Why Aren't Black Holes Black?

by Robert M. Hazen, Maxine Singer, Stephen Jay Gould (Introduction)

Current news articles and science books give one the distinct impression that the great questions of science have been answered, and we have reached the "end of science": the great forces of the universe are known, and the basic building blocks of life have been discovered. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. While countless books have explored the at times breathtaking breakthroughs in science over the last two centuries, none has explored the vast- and crucial-questions for which we do not have answers. After all, these are the burning issues and questions driving current research across the globe. What are the great questions upon which the vast machinery of science is spinning its collective gears?

In Why Aren't Black Holes Black? scientists Robert M. Hazen and Maxine Singer (President of the Carnegie Institution) take us into the worlds of chemistry, physics, earth sciences and biochemistry, to explore the secrets for which science does not have an answer-and the relentless, coordinated efforts to bring those secrets to light. From the origins of the universe and the nature of life, to the consuming search for a unified field theory and quest to plumb the composition of the earth's core, Hazen & Singer take the reader on a fascinating journey into the realm of the unknown. Written in the mini-essay format that made books like Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things and Why Do Clocks Run Clockwise? New York Times bestsellers Why Aren't Black Holes Black? is popular science at its best and most entertaining.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Physics

320 pages, Paperback

First published April 14, 1997

About the author

Robert M. Hazen, Senior Research Scientist at the Carnegie Institution of Washington’s Geophysical Laboratory and the Clarence Robinson Professor of Earth Science at George Mason University, received the B.S. and S.M. in geology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1971), and the Ph.D. at Harvard University in earth science (1975). The Past President of the Mineralogical Society of America, Hazen’s recent research focuses on the possible roles of minerals in the origin of life. He is also Principal Investigator of the Deep Carbon Observatory.

Reviews

[Heather Browning]

An enjoyable overview of a range of topics through many scientific disciplines, some more familiar to me than others. The main drawback for me was the feeling that, as the book is a decade old, many of the 'unanswered questions' may actually now be answered . . .

[Spang]

This book gives an overview of the important questions that scientists are trying to answer in cosmology, genetics, evolution, neuroscience and developmental biology. The chapters of the book are loosely connected which allows the reader to pick a chapter at random . This is a good read for someone who is interested in science or has just found a liking, and are looking to explore newer areas. Ever since the publishing of the book, there has been advancements in science especially in the aforementioned topics. Hence, readers have to update themselves by looking into newer research materials for the current important unanswered questions.

[Patricia Bardua]

Answers questions about space that they are just discovering the answers to, or a least possible answers. For instance: Is there a theory of everything? Are we alone in the universe? Can we conquer the biology of old age...and many, many more. Explains some of quantum physics too, basic, interesting and leads to even more possiblities and questions.

[Mr. Shits]

This was my first venture into the category of science literature for the idiot. It poses and answers some basic questions in the realm of science and everyday life.

[Jeanine and Friederike Greifswald-Tolleson]

An excellent overview of the main currently open questions of science.