Overview

It has already been called the scientific breakthrough of the century: the detection of gravitational waves. Einstein predicted these tiny ripples in the fabric of spacetime nearly a hundred years ago, but they were never perceived directly until now. Decades in the making, this momentous discovery has given scientists a new understanding of the cataclysmic events that shape the universe and a new confirmation of Einstein's theory of general relativity. Ripples in Spacetime is an engaging account of the international effort to complete Einstein's project, capture his elusive ripples, and launch an era of gravitational-wave astronomy that promises to explain, more vividly than ever before, our universe's structure and origin. The quest for gravitational waves involved years of risky research and many personal and professional struggles that threatened to derail one of the world's largest scientific endeavors. Govert Schilling takes readers to sites where these stories unfolded-including Japan's KAGRA detector, Chile's Atacama Cosmology Telescope, the South Pole's BICEP detectors, and the United States' LIGO labs. He explains the seeming impossibility of developing technologies sensitive enough to detect waves from two colliding black holes in the very distant universe, and describes the astounding precision of the LIGO detectors. Along the way Schilling clarifies concepts such as general relativity, neutron stars, and the big bang using language that readers with little scientific background can grasp. Ripples in Spacetime provides a window into the next frontiers of astronomy, weaving far-reaching predictions and discoveries into a gripping story of human ambition and perseverance.

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9780674237742

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Reviews

I read with great pleasure this friendly book. The placement of the detection of gravitational waves in the greater history of astronomy and physics is nicely done, and readers not yet familiar with many of the concepts will come away from the book having really learned some of the physics as well as having a sense of what real science and real scientists are like. The scope and organization makes it entertaining and leaves room for surprises.--David Shoemaker, Spokesperson, LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Senior Research Scientist, MIT Kavli Institute In this elegant and captivating book Govert Schilling takes us by the hand through a century of scientific adventures to one of the biggest discoveries of history.--Robbert Dijkgraaf, Director and Leon Levy Professor, Institute for Advanced Study A fascinating story of astronomy...Schilling walks readers through a lucid history of the universe, of general relativity, and of the bumpy search for Einstein's last major unconfirmed prediction: the existence of gravitational waves...Schilling delivers a lively, expert, mostly comprehensible account, equal parts politics, personality, and science, of the search that ended two years ago...Schilling emphasizes that this is not simply another feather in Einstein's cap, but a valuable new tool. The early universe was opaque to radiation until 380,000 years after the Big Bang, but gravity waves poured out from almost the beginning, so a new field of 'gravitational wave astronomy' can look back almost to the birth of the cosmos. An exciting history of the second great breakthrough of 21st-century physics.-- (06/15/2017) Schilling gives us a lively and readable account of the [gravitational] waves' discovery... Schilling underlines that this discovery is the opening of a new window on the universe, the beginning of a new branch of science. Astronomers will no longer be limited to observing space through the waves of electricity and magnetism (for example, visible light) entering telescopes, but will be able to observe it through waves of gravity. Galileo would have been amazed.