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Cosmic Collisions
Cosmic Collisions: Supergiant vs. Neutron Star
Two massive stars face off, ready to tussle! Who will prevail? Readers get the stats from an expert astrophysicist and make their predictions before the final exciting KA-PLOOSH!
It’s time for the next round of outer-space, crash-and-smash fun, and this matchup is colossal! Two red supergiants are facing each other, ready for a scuffle. Each cranks out 100,000 times as much power as the Sun. (Don’t get too close or you’ll roast like a weenie in a campfire.) These mighty stars are equally matched, so either could come out on top—but hold on! One of the contenders has just exploded! And it’s left behind a neutron star with supernova energy. Now who will be left standing after this interstellar smackdown? It’s another collision of cosmic proportions in this fast-paced, fact-packed series, crammed with science, peppy illustrations, and the infectious energy of a live sporting event. Back matter provides even more info for curious fans.
It’s time for the next round of outer-space, crash-and-smash fun, and this matchup is colossal! Two red supergiants are facing each other, ready for a scuffle. Each cranks out 100,000 times as much power as the Sun. (Don’t get too close or you’ll roast like a weenie in a campfire.) These mighty stars are equally matched, so either could come out on top—but hold on! One of the contenders has just exploded! And it’s left behind a neutron star with supernova energy. Now who will be left standing after this interstellar smackdown? It’s another collision of cosmic proportions in this fast-paced, fact-packed series, crammed with science, peppy illustrations, and the infectious energy of a live sporting event. Back matter provides even more info for curious fans.
- GenresNonfiction
48 pages, Hardcover
Published April 15, 2025
6 people want to read
About the author
Marc J. Kuchner
5 books9 followersFriendly neighborhood astrophysicist and book lover here.
I earned a Ph.D. in astronomy in 2001 from Caltech. I’ve worked as an astrophysicist for Harvard, Princeton and NASA. Then, a few years later, younger scientists started asking me to mentor them. But I didn’t know how. So I collected all the advice I could and turned it into my first book: Marketing for Scientists: How to Shine In Tough Times (Island Press 2011).
Now I have two fascinating children, so I write books for them–and any other children that might wander by. My first experiment with kidlit is the new Cosmic Collisions series (MIT Kids). These books challenge you to hypothesize what will happen when two astronomical objects slam together. Read on, watch the collision unfold, and see if you guessed right!
I earned a Ph.D. in astronomy in 2001 from Caltech. I’ve worked as an astrophysicist for Harvard, Princeton and NASA. Then, a few years later, younger scientists started asking me to mentor them. But I didn’t know how. So I collected all the advice I could and turned it into my first book: Marketing for Scientists: How to Shine In Tough Times (Island Press 2011).
Now I have two fascinating children, so I write books for them–and any other children that might wander by. My first experiment with kidlit is the new Cosmic Collisions series (MIT Kids). These books challenge you to hypothesize what will happen when two astronomical objects slam together. Read on, watch the collision unfold, and see if you guessed right!
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 8, 2025
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
After the tense battle of Cosmic Collisions: Asteroid vs. Comet, Dr. Marc. Kuchner, an astrophysicist, is back with another supposed altercation. In a knock down, drag out fight, who would be the winner: a supergiant or a neutron star? It there were two red supergiants, but one exploded, what would happen?
Giving great descriptions of the contenders and also their place in the universe, with plenty of statistics, this also has a lot of humor. In describing the heat of a supergiant, we find out that it has 100,000 as much power as our Sun and that we "would roast like a weenie dropped in a campfire"! Additional important information, such as an explanation of nuclear fusion, is also shared.
There is some guessing involved, since a note at the back explains that there has never been a head on collision like th one in this story. It is a good way to explore lots of different topics, however, and the narration makes this science engaging.
Spaced obsessed kids will turn to this epic battle again and again, and it's a great addition to a constellation of space books that includes Morancy's How to Survive on the Moon: Lunar Lessons from a Rocket Scientist, de la Bedoyere My First Guide to Space, Vavagiakis (I'm a Black Hole (Meet the Universe), and Hodgson's When Moon Became the Moon.
