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• More titles by Brian Cox

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Synopsis

The Quantum Universe brings together two authors on a brilliantly ambitious mission to show that everyone can understand the deepest questions of science.

But just what is quantum physics? How does it help us understand the universe? Where does it leave Newton and Einstein? And how - for all its apparently counter-intuitive ideas - can we be sure that the theory is good? The bizarre behaviour of the atoms and energy that make up the universe has lead to some woolly pronouncements on the nature of all interconnectedness - but Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw reveal the simple and understandable theories that allow for concrete, yet astonishing, predictions about the world around us. From entangled twins to the incredible double-slit experiment, The Quantum Universe will give every reader the most up-to-date picture of that amazing subatomic world, where thousands of years of physics must be rewritten completely.

Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw aim to have us all understanding how the universe works, in the most straightforward and enjoyable way possible. Here they explain how a grounding in quantum mechanics is the key to our knowledge of reality, and help us to share the joys of experimental science that can enhance every reader's life.

Reviews

Critic Review:

'A scientific match made in heaven...as breezily a written accessible account of the theory of quantum mechanics as you could wish for - from the Planck constant to the Higgs particle and everything theoretically in between,' Observer

'Mindblowing ... what is novel about this attempt is that the writers take an intellectual rather than a historical approach ... it is a surprisingly rich idea that allows the authors to avoid using too much mathematics' Christopher Potter, Sunday Times

'[Cox and Forshaw] stand together at the cutting edge of their discipline ... despite their elevated status, both men remain tiggerishly excitable about their subject ... Cox and Forshaw's book is a carefully guided tour through this quantum world ... popularize[s] without dumbing down,' Christopher Cook, Financial Times

'A thrilling voyage into the subatomic world,' The Economist Books of the Year

'With brightness and gusto, the opening chapters deal with the culture shock that thinking about the sub-atomic world entails ...They are good at drawing connections between seemingly esoteric theory and everyday practicalities,' Doug Johnstone, Independent on Sunday

'The rock star of science... In Quantum Universe they do a great job of bringing a difficult subject to life,' Hannah Devlin The Times

'Breaks the rules of popular science writing...admirably shies away from dumbing down...the authors' love for their subject-matter shines through the book,' The Economist

'Admirably, Cox and Forshaw...treat topics that do not usually show up in popular books...readers will enjoy this engaging, ambitious and creative tour of our quantum universe,' David Kaiser, The Guardian

'By explaining theories about the world, Cox and Forshaw show that the workings of the universe can be understood by us all,' Fanny Blake, Woman & Home

‘This is not just "tell", but "show" too. With clear prose and helpful diagrams, they march the reader along a series of arguments so that nonspecialists can get a sense of where the core concepts come from … Readers will enjoy this engaging, ambitious and creative tour of our quantum universe,’ David Kaiser, The Guardian

‘The reader is made to work along the way and for those prepared to do so there is much to learn,’ Manjit Kumar, The Telegraph

‘A serious and thorough but charming work about quantum theory,’ Clive Cookson, Financial Times

More

Peter Saville designs the jacket for The Quantum Universe: Everything that can happen does happen by Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw

Speaking on behalf of both authors, Brian says: 'There are two things about Peter's work that I have always liked. One is, of course, the visual quality - he's one of the UKs greatest graphic designers. But I also like his intellectual depth. We've known each other for a while now, and speak about physics a lot - perhaps too much. I knew that he would design a cover that meant something - that added conceptually to the book, and that's exactly what he's done.

The striking image of the rainbow tells you everything you need to know about the complexity and beauty of quantum theory. A rainbow is formed in the interaction between light and raindrops; some light goes through the drops, some bounces back. But quantum theory tells us that light is a stream of particles called photons, and the photons of a particular colour are absolutely identical. So how does a photon decide whether it will go through the drop or bounce back into your eye? If you understand that, then you understand quantum theory. What better image for a book on quantum mechanics than one of the most beautiful demonstrations of its consequences?

Credit must also go to Penguin for allowing us the freedom to go for a pure Peter Saville cover, unsullied by commercial concerns! We think it's bold, beautiful and conceptually challenging, and in true Factory Records style, that's all we care about!'

Peter Saville, who has designed record sleeves for Factory Records including Joy Division, New Order and Pulp, says of the project: 'The remarkable thing about working with Penguin on the cover, was that it allowed me to deliver what I believe Brian and Jeff imagined. The photograph we've used of a rainbow, serves as a way to understand the phenomenal in the every day.'

Product details

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