Ten Patterns That Explain the Universe

“We understand the world around us through patterns,” suggests science writer Clegg (Quantum Computing) in this perhaps too brisk survey, and without them, “the universe would be a realm of chaos.” In 10 short (and attractively illustrated) chapters, he describes the patterns he deems to be most striking; of them, DNA’s double helix, weather patterns, and the periodic table (with its “tabular patterns”) will be the most familiar. He also covers cosmic microwave background radiation arising from the big bang as part of a wider consideration of the expanding universe, light, and gravitational lensing. A chapter on cladograms, which depict the evolutionary relationships between species, meanwhile, touches on Darwin, fossilization, and genetic variations. Clegg’s complex topics don’t always get the attention they deserve (a quick mention of Higgs boson, for example, may not answer lay readers’ questions), but brief histories of relevant scientists and the era in which they worked add perspective. This is a fine place to start, but readers will likely be left wanting. (Sept.)