Author Description

"In one of the most surprising and important findings in cosmology in the century, astronomers recently discovered that the universe may be expanding at an ever-increasing rate.". "As astrophysicist Mario Livio explains in this book, most cosmologists have long believed that the universe will expand at a gradually decreasing rate until the expansion effectively stops. The discovery that the expansion appears in fact to be speeding up - and therefore that the universe will keep expanding faster and faster for infinity - throws the view of a perfectly balanced "beautiful universe" into question.". "Mario Livio introduces readers to the "old cosmology," which culminated in the view of the perfectly balanced universe, and then presents all of the ideas being explored by cosmologists in the "new cosmology" as they come to terms with the discovery of acceleration. Offering clear explanations of all the key concepts and theoretical ideas, Livio is a guide through this exciting frontier in science today."--BOOK JACKET.