SOLVED. Juvenile SciFi. The universe is to be destroyed by a committee, judge is about to rule in favour when retired school teacher starts telling him about universe, science & physics. He's interested & stalls making a decision to know more. Spoiler. [s]

[John]

each day the teacher, a lady, gives the judge another lesson in science and saves the universe. Read the book over ten years ago, 2012? But it was much older. Maybe 1970s or even older.

[SBC]

It sounds like what I've heard called the "Scheherazade Gambit". Do you think this was a fantasy or a science fiction? Can you remember anything about who the judge is and how he has the power to save the universe? Is the retired school teacher some kind of witness in a cosmic trial? Were there any other characters involved you can recall?

[John]

the only two characters are the judge and the teacher. the plot is a conversation between the two of them. each chapter is basically a science lesson where the teacher teaches the judge about some wonder of our universe. by keeping him interested, the judgement is delayed a day at a time until he decides our universe is interesting enough to keep.

[Joseph]

Reminds me a bit of Anathem, by Neal Stephenson, but that book is from 2008.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

What is the genre? That needs to come first in your topic header.

[John]

I remembered the book! World of 1001 Mysteries. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[SBC]

Oh awesome! I'm glad you found your book and thanks for letting us know :)