The Five Ages of the Universe: Inside the Physics of Eternity by Fred Adams

I couldn't stop reading this remarkable book. In just over 200 pages, the authors provide a description of the evolution of the universe, (as predicted by our current understanding of physics), from the big bang to the far distant future, when stars, planet, galaxies and even black holes no longer exist. By the end of the book, Adams and Laughlin are describing a universe that is 10 to the power of 100 years old (that's 1 followed by 100 zeros). A time span this large is almost incomprehensible for humans to contemplate.

As I turned the pages, I was repeatedly awed by a slew of brilliant ideas. Among some of the more fascinating thoughts: Whether a cosmic computer made of black holes could result in conscious life; if other universes can be created – as many physicist believe – then is it possible that universes are born, die and evolve in a manner similar to Darwin’s theory of evolution; and is it possible to travel to the distant future, given what Einstein’s theory of relativity tells us about space and time.

This is a wonderful book that left me in a constant state of wonder, and which has inspired me to read further about astrophysics.

5 out of 5 stars