To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery

Astrophysicist Tyson (Starry Messenger) and Walker, senior producer of Tyson’s StarTalk podcast, provide a vivid look at the universe and the scientists who have changed how humans understand it. Though Galileo’s observations confirming that the Earth isn’t the center of the cosmos and Isaac Newton’s work on planetary orbits receive expected mentions, the focus is on the contributions of lesser known scientists, such as physicists Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, who in 1964, while working on improving satellite communication, detected a constant microwave signal throughout the universe that turned out to be the remains of “the first light ever emitted,” confirming the big bang theory. The abundant trivia surprises; for instance, Venus, at 900 ˚F, has a hotter surface temperature than Mercury (which can reach temperatures as low as -300 ˚F “inside its deep shadowed valleys”), despite being farther from the sun, because of the high concentration of carbon dioxide in Venus’s atmosphere. The authors also provide amusing corrections to “Hollywood science,” noting that the devastating dust storm on Mars that traps the astronaut protagonist of the 2015 film The Martian would in reality “feel like a gentle breeze” because of the planet’s low atmospheric pressure. Buoyed by eye-popping photos of supernovas and distant galaxies, this is equal parts entertaining and informative. Photos. (Sept.)