After the tense battle of Cosmic Collisions: Asteroid vs. Comet, Dr. Marc. Kuchner, an astrophysicist, is back with another supposed altercation. In a knock down, drag out fight, who would be the winner: a supergiant or a neutron star? It there were two red supergiants, but one exploded, what would happen?
Giving great descriptions of the contenders and also their place in the universe, with plenty of statistics, this also has a lot of humor. In describing the heat of a supergiant, we find out that it has 100,000 as much power as our Sun and that we "would roast like a weenie dropped in a campfire"! Additional important information, such as an explanation of nuclear fusion, is also shared.
There is some guessing involved, since a note at the back explains that there has never been a head on collision like th one in this story. It is a good way to explore lots of different topics, however, and the narration makes this science engaging.
Spaced obsessed kids will turn to this epic battle again and again, and it's a great addition to a constellation of space books that includes Morancy's How to Survive on the Moon: Lunar Lessons from a Rocket Scientist, de la Bedoyere My First Guide to Space, Vavagiakis (I'm a Black Hole (Meet the Universe), and Hodgson's When Moon Became the Moon.
April 10, 2025
Got an aspiring astronomer in your life? This is the book for them! My nine-year-old is well past learning the solar system basics, so we are actively looking for energetic and engaging books to continue her passion for all things space. The discovery of the "Cosmic Collisons" series has been such a gift. This is totally up our alley! While most of her classmates don't know what she's talking about when she mentions Betelgeuse, this book not only makes a reference to the red supergiant she adores, but takes off like a rocket with all sorts of intruging facts about supergiants and neutron stars that I know she'll eagerly devour. This book doesn't talk down to kids, but engages space hungry young explorers where they are, while challenging them to dive deeper into their passion. The text is lively and engaging, I often found myself chuckling and smiling. The illustrations are vibrant and fun, pairing perfectly with the text.
April 16, 2025
Two stars get ready to battle it out. They’re red supergiants, each far bigger than our Sun. Weaving between action and (very cool) science, Kuchner explains nuclear fusion in accessible terms—and impressive feat. As the author explains the science, he continually brings it back to the reader. For example, hydrogen crashing together to make helium like what we fill a party balloon with.
The drama continues with the two “big red fluffy mammer jammers.” Suddenly, whomp, a supernova occurs. “Great galactic gobstoppers!”—this book is EXCITING. Kucher uses the setup of a competition and plenty of humor to explain such things as supernova kicks, gravity, mass (200 septillion cheeseburgers anyone?), plasma, quark matter, strange matter and more. Wow! Add that to Schu’s vibrant and often labelled illustrations and here’s astrophysics explained in a very engaging and user-friendly way. Kudos to both of these creators for this fascinating and fun book!
The drama continues with the two “big red fluffy mammer jammers.” Suddenly, whomp, a supernova occurs. “Great galactic gobstoppers!”—this book is EXCITING. Kucher uses the setup of a competition and plenty of humor to explain such things as supernova kicks, gravity, mass (200 septillion cheeseburgers anyone?), plasma, quark matter, strange matter and more. Wow! Add that to Schu’s vibrant and often labelled illustrations and here’s astrophysics explained in a very engaging and user-friendly way. Kudos to both of these creators for this fascinating and fun book!
March 31, 2025
This is the second one of these I've seen (the other is Asteroid vs. Comet) from MIT Kids Press written by Dr. Marc Kuchner, and I love them!
The illustrations by Matt Schu really bring Dr. Kuchner's story to life. It's told as an adventure that the reader is in on, and it's a great way to explore space.
The books are in a conversational tone that's very approachable, even though there is legit science here.
Highly recommended for classroom and home libraries!
Note: I was given a review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
The illustrations by Matt Schu really bring Dr. Kuchner's story to life. It's told as an adventure that the reader is in on, and it's a great way to explore space.
The books are in a conversational tone that's very approachable, even though there is legit science here.
Highly recommended for classroom and home libraries!
