'As fascinating as its title suggests . . . Cliff recounts with vivid clarity the stories of some of the most striking oddnesses that have lit up the landscape of modern physics.' - Philip Pullman
Newly discovered strangenesses could transform our understanding of the fundamentals of physics - and of the nature of reality. In this eye-opening account, CERN experimental physicist Harry Cliff takes the reader on a tour of a new universe . . .
Something strange is going on in the cosmos. Scientists are uncovering a catalogue of weird phenomena that simply can't be explained by our long-established theories of the universe. Particles with unbelievable energies are bursting from beneath the Antarctic ice. Unknown forces seem to be tugging on the basic building blocks of matter. Stars are flying away from us far faster than anyone can explain.
In Space Oddities, Harry Cliff provides a riveting look at the universe's most confounding puzzles. In a journey that spans continents, he meets the scientists hunting for answers, and asks: Are these anomalies accidents of nature, or could they be pointing us toward vast, hidden worlds?
With wonder, clarity, and a dose of humour, Cliff leads us on a a mind-expanding investigation of physics and cosmology as they transform before us.
About the Author
Harry Cliff is a particle physicist based at the University of Cambridge and carries out research with the LHCb experiment at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. He was a curator at the Science Museum, London for seven years and regularly gives public lectures and makes TV and radio appearances. His 2015 TED talk 'Have We Reached the End of Physics?' has been viewed nearly 3 million times. He is the author of How to Make an Apple Pie from Scratch.
Industry Reviews
A cracking tale of particle physics and cosmology . . . Space Oddities is a rare joy - enlightening, thrilling and inspiring. * New Scientist *
Space Oddities is as fascinating as its title suggests. Anomalies are always interesting, sometimes fascinating, and occasionally revelatory, and Harry Cliff recounts with vivid clarity the stories of some of the most striking oddnesses that have lit up the landscape of modern physics. I enjoyed it enormously. -- Philip Pullman
Cliff's engaging and personable writings style, along with his infectious enthusiasm, follows in the best traditions of Feynman and Sagan. -- Jim Al-Khalili
Superb . . . Cliff's lucid explanations do a remarkable job of making the complicated physics accessible and even exciting . . . A first-rate dispatch from the cutting edge of physics * Publishers Weekly, starred review *
Cliff's optimism, light sense of humour, and enthusiasm for his subject shine through . . . An authoritative investigation of emerging scientific problems * Kirkus Reviews *
Cliff converts complex physics into eminently readable popular science. * Booklist *
