Davies Paul Boeken

Scientists have just begun to understand how complexity and organization can emerge from featurelessness and chaos. Is the way the universe is now in some sense predetermined? Is there, in other words, a "cosmic blueprint"? This book argues in favour of the idea of the creative universe, which recognizes the innovative character of physical processes, and suggests that the universe as a whole possesses a tendency to develop towards progressively higher levels of complex organization. Investigating some scientific discoveries, the author shows how the study of complexity reveals certain common holistic principles.

Shows how everything from the humble carbon atom to the speed of light and the laws of physics themselves interact. In this book, the author asks questions such as: Is there a theory of everything within our grasp? If there was a big bang, what happened before it? Is there on universe or many? Could we exist within an endless time loop?

Journey from the edge of time -- The search for the key to the universe -- Why is it dark at night? -- The big bang -- Where is the centre of the universe? -- Why the cosmos is actually fairly simple -- What is the speed of space? -- What is the shape of space? -- Explaining the cosmic big fix -- Most of our universe is missing -- What is dark energy? -- Where does matter come from? -- Gravity conquers all -- Warped time and black holes -- Is time travel possible? -- What is the source of time's puzzling arrow? -- The black hole paradox -- A theory of everything? -- Fossils from the cosmic dawn -- Can the universe come from nothing? -- How many universes are there? -- The Goldilocks enigma -- What's eating the universe? -- Is the universe actually a botched job? -- Are we alone? -- ET in our backyard -- Why am I living now? -- The fate of the universe -- Is there a meaning to it all? -- What's new on the cosmic horizon?