Note: I was given a review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
January 16, 2025
This is a highly engaging STEM title with vibrant illustrations! The humorous main narrative reads like the commentary of a fight in which a supergiant and a neutron star are competing – who will win? This is such a fun way for kids to learn about astronomy. Fascinating fact boxes further explain tricky concepts such as nuclei, nuclear fusion, tidal forces, relative speed, pulsars and more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it for budding young astronomers, schools, and libraries.
March 15, 2025
Written by an astrophysicist, kids will love this deep dive into stars in the Milky Way Galaxy—narrated in kid-friendly terms with comic-style illustrations. Elementary readers and up will enjoy this science journey—along with younger kids who relish facts about nuclear fusion, pulsars, red supergiant and neutron stars, and how stars devour other stars. This is part of a series, so readers who enjoy this star wrestling match will want to look for the author’s other titles.
April 16, 2025
A reader-friendly and engaging ‘battle’ that kids – especially space-obsessed ones – will love. Who would win? A supergiant or a neutron star? The text is engaging and the science explained in a fun and conversational tone. I like that this book goes beyond the basics of space but it’s still accessible and fun to read. There a ton of science in this book but no one page is overwhelming, and the narrative will keep readers turning the page.
April 27, 2025
As a former STEM teacher, I would have loved to have had this in my classroom library. It is a good fit for science minded kids second grade and up. I even learned some things I didn’t know. Told with the fun drama of a battle, and laced with impressive science that is explained in an easy to read way and supported by great illustrations, it is the perfect gift for star minded kids and classrooms. Dr. Kuchner has done it again…making complicated topics fun to explore.
January 10, 2025
I love the structure of Cosmic Collisions: Supergiant vs. Neutron Star where two red supergiants face off against one another. Formatting the narrative as a contest is a great way to engage children and teach then along the way. The language is bold and the illustrations are fun. This is a great read for children!
January 18, 2025
A fascinating, fun read, chock-full of the perfect blend of facts and drama! The conversational explanations of everything from nuclear fusion to pulsars are engaging and clear. The match-up structure is a great hook and kids will come away with all kinds of new things they want to share with their friends.
January 31, 2025
Another intriguing book from Kuchner that highlights the drama of space! The comic-book elements make the introduction of nonfiction material playful and accessible, as does the framing of events as a face-off. I especially enjoyed the discussion of scientific hypotheses and the opportunity for readers to make their own guesses about who might win in this cosmic collision!
May 29, 2025
What a fun face-off between these two red supergiants! Kids love these head-to-head challenge kind of books and this one doesn't disappoint. We're taken through this lighthearted competition step by step narration that includes things like explosions and red-hot heat. This is edge-of-your-seat, page-turning science with so much going on that kids may not even realize how much they're learning!
April 16, 2025
Written by an astrophysicist, this engaging, fast-paced STEM book makes astrophysics fun and accessible for young readers. Framed as a battle between colliding stars and narrated with enthusiasm and precision, COSMIC COLLISIONS explores nuclear fusion, pulsars, and more! Highly recommend!
April 17, 2025
The biggest showdown ever! What could be more appealing to a young reader than an enormous showdown in the stars? This book has so much kid-friendly zing and zang, plus tons of science behind it. Fun take on astrophysics for kids.
April 18, 2025
This exciting book would be great for kids who love space. It explains complicated astrophysics ideas like the creation of elements (!) in a really easy to understand way. The concept is fun, the art is great!
April 21, 2025
What an adventure reading this book was! I learned so much - neutrons, red giants, pulsars and my favorite - Betelguese (beetle juice). This is the perfect book for young minds curious about space and all its mystery. The illustrations are full of life and I love the fun narrative voice!
May 3, 2025
This second in series space book is told with a fun, wrestling match-up/announcer-like narrator that will enthrall young readers with the science of red supergiants and neutron stars.
May 23, 2025
What a brilliant book!
It isn't easy making this topic fun, understandable and relatable, but the author has done just that. It's funny, and packed with information. Also a great read-aloud.
It isn't easy making this topic fun, understandable and relatable, but the author has done just that. It's funny, and packed with information. Also a great read-aloud.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews