"A Meeting with the Universe is the story of what we learned about the universe and ourselves by going into space. It is not a textbook for scientists. It is written for everyone who shared the excitement and wonder fo the last few years -- students, teachers, scientists, other professional people, and curious citizens of all kinds. It is not a NASA history. It is a history of space exploration -- by NASA, by universities, by other government agencies, and by industries -- all of whom have played major roles. We have not attempted to apportion credit here; space has been studied by many, and the discoveries belong to us all. The book itself is a novel experiment in writing about science for non-scientific readers. It was not produced by science writers or journalists, but written and edited entirely by a group of NASA scientists, all of whom are deeply involved in space science activities and many of whom actively participated in the discoveries they describe. ... We are now at a watershed in space. After 20 years of challenging and exciting activity, we have done most of the easy things and made most of the obvious discoveries. What do we do next? How do we tackle the many new questions that have arisen about the Sun, the Earth, the other worlds, the universe around us, and ourselves? These are not just scientific questions. Their answers involve the understanding of the Earth's geology, its weather, and its climate -- factors that will affect the survival of our civilization, perhaps even of our species. ... Although we have only begun our movement into space, we have already traveled far and seen much. We have a shining vision of the universe and our future in it. Without that vision, without the will to follow it, something important in us -- perhaps we ourselves -- will perish." -- From the preface, Dr. John E. Naugle, Chief Scientist, NASA.

A theoretical physicist and feminist theorist, Karen Barad elaborates her theory of agential realism, a schema that is at once a new epistemology, ontology, and ethics.

LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE WINNER • An MIT astrophysicist reinvents herself in the wake of tragedy and discovers the power of connection on this planet, even as she searches our galaxy for another Earth, in this “bewitching” (Anthony Doerr, The New York Times Book Review) memoir. “Sara Seager’s exploration of outer and inner space makes for a stunningly original memoir.”—Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone Sara Seager has always been in love with the stars: so many lights in the sky, so much possibility. Now a pioneering planetary scientist, she searches for exoplanets—especially that distant, elusive world that sustains life. But with the unexpected death of Seager’s husband, the purpose of her own life becomes hard for her to see. Suddenly, at forty, she is a widow and the single mother of two young boys. For the first time, she feels alone in the universe. As she struggles to navigate her life after loss, Seager takes solace in the alien beauty of exoplanets and the technical challenges of exploration. At the same time, she discovers earthbound connections that feel every bit as wondrous, when strangers and loved ones alike reach out to her across the space of her grief. Among them are the Widows of Concord, a group of women offering advice on everything from home maintenance to dating, and her beloved sons, Max and Alex. Most unexpected of all, there is another kind of one-in-a-billion match, not in the stars but here at home. Probing and invigoratingly honest, The Smallest Lights in the Universe is its own kind of light in the dark.

"Delightful, funny, and yet rigorous and intelligent: only Jorge and Daniel can reach this exquisite balance." —Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and Helgoland You’ve got questions: about space, time, gravity, and the odds of meeting your older self inside a wormhole. All the answers you need are right here. As a species, we may not agree on much, but one thing brings us all together: a need to know. We all wonder, and deep down we all have the same big questions. Why can’t I travel back in time? Where did the universe come from? What’s inside a black hole? Can I rearrange the particles in my cat and turn it into a dog? Researcher-turned-cartoonist Jorge Cham and physics professor Daniel Whiteson are experts at explaining science in ways we can all understand, in their books and on their popular podcast, Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe. With their signature blend of humor and oh-now-I-get-it clarity, Jorge and Daniel offer short, accessible, and lighthearted answers to some of the most common, most outrageous, and most profound questions about the universe they’ve received. This witty, entertaining, and fully illustrated book is an essential troubleshooting guide for the perplexing aspects of reality, big and small, from the invisible particles that make up your body to the identical version of you currently reading this exact sentence in the corner of some other galaxy. If the universe came with an FAQ, this would be it.

Galileo, Copernicus, Newton, Niels Bohr, Einstein. Their insights shook our perception of who we are and where we stand in the world, and in their wake have left an uneasy coexistence: science vs. religion, faith vs. empirical inquiry. Which is the keeper of truth? Which is the true path to understanding reality? After forty years of study with some of the greatest scientific minds, as well as a lifetime of meditative, spiritual, and philosophic study, the Dalai Lama presents a brilliant analysis of why all avenues of inquiry—scientific as well as spiritual—must be pursued in order to arrive at a complete picture of the truth. Through an examination of Darwinism and karma, quantum mechanics and philosophical insight into the nature of reality, neurobiology and the study of consciousness, the Dalai Lama draws significant parallels between contemplative and scientific examinations of reality. This breathtakingly personal examination is a tribute to the Dalai Lama’s teachers—both of science and spirituality. The legacy of this book is a vision of the world in which our different approaches to understanding ourselves, our universe, and one another can be brought together in the service of humanity.

" ... Concise explanations and descriptions - easily read and readily understood - of what we know of the chain of events and processes that connect the Sun to the Earth, with special emphasis on space weather and Sun-Climate."--Dear Reader.

Luke believes in a quote he found in one of his favorite author’s book—that if you want something so bad, the universe will conspire to help you get it. Luke must have wanted to find love so much that Eureka, the girl of his dreams and the heroine of his favorite book, comes to life and falls in love with him. There is just one catch: Once Eureka reaches the end of her book’s storyline in the real world, then her story with Luke will end, too. Will the universe conspire to help the starcrossed lovers find true happiness with each other? One thing is for sure, Luke will do everything he can to keep Eureka forever.