Additional information
by Pedro G. Ferreira (Author)
The first complete biography of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, revealing the personal feuds and ideological battles, the decades of neglect, the resurgence, and now, the deep questioning of a theory that has given us black holes, dark energy, and modern cosmology.
How did one elegant theory incite a scientific revolution?
Physicists have been exploring, debating, and questioning the general theory of relativity ever since Albert Einstein first presented it in 1915.
In this sweeping narrative of science and culture, astrophysicist Pedro Ferreira brings general relativity to life through the story of the brilliant physicists, mathematicians, and astronomers who have taken up its challenge. Its adherents have revealed what lies at the farthest reaches of the universe, shed light on the smallest scales of existence, and explained how the fabric of reality emerges. Dark matter, dark energy, black holes, and string theory are all progeny of Einstein's theory.
We are in the midst of a momentous transformation in modern physics. As scientists look farther and more clearly into space than ever before, The Perfect Theory reveals the greater relevance of general relativity, showing us where it started, where it has led, and where it can still take us.
Back Jacket
Ferreira masterfully portrays the science and scientists behind general relativity s star-crossed history and argues that even now we are only just beginning to realize its vitality as a tool for understanding the cosmos. Scientific American
Einstein s theory of general relativity is possibly the most perfect intellectual achievement of modern physics. For almost a century now, physicists have been delving into Einstein s theory, seeking an understanding of the history of the universe, the origin of time, and the evolution of solar systems, stars, and galaxies. The expanding universe, the light-speed barrier, black holes, wormholes, time travel general relativity has allowed scientists imaginations to take flight with new possibilities, revealing a universe that is much stranger than anyone ever expected.
Just in time for the theory s hundred-year anniversary, physicist Pedro Ferreira s The Perfect Theory explains just how staggering an achievement general relativity was while bringing to life the infighting that it sparked in the field of physics over the past century.
A rollicking good read . . . With crisp explanations and narrative flair, Ferreira offers us a fun, fresh take on a magnificent part of modern science. Steven Strogatz, author of The Joy of x
One of the best popular accounts of how Einstein and his followers have been trying to explain the universe for decades. Kirkus Reviews, starred review
PEDRO G. FERREIRA is a professor of astrophysics at the University of Oxford. An expert in cosmology, the early universe, and general relativity, he writes frequently for trade and academic science publications and comments on television and radio."
Author Biography
PEDRO G. FERREIRA is a professor of astrophysics at the University of Oxford. An expert in cosmology, the early universe, and general relativity, he writes frequently for trade and academic science publications and comments on television and radio.
