Telescopes are like time machines. Because it takes time for light to reach us, we see more and more distant regions of the universe as they looked in the successively greater past. Astronomer Chris Impey uses this concept of look-back time to take us on an intergalactic tour fro...m current-day Earth to the first fractions of a second after the Big Bang. Pausing at landmarks such as the oldest star and the first ray of light, Impey not only provides stunning visual descriptions but also illustrates the latest theories of the origin of everything from black holes to matter itself. Along the way he introduces us to researchers tackling such mysteries as cosmic infla-tion and the possibility of parallel universes. Enlivened by vivid descriptions and lucid explanations, How It Began offers a breathtaking tour from the familiar sights of the night sky to the most remote frontiers of the enigmatic early universe.
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