes both as an accomplished scientist and a curious human and the combination is engaging and informative. As someone who took the math class for non-math majors in college, physics has never been something I've attempted to understand but this book makes complex concepts graspable. It challenges us to really ask the big questions and then not settle for overly simple answers but look head on at how much we do not know about our universe. The reader is left both knowing more and reckoning with all that remains unknown.
April 11, 2025
Explaining cosmology, quantum mechanics, and particle physics to the average person is no easy task. Dr. Johnson writes a compelling story of the mysteries of the universe, what we know and what we might learn, and what we may never know. The big question in physics seems to be related to the limits of our ability to figure it out. Studying something when you have a limited view of it and cannot step away from it, is a challenge. This is a succinct introduction into the current controversies and questions that people studying our universe are asking.
February 15, 2025
The engaging way this book is written makes it very relatable, while at the same the content is accurate and allows the reader to learn many new things. I especially liked the use of interstitions; not to mention the fact that subheadings and illustrations made the book flow well and be easy to understand. I appreciate the list of further readings at the end. Now I want to learn even more about so many topics discussed in this book, such as the four forces.
May 18, 2025
I'm retired am facility in science but entirely different field.
I try to explain things like she does. Not nearly as well. It's down to earth (sorry) entertaining and even outright funny. And boy are we really in the middle of nowhere.
And more than once I've been out in the eastern Sahara desert at night with no moon.
She can can explain that experience much better than I can. F DeWolfe Miller
I try to explain things like she does. Not nearly as well. It's down to earth (sorry) entertaining and even outright funny. And boy are we really in the middle of nowhere.
And more than once I've been out in the eastern Sahara desert at night with no moon.
She can can explain that experience much better than I can. F DeWolfe Miller
January 12, 2025
I try to read multiple science books each year to keep up with the latest discoveries, theories, etc., as well as to remind myself of things I might have forgotten, and to challenge my aging brain. And, in the case of cosmos-related subjects, to stay close to one of my first loves. Into the Unknown checks all those boxes and adds a welcome touch of humor into the mix.
July 4, 2025
I really enjoyed this Astro-physics book!
September 21, 2025
Why waste time and space discussing theology or philosophy? This ought to be a book about natural science.
February 5, 2025
Quick and lucid
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