Wonders of the Universe: Big Bang, Big Mystery

The theory that the universe was born from a speck smaller than an atom from a cataclysm called the Big Bang is the point of departure for this exploration into the origins of the universe. By studying the color and intensity of starlight through increasingly sophisticated telescopes, astronomers have determined that the universe is billions of years younger than they thought, despite the existence of much older stars. To resolve this paradox, they are developing telescopes that will look back in time and further into space. Unfortunately, even the largest telescope in the world will not be able to document the Big Bang, since (thinking caps on) the dawn of the universe predated the existence of light. Ergo, scientists will need to collect infrared data from space--microwave background radiation echoing the Big Bang--at an ideal location, the South Pole. Clearly presenting a complex body of material with the aid of lively computer graphics, this overview delivers a big bang educationally for the buck. Highly recommended. Other titles in the 13-part series include: To the Edge of Time, Galactic Splendors, Cosmic Catastrophes, and Moonflight. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Reed)