-- (08/02/2017) Engaging.--Manjit Kumar New Statesman (08/19/2017) A detailed account of the quest to detect gravitational waves.--James Ryerson New York Times Book Review (08/20/2017) In September 2015, a new frontier in astronomy beckoned with the first direct detection of gravitational waves, confirming Albert Einstein's prediction almost a century before. Govert Schilling's deliciously nerdy grand tour takes us through compelling backstory, current research and future expectations.-- (07/13/2017) Govert's blend of storytelling, interviews, science, and history creates a fantastic read, and for anyone curious about the development of LIGO and what the future holds, you couldn't ask for a better story.--Ethan Siegel Forbes (12/13/2017) [Ripples in Spacetime] offers the reader a journey that goes beyond its title, exploring and connecting topics such as the cosmic-microwave background and its polarization, radioastronomy and pulsars, supernovae, primordial inflation, gamma-ray bursts and even dark energy... The book gives an interesting (and sometimes surprising) glimpse into the lives, aspirations and mutual interactions of the scientific pioneers in the field of gravitational waves.--Guillermo Ballestero CERN Courier (04/01/2018) A succinct, accessible, and remarkably timely survey of gravitational-wave astronomy as it developed over the past century...This book is a rare find...The book's remarkable breadth and accessibility should make it the first piece of reading material for anyone--from high school students to policymakers--with an interest in gravitational waves...Ripples in Spacetime sets itself apart by putting the entire field into perspective--past, present, and future. It conveys a sense of awe about a century of scientific investment and achievement and a sense of excitement for what's to come.-- (12/01/2017) In a sweeping new book, Ripples in Spacetime: Einstein, Gravitational Waves, and the Future of Astronomy, prolific science writer Govert Schilling has achieved the fascinating trifecta of historical and scientific accuracy, a grand sense of wonder and curiosity, and brilliantly accessible storytelling...Ripples in Spacetime goes far beyond the gravitational wave story you've heard over the past few years...It belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in learning the scientific, historical, and personal stories behind some of the most incredible scientific advances of the 21st century. As our scientific progress continues, this book will serve as a reminder of how far we've already come, how we got there, and what we're looking forward to with our most hopeful ambitions.-- (08/31/2017) [Ripples in Spacetime] explains complex ideas clearly and entertainingly...It details the personalities, rivalries, collaborations, controversies, setbacks and successes of the century-long quest to test Einstein's theories. Bang up to date, the book describes science in progress and as a process: how ideas are developed and discoveries made and rejected or confirmed. The best part for me was the detail the book goes into about the first detection and the meticulous protocols in place to scrutinize and eliminate every possible error. Schilling also looks ahead to what we can expect in this whole new field of astronomy. This is a book for everyone who was as excited as I was when the [Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory] discovery first broke, but also for anyone who wants to know what all the fuss was about.-- (07/01/2017) Ripples in Spacetime provides a comprehensive and approachable guide to a complex subject.--Monica Young Sky & Telescope (10/01/2018)

