Facts and Speculations in Cosmology

A thought-provoking insight into the evolution of cosmology for undergraduate students and general readers, this book shows that the mystery of the origin of the universe is far from being solved. Cosmology has advanced over time through observational evidence as well as a lot of speculation. In this historical approach, the authors argue that the speculative element has become a dominant part of modern cosmology. They show how assumptions have been made and portrayed as confirmed facts. This unique book gives not only a critical assessment of the big bang theory, but presents a host of anomalous observations, and puts forward an alternative, controversial theory on the origin of the universe. A non-mathematical account, it contains analogies from everyday life so that readers can understand the concepts easily and follow the arguments presented.

Author: Jayant Narlikar, Geoffrey Burbidge
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 07/28/2008
Pages: 296
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.60lbs
Size: 9.70h x 7.10w x 0.80d
ISBN: 9780521865043


Review Citation(s):
Choice 02/01/2009

About the Author
Narlikar, Jayant: - Jayant V. Narlikar is Emeritus Professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, India. Known for his work on cosmology, Narlikar served as President of the Cosmology Commission of the International Astronomical Union (1994-97). Other books by Professor Narlikar include An Introduction to Cosmology (now in its third edition, 2002) and Current Issues in Cosmology (with Jean-Claude Pecker, 2006), both with Cambridge University Press.Burbidge, Geoffrey: - Geoffrey Burbidge is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of California, San Diego. He is best known for his work on stellar nucleosynthesis and quasi-stellar objects. Professor Burbidge has been the recipient of several awards, most recently the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society with Margaret Burbidge. He co-authored A Different Approach to Cosmology (with Jayant Narlikar and Fred Hoyle, Cambridge University Press, released in paperback in 2005).Narlikar, Jayant: - Jayant V. Narlikar is Emeritus Professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, India. Known for his work on cosmology, Narlikar served as President of the Cosmology Commission of the International Astronomical Union (1994-97). Other books by Professor Narlikar include An Introduction to Cosmology (now in its third edition, 2002) and Current Issues in Cosmology (with Jean-Claude Pecker, 2006), both with Cambridge University Press.