Description
Book SynopsisFirst Light opens a window into a previously dark and secret time in our Universe''s history the time when the first starts were born.
Astronomers have successfully observed a great deal of the Universe''s history, from recording the afterglow of the Big Bang to imaging thousands of galaxies, and even to visualising an actual black hole. There''s a lot for astronomers to be smug about. But when it comes to understanding how the Universe began and grew up we are literally in the dark ages. In effect, we are missing the first one billion years from the timeline of the Universe.
This brief but far-reaching period in the Universe''s history, known to astrophysicists as the ''Epoch of Reionisation'', represents the start of the cosmos as we experience it today. The time when the very first stars burst into life, when darkness gave way to light. After hundreds of millions of years of dark, uneventful expansion, one by the one these stars suddenly came into bei
Trade Review
An illuminating—and entertaining—look at the earliest stars of our cosmos. Chapman is a witty and straightforward guide … and her enthusiasm for the chase is infectious. First Light conveys the wonder and mystery of darkness suddenly illuminated by magnificent starlight. * Washington Post *
Thoroughly engaging … allows us to see science in the making, chronicles current attempts to reveal this hidden era — what we know and what we don’t know. Chapman herself is in the thick of this endeavor and serves as a wonderful guide, whose voice is reminiscent of Carl Sagan’s, although with an extra and very welcome dollop of impish humor. * Wall Street Journal *
First Light is a fantastic debut on the popular science scene for Emma Chapman that fleshes out the context around these two key functions. My opinion: come for the state-of-the-art on the first stars, stay for the comprehensive primer on modern cosmology, and revel in the footnotes. * Nature Astronomy *
First Light is a dispatch from the frontiers of science, from a brain fizzing with ideas and energy. * Chris Lintott, BBC Sky at Night *
Her everyday examples of complex concepts are conversational, witty and elucidating … Chapman manages to effectively convey the gist of most of this most complicated of space sciences … Chapman's most valuable asset here, aside from her obvious expertise, is her enthusiasm ... All of this is astounding, so much so that it almost defies explication, which is why it is such a treat to have someone of Chapman's stature willing to carry us along as she reaches for these ancient stars. * The Minneapolis Star Tribune *
Throughout First Light, Chapman’s authenticity and humour shine through … In short, this is a charming book that is as fun to read as it is informative, making it as ideal for the casual reader as for those with an existing understanding of the field. * Physics World *
Table of Contents
Introduction 1: Over the Rainbow 2: Where is Population III? 3: The Small Bang 4: A Lucky Cloud of Gas 5: The Dark Ages 6: Fragmenting Stars 7: Stellar Archaeology 8: Galactic Cannibalism 9: The Cosmic Dusk 10: The Epoch of Reionisation 11: Unknown Unknowns References Acknowledgements Index