I read with great pleasure this friendly book. The placement of the detection of gravitational waves in the greater history of astronomy and physics is nicely done, and readers not yet familiar with many of the concepts will come away from the book having really learned some of the physics as well as having a sense of what real science and real scientists are like. The scope and organization makes it entertaining and leaves room for surprises.--David Shoemaker, Spokesperson, LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Senior Research Scientist, MIT Kavli Institute A fascinating story of astronomy...Schilling walks readers through a lucid history of the universe, of general relativity, and of the bumpy search for Einstein's last major unconfirmed prediction: the existence of gravitational waves...Schilling delivers a lively, expert, mostly comprehensible account, equal parts politics, personality, and science, of the search that ended two years ago...Schilling emphasizes that this is not simply another feather in Einstein's cap, but a valuable new tool. The early universe was opaque to radiation until 380,000 years after the Big Bang, but gravity waves poured out from almost the beginning, so a new field of 'gravitational wave astronomy' can look back almost to the birth of the cosmos. An exciting history of the second great breakthrough of 21st-century physics.-- (06/15/2017) Schilling gives us a lively and readable account of the [gravitational] waves' discovery... Schilling underlines that this discovery is the opening of a new window on the universe, the beginning of a new branch of science. Astronomers will no longer be limited to observing space through the waves of electricity and magnetism (for example, visible light) entering telescopes, but will be able to observe it through waves of gravity. Galileo would have been amazed.-- (08/02/2017) In September 2015, a new frontier in astronomy beckoned with the first direct detection of gravitational waves, confirming Albert Einstein's prediction almost a century before. Govert Schilling's deliciously nerdy grand tour takes us through compelling backstory, current research and future expectations.-- (07/13/2017) Govert's blend of storytelling, interviews, science, and history creates a fantastic read, and for anyone curious about the development of LIGO and what the future holds, you couldn't ask for a better story.--Ethan Siegel Forbes (12/13/2017) In this elegant and captivating book Govert Schilling takes us by the hand through a century of scientific adventures to one of the biggest discoveries of history.--Robbert Dijkgraaf, Director and Leon Levy Professor, Institute for Advanced Study Engaging.--Manjit Kumar New Statesman (08/19/2017) A detailed account of the quest to detect gravitational waves.--James Ryerson New York Times Book Review (08/20/2017) [Ripples in Spacetime] offers the reader a journey that goes beyond its title, exploring and connecting topics such as the cosmic-microwave background and its polarization, radioastronomy and pulsars, supernovae, primordial inflation, gamma-ray bursts and even dark energy... The book gives an interesting (and sometimes surprising) glimpse into the lives, aspirations and mutual interactions of the scientific pioneers in the field of gravitational waves.--Guillermo Ballestero CERN Courier (04/01/2018) A succinct, accessible, and remarkably timely survey of gravitational-wave astronomy as it developed over the past century...This book is a rare find...The book's remarkable breadth and accessibility should make it the first piece of reading material for anyone--from high school students to policymakers--with an interest in gravitational waves...Ripples in Spacetime sets itself apart by putting the entire field into perspective--past, present, and future. It conveys a sense of awe about a century of scientific investment and achievement and a sense of excitement for what's to come.-- (12/01/2017) In a sweeping new book, Ripples in Spacetime: Einstein, Gravitational Waves, and the Future of Astronomy, prolific science writer Govert Schilling has achieved the fascinating trifecta of historical and scientific accuracy, a grand sense of wonder and curiosity, and brilliantly accessible storytelling...Ripples in Spacetime goes far beyond the gravitational wave story you've heard over the past few years...It belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in learning the scientific, historical, and personal stories behind some of the most incredible scientific advances of the 21st century. As our scientific progress continues, this book will serve as a reminder of how far we've already come, how we got there, and what we're looking forward to with our most hopeful ambitions.-- (08/31/2017) [Ripples in Spacetime] explains complex ideas clearly and entertainingly...It details the personalities, rivalries, collaborations, controversies, setbacks and successes of the century-long quest to test Einstein's theories. Bang up to date, the book describes science in progress and as a process: how ideas are developed and discoveries made and rejected or confirmed. The best part for me was the detail the book goes into about the first detection and the meticulous protocols in place to scrutinize and eliminate every possible error. Schilling also looks ahead to what we can expect in this whole new field of astronomy. This is a book for everyone who was as excited as I was when the [Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory] discovery first broke, but also for anyone who wants to know what all the fuss was about.-- (07/01/2017) Ripples in Spacetime provides a comprehensive and approachable guide to a complex subject.--Monica Young Sky & Telescope (10/01/2018)

