Behind the Scenes of the Universe: From the Higgs to Dark Matter

by Gianfranco Bertone

An extraordinary discovery has recently shaken the foundations of Cosmology and Particle Physics, sparking a scientific revolution that has profoundly modified our understanding of our Universe and that is still far from over. Pioneering astronomers in the 1920s and 1930s had already noticed suspicious anomalies in the motion of celestial bodies in distant galaxies and clusters of galaxies, but it wasn't until the late 20th century that the scientific community was confronted with an astonishing conclusion: the Universe is filled with an unknown, elusive substance that is fundamentally different from anything we have ever seen with our telescopes or measured in our laboratories. It is called dark matter, and it constitutes one of the most pressing challenges of modern science.

In this book, aimed at the general reader with an interest in science, the author illustrates in non-technical terms, borrowing concepts and ideas from other branches of art and literature, the far-reaching implications of this discovery. It has led to a worldwide race to identify the nature of this mysterious form of matter. We may be about to witness a pivotal paradigm shift in Physics, as we set out to test the existence of dark matter particles with a wide array of experiments, including the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, as well as with a new generation of Astroparticle experiments underground and in space.

Genres: Nonfiction, Physics, Science, Astronomy

184 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Professor of Theoretical Astroparticle Physics at the Center of Excellence in Gravitation and Astroparticle Physics of the University of Amsterdam.

Reviews

[Maya Panika · Rating 4 out of 5]

A subject I find absolutely fascinating; a subject so rich and complex that every attempt I've ever made to read about it, to learn more, has been stymied by the complicated nature of the subject and the - to me - impenetrable language of physics. Behind the Scenes was refreshingly different. Gianfranco Bertone has managed to make this difficult topic completely readable and almost entirely understandable. It's been my bedtime reading for the past week, and I not only understood almost all of it, I actively enjoyed it too. I have no idea how good this book would to be to someone who already knows their stuff, but as a lay reader and a bit of a thicky, I would highly recommended it to anyone looking for a basic grounding in a fascinating branch of physics.

[ᛚᚨᚱᚲᚨ × ᚠᛖᚾᚱᛁᚱ (Semi hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siamo piccole gemme incastonate in un universo di oscurità.

Non mi è sembrato che questo libro aggiungesse nuove nozioni agli altri libri che ho già letto, a parte uno sguardo alle macchine con cui si sta dando la caccia alla materia oscura e alcune interessanti ipotesi sulle particelle che potremmo scoprire a breve, svelandone così il mistero. Potrebbe essere dovuto sia alla fortuna di avere letto prima i libri "giusti" sia al fatto che, purtroppo, sull'argomento non c'è ancora molto da dire (rispetto ad altri argomenti di astrofisica).

Vediamo ora i capitoli in dettaglio:
Un oscuro mistero Sguardo d'insieme per rispondere alle domande sulla natura della materia oscura e sul perchè non dobbiamo temere una ormai imminente (e auspicabile) rivoluzione
Nascosti nell'oscurità Come ci si è accorti della materia oscura, e quali prove ci sono a sostegno di questa ipotesi? Quali potrebbero essere le sue caratteristiche?
Mostri Quali sono le nuove particelle candidate e quali caratteristiche devono avere per essere prese in considerazione?
Lo spettacolo cosmico Analisi della distribuzione della materia oscura e del ruolo che essa ricopre nell'universo
La fabbrica di materia oscura Strategie e macchinari usati per la ricerca e (forse) identificazione della materia oscura
Miniere sotterranee con vista e Segnali dal cielo Per conoscere più da vicino i progetti e le ricerche già in corso, situati rispettivamente sottoterra e nello spazio (e perchè)
Uno sguardo al futuro Cosa implica il successo o il fallimento della ricerca di materia oscura? Perchè vale la pena spendere tempo e ingenti risorse?

"So di essere di natura mortale ed effimero. Ma quando contemplo i corpi celesti avvolgersi nelle loro orbite, i miei piedi non toccano più la terra. Sono in presenza di Giove, e con lui mi nutro di celeste ambrosia."
(Tolomeo)

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenge: Non-fiction November 2018 (belated) - Micro/Macro - from the smallest particle physics to cosmic dark matter, learn how the CERN Large Hadron Collider works as well as other means of detecting dark matter. Short in pages, but deep in discussion of the intersection between chemistry, particle physics, and astrophysics of cosmology, both theoretical and applied. I read this as a nod to the comedy series, The Big Bang Theory. For those who want to know: what is the Higgs boson?

[Hko · Rating 2 out of 5]

Over het algemeen goed te volgen uitleg van ontdekkingen en de manier waarop die gedaan zijn. Al begrijp ik als leek niet alles, het stoort niet in het begrijpen. En soms een filosofisch momentje in de link met geschiedenis en ontdekkingen op andere terreinen.

[Rudi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boek dat doenbaar volgen blijft voor een leek over (on) zichtbare/ (on) dedecteerbare deeltjes en hun reis door cilinders en heelal (en?)

[Andrew Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covers search for dark matter, Higgs field and LHC structure and works to date.

[Jos Stoops · Rating 3 out of 5]

donkere materie en donkere energie, nog steeds raadselachtig!