Into the Unknown

The Quest to Understand the Mysteries of the Cosmos

De: Kelsey Johnson

Narrado por: Kelsey Johnson

A leading astronomer and gifted teacher takes readers on a wondrous tour of how science confronts the big questions—about the universe’s origins, destiny, and fundamental nature—and how it contends with the limits of our knowledge

Humans have learned a lot about the world around us and the universe beyond. We have had powerful insights and created profound theories about the universe and everything in it. Surely the ultimate theory must be waiting, just beyond our current knowledge.

Well, maybe. In Into the Unknown, astrophysicist Kelsey Johnson takes us to the edge of scientific understanding about the universe: What caused the Big Bang? What happens inside black holes? Are there other dimensions? She doesn’t just celebrate what we know but rather what we don’t, and asks what it means if we never find that knowledge. Exploring the convergence of science, philosophy, and theology, Johnson argues we must reckon with possibilities—including those that may be beyond human comprehension. The very places where we run smack into total ignorance are the places where the most important questions—about the philosophy of knowledge, the nature of our cosmos, and even the existence of God—await.

As accessible as it is profound, Into the Unknown invites each of us to join in the great quest for knowledge.

Creating questions to think about

Comprehensive. Answered several questions that I had. Nice perspective. Look forward to to a relisten. Want to get the audio guide pdf for better understanding.

Everyone’s Homework

Every human and maybe some want to be humans should read/listen to this book. Dr. Johnson does a wonderful job, not just of explaining earth shattering (literally) theories, but mixing this with epistemological in philosophical axioms. There are so many life-changing thinking – facts in this book it’s truly game changing. From the percentages of what we think we believe is true that really isn’t, to whether we are indeed a simulation. I’m thankful that Dr. Jonsen took the time, not only to put together this book, but to read it in such a delightful way.

I think if I were to find any weakness in this book, it wouldn’t be in the book, but it would be in the thinking of explanation around how life came into being. It seems that one important consideration was missed. That’s a new concept for me contraduction (Dan Barker). A rooster crowing doesn’t cause the sun to rise, any more than the life we know in this universe was created by the laws we have. A contraduction would be the life we have is actually the only life that these laws could have created. And this leads to the question of whether any of those laws were tweaked by even the smallest value, would life as we know it exist. The simple answer is no. But, a different life would exist and flourish. The contraduction is, we can’t say one life created by one set of laws is anything but just different from the other set of laws.

Bottom line, you were in for an incredible treat as you read this book!

Fantastic and balanced book

Your book is awesome, I'm going to listen again right now. Just finished it. A lot of scientist don't believe in God, I don't think you are like that. I can prove God is real with simple math. 0+0=0. So you have to have a creator to start with. Even your car had a creator, It didn't pop out of nothing like some fantasy particles are thought to. Think about everything you see today, it came from somebody. That's my thought experiment for you.

Lesson: cultivate curiosity, awe, humility

Dear Dr Johnson, thank you for bringing your wonder of the universe to the public - and in audiobook form!

I am an almost-50 year old woman and my brain had been trying to encompass all the concepts that your freshmen students must absorb easily. I’d been listening while I cleaned the house, cooked , took walks , and waited at the airport . Such mundane acts but in the meantime my mind was full of new things like branes, universal constants, calabi yau manifolds and the like. I just wish I could see in my mind what a hypercube looked like. Or understand all the concepts.

Luckily , Dr Johnson, you also reminded us that we are allowed to listen to an audiobook more than once !

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and understanding and wisdom.

Time, space, and dimensions

The author was both eloquent, enthusiastic and well versed in not only her field of study but exceptional in the way she held my attention and sense of wonder. This is a audiobook I will listen to over and over again.