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Ten Patterns That Explain the Universe

Ten Patterns That Explain the Universe

by Brian Clegg

$29.95 Paperback

224 pp., 6 x 9 in, 150

Paperback
9780262542869
Published: September 28, 2021
Publisher: The MIT Press
Rights: for sale in North America only

$29.95

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How patterns—from diagrams of spacetime to particle trails revealed by supercolliders—offer clues to the fundamental workings of the physical world.

Our universe might appear chaotic, but deep down it's simply a myriad of rules working independently to create patterns of action, force, and consequence. In Ten Patterns That Explain the Universe, Brian Clegg explores the phenomena that make up the very fabric of our world by examining ten essential sequenced systems. From diagrams that show the deep relationships between space and time to the quantum behaviors that rule the way that matter and light interact, Clegg shows how these patterns provide a unique view of the physical world and its fundamental workings.

Guiding readers on a tour of our world and the universe beyond, Clegg describes the cosmic microwave background, sometimes called the “echo of the big bang,” and how it offers clues to the universe's beginnings; the diagrams that illustrate Einstein's revelation of the intertwined nature of space and time; the particle trail patterns revealed by the Large Hadron Collider and other accelerators; and the simple-looking patterns that predict quantum behavior (and decorated Richard Feynman's van). Clegg explains how the periodic table reflects the underlying pattern of the configuration of atoms, the power of the number line, the explanatory uses of tree diagrams, and more.

Brian Clegg is an award-winning popular science writer and the author of more than thirty books, including A Brief History of Infinity, Dice World, Dark Matter and Dark Energy: The Hidden 95% of the Universe, and Everyday Chaos: The Mathematics of Unpredictability, from the Weather to the Stock Market (MIT Press).

"Ingenious, often complex insights from an expert."
Kirkus Reviews

"This book is a valuable contribution to popular science, providing a kaleidoscope of visuals that will appeal to readers across generational divides."
Science

"Using beautiful illustrations and illuminating diagrams, the book is a feast for the eyes. The final chapter, on symmetries in nature of all shapes and sizes, is particularly enlightening. Anyone interested in the natural world will enjoy the unique perspective offered in the book."
Physics Today

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