Death from the Skies!: These are the Ways the World Will End--A lively astronomy primer that uses cataclysmic scenarios to explain the universe?s most fascinating events. According to astronomer Philip Plait, the universe is an apocalypse waiting to happen But how much do we really need to fear from things like black holes, gamma-ray bursts, and supernovae? And if we should be scared, is there anything we can do to save ourselves? With humor and wit, Plait details the myriad doomsday events that the cosmos could send our way to destroy our planet and life as we know it. This authoritative yet accessible study is the ultimate astronomy lesson. Combining fascinating?and often alarming?scenarios that seem plucked from science fiction with the latest research and opinions, Plait illustrates why outer space is not as remote as most people think. Each chapter explores a different phenomenon, explaining it in easy-to-understand terms, and considering how life on earth and the planet itself would be affected should the event come to pass. Rather than sensationalizing the information, Plait analyzes the probability of these catastrophes occurring in our lifetimes and what we can do to stop them. With its entertaining tone and enlightening explanation of unfathomable concepts, Death from the Skies! will appeal to science buffs and beginners alike. |
From inside the book
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Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Asteroid and Comet Impacts | 7 |
Sunburn | 33 |
The Stellar Fury of Supernovae | 67 |
GammaRay Bursts | 102 |
The Bottomless Pits of Black Holes | 133 |
Alien Attack | 165 |
The Death of the Sun | 195 |
Common terms and phrases
actually amount Andromeda asteroid impact astronomers atoms beams black hole blast bright brown dwarfs chapter close cloud collapse collision comet core cosmic rays created damage dangerous detect disk distance drop Earth Earth's atmosphere effects ejected electrons emitted energy event horizon expanding explode fact farther field lines fuse fusion galactic galaxy gamma rays gamma-ray burst gravity happens heat helium huge hundred hydrogen incredibly inside light-years look magnetic field Mars mass massive stars matter miles per second Milky million miles Moon move nebula neutron star nuclear object odds orbit outer layers oxygen ozone percent planet pretty probe protons radiation red giant rock rocket satellites scale scientists slam smaller solar system space speed of light star's stellar subatomic particles Sun's sunspots supermassive black hole supernova surface telescopes temperature there's things thousands trillion Universe vast velocity wave white dwarf X-rays