OUR UNIVERSE: The Magnetism and Thrill of Extragalactic Explorations

Stern, an astrophysicist at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colo., presents a fascinating collection of essays on cosmology by nine of the most important scientists in the field, who take the reader to the edge of the Big Bang and the event horizon of a black hole. John Huchra recounts how he and others first mapped the universe's large-scale structure, revealing massive clusters of galaxies like the so-called "Great Wall." Bohdan Paczynski updates the search for the sources of the mysterious, ultra-high-energy gamma-ray bursts that seem to come from all corners of the night sky. Scientists now hypothesize that they may be associated with "hypernovas," explosions of exceptional magnitude. Russian-American cosmologist Nick Gnedin and Jeremiah Ostriker, a giant in the field, explain the paradox of dark matter, the predominant form of matter in the universe: scientists have theoretically proven that it exists, but they don't know yet what it "looks like." Aside from a few instances of advanced math and technical discussions, the essays are accessibly written and will be eagerly read by science buffs. The concluding essay by Gregory Bothun on his discovery of "diffuse" galaxies is a magisterial account of how a young scientist establishes a career and faces down naysayers when he makes an unexpected discovery that challenges scientific dogma. Young people interested in going into any of the sciences will learn about the often uphill battle from several of the personal accounts here. Young women in particular will profit from the essay by Megan Donahue, but her compelling story will appeal to all readers. Color illus. not seen by PW.(Apr.)