Is Einstein Still Right?, Nicolas Yunes
Is Einstein Still Right?, Nicolas Yunes
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Is Einstein Still Right?
Black Holes, Gravitational Waves, and the Quest to Verify Einstein's Greatest Creation

Author: Nicolas Yunes, Clifford M. Will

Narrator: Tom Perkins

Unabridged: 11 hr 6 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 12/17/2020


Synopsis

Albert Einstein is often viewed as the icon of genius, and his theories are admired for their beauty and correctness. Yet the final judge of any theory is the rigorous test of experiment, not the fame of its inventor or the allure of its mathematics. For decades, general relativity has passed test after test with flying colors, including some remarkable new tests using the recently detected gravitational waves.

Still, there are reasons for doubt. Einstein's theory of gravity, as beautiful as it is, seems to be in direct contradiction with another theory he helped create: quantum mechanics. Until recently, this was considered to be a purely academic affair. But as more and more data pour in from the most distant corners of the universe, hinting at bizarre stuff called "dark energy" and "dark matter," some scientists have begun to explore the possibility that Einstein's theory may not provide a complete picture of the cosmos.

From the explosions of neutron stars and the collisions of black holes to the modern scientific process as a means to seek truth and understanding in the cosmos, this book takes the listener on a journey of learning and discovery that has been 100 years in the
making.

About Nicolas Yunes

Nicolas Yunes is professor of physics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and founding director of the Illinois Center for Advanced Studies of the Universe. Before joining Illinois, he was an associate professor at Montana State University, where he cofounded the eXtreme Gravity Institute. He is the author of several review articles on tests of general relativity and over 170 research papers. He is also the producer of the Celebrating Einstein science festival, the Rhythms of the Universe spoken word event, and the Einstein's Gravity Playlist planetarium show. He is a leader in the use of gravitational wave observations to systematically test Einstein's theory of general relativity, and is an internationally recognized expert in other aspects of gravity, including black holes and neutron stars. He has received the Young Scientist Prize of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Brian on July 24, 2020

If there's one thing that gets a touch tedious in science reporting it's the news headlines that some new observation or experiment 'proves Einstein right' - as if we're still not sure about relativity. At first glance that's what this book does too, but in reality Clifford Will and Nicolas Yunes ar......more

Goodreads review by Kam Yung on November 28, 2024

A great book about the various tests that Einstein's General Relativity (GR) have been put through since it was proposed. Spoiler alert, GR has passed all the tests so far, while alternative theories of gravity have not. A follow up to one of the author's earlier book, "Was Einstein Right?", this bo......more

Goodreads review by Bicyclejim on April 04, 2021

Excellent book, though some parts I will read again. The authors convey the many, many tests of general relativity in language that anyone can understand. I particularly enjoyed the later chapters on gravitational waves, black holes, and the future of gravitational wave "listening".......more

Goodreads review by TomAmazon on April 30, 2021

Good stories though. While the book goes through all sorts of great stories about gravity, it leaves me a little underwhelmed. It’s not the subject. Maybe it’s me, I’m just too familiar with the physics. The whole thing starts off negative with the usual unsubstantiated claims about the superiority o......more

Goodreads review by Nisham on September 14, 2021

Has interesting parts. But not organized in compelling manor......more