How the universe got its spots: diary of a finite time in a finite space

Abstract

Levin, Janna Title How the universe got its spots : diary of a finite time in a finite space / Janna Levin Publish Info Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, c2002 Contents Acknowledgements Preface 1 Is the universe infinite or is it just really big? 1 2 Infinity 5 3 Newton, 300 years and Einstein 16 4 Special relativity 23 5 General relativity 37 6 Quantum chance and choice 50 7 Death and black holes 63 8 Life and the big bang 79 9 Beyond Einstein 99 10 Adventures in Flatland and hyperspace 104 11 Topology: links, locks, loops 115 12 Through the looking glass 131 13 Wonderland in 3D 141 14 Mirrors in the sky 151 15 How the universe got its spots 162 16 The ultimate prediction 178 17 Scars of creation 185 18 The shape of things to come 194 Epilogue 199 Index 201 Descript'n 208 p. : ill. ; 25 cm Note Includes index Contents Is the universe infinite or is it just really big? -- Infinity -- Newton, 300 years and Einstein -- Special relativity -- General relativity -- Quantum chance and choice -- Death and black holes -- Life and the big bang -- Beyond Einstein -- Adventures in Flatland and hyperspace -- Topology : links, locks, loops -- Through the looking glass -- Wonderland in 3D -- Mirrors in the sky -- How the universe got its spots -- The ultimate prediction -- Scars of creation -- The shape of things to come Subjects Cosmology Levin, Janna -- Correspondence Mathematicians -- United States -- Correspondence Cosmology -- Popular works