I read with great pleasure this friendly book. The placement of the detection of gravitational waves in the greater history of astronomy and physics is nicely done, and readers not yet familiar with many of the concepts will come away from the book having really learned some of the physics as well as having a sense of what real science and real scientists are like. The scope and organization makes it entertaining and leaves room for surprises.--David Shoemaker, Spokesperson, LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Senior Research Scientist, MIT Kavli Institute In this elegant and captivating book Govert Schilling takes us by the hand through a century of scientific adventures to one of the biggest discoveries of history.--Robbert Dijkgraaf, Director and Leon Levy Professor, Institute for Advanced Study A fascinating story of astronomy...Schilling walks readers through a lucid history of the universe, of general relativity, and of the bumpy search for Einstein's last major unconfirmed prediction: the existence of gravitational waves...Schilling delivers a lively, expert, mostly comprehensible account, equal parts politics, personality, and science, of the search that ended two years ago...Schilling emphasizes that this is not simply another feather in Einstein's cap, but a valuable new tool. The early universe was opaque to radiation until 380,000 years after the Big Bang, but gravity waves poured out from almost the beginning, so a new field of 'gravitational wave astronomy' can look back almost to the birth of the cosmos. An exciting history of the second great breakthrough of 21st-century physics.-- (06/15/2017) Schilling gives us a lively and readable account of the [gravitational] waves' discovery... Schilling underlines that this discovery is the opening of a new window on the universe, the beginning of a new branch of science. Astronomers will no longer be limited to observing space through the waves of electricity and magnetism (for example, visible light) entering telescopes, but will be able to observe it through waves of gravity. Galileo would have been amazed.-- (08/02/2017) Engaging.--Manjit Kumar New Statesman (08/19/2017) A detailed account of the quest to detect gravitational waves.--James Ryerson New York Times Book Review (08/20/2017) Govert's blend of storytelling, interviews, science, and history creates a fantastic read, and for anyone curious about the development of LIGO and what the future holds, you couldn't ask for a better story.--Ethan Siegel Forbes (12/13/2017) In September 2015, a new frontier in astronomy beckoned with the first direct detection of gravitational waves, confirming Albert Einstein's prediction almost a century before. Govert Schilling's deliciously nerdy grand tour takes us through compelling backstory, current research, and future expectations.-- (07/13/2017) Ripples in Spacetime provides a comprehensive and approachable guide to a complex subject.--Monica Young Sky & Telescope (10/01/2018) [Ripples in Spacetime] offers the reader a journey that goes beyond its title, exploring and connecting topics such as the cosmic-microwave background and its polarization, radioastronomy and pulsars, supernovae, primordial inflation, gamma-ray bursts and even dark energy... The book gives an interesting (and sometimes surprising) glimpse into the lives, aspirations and mutual interactions of the scientific pioneers in the field of gravitational waves.--Guillermo Ballestero CERN Courier (04/01/2018) A succinct, accessible, and remarkably timely survey of gravitational-wave astronomy as it developed over the past century...This book is a rare find...The book's remarkable breadth and accessibility should make it the first piece of reading material for anyone--from high school students to policymakers--with an interest in gravitational waves...Ripples in Spacetime sets itself apart by putting the entire field into perspective--past, present, and future. It conveys a sense of awe about a century of scientific investment and achievement and a sense of excitement for what's to come.-- (12/01/2017) In a sweeping new book, Ripples in Spacetime: Einstein, Gravitational Waves, and the Future of Astronomy, prolific science writer Govert Schilling has achieved the fascinating trifecta of historical and scientific accuracy, a grand sense of wonder and curiosity, and brilliantly accessible storytelling...Ripples in Spacetime goes far beyond the gravitational wave story you've heard over the past few years...It belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in learning the scientific, historical, and personal stories behind some of the most incredible scientific advances of the 21st century. As our scientific progress continues, this book will serve as a reminder of how far we've already come, how we got there, and what we're looking forward to with our most hopeful ambitions.-- (08/31/2017) [Ripples in Spacetime] explains complex ideas clearly and entertainingly...It details the personalities, rivalries, collaborations, controversies, setbacks and successes of the century-long quest to test Einstein's theories. Bang up to date, the book describes science in progress and as a process: how ideas are developed and discoveries made and rejected or confirmed. The best part for me was the detail the book goes into about the first detection and the meticulous protocols in place to scrutinize and eliminate every possible error. Schilling also looks ahead to what we can expect in this whole new field of astronomy. This is a book for everyone who was as excited as I was when the [Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory] discovery first broke, but also for anyone who wants to know what all the fuss was about.-- (07/01/2017)

Author Information

Govert Schilling is the author of dozens of popular astronomy books, including Ripples in Spacetime: Einstein, Gravitational Waves, and the Future of Astronomy. He received the Eureka Prize from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research and the David N. Schramm Award from the American Astronomical Society. In 2007 the International Astronomical Union named an asteroid, 10986 Govert, in his honor. Martin Rees, the UK’s Astronomer Royal, was previously Professor of Astronomy and Director of the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge. A past president of the Royal Society, he has won numerous awards, including the Templeton Prize and the inaugural Fritz Zwicky Prize. The author of ten books and more than 500 research papers, he cofounded the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge.

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