RadCom April 2024, Vol. 100, No. 4

www.rsgbshop.org Radio Society of Great Britain, 3 Abbey Court, Priory Business Park, Bedford, MK44 3WH Tel: 01234 832700 FREE P&P FROM on orders over £30. See Page 62 E&OE (All prices displayed plus p&p) New Titles RSGB SHOP RSGB Origins of the Universe The Cosmic Microwave Background and the Search for Quantum Gravity By Keith Cooper Whilst many are aware of the ‘Big Bang’ theory few are aware of the quest to find a theory of ‘quantum gravity’ that could potentially explain everything. Nearly 60 years ago, Nobel Prize winners Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson stumbled across a mysterious hiss of faint radio static that was interfering with their observations. At that time, radio astronomy was in its infancy. Yet, they had found the key to unravelling the story of the Big Bang and the origin of our universe. That signal was the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), the earliest light in the universe, released 379,000 years after the Big Bang. It contains secrets about what happened during the very first tiny increments of time, which had consequences that have rippled throughout cosmic history, leading to the universe of stars and galaxies that we live in today. Origins of the Universe provides, in an accessible way, the enthralling story of the quest to understand the CMB radiation and what it can tell us of the origins of time and space. From bubble universes to a cyclical cosmos, and possibly leading to the elusive theory of ‘quantum gravity’ itself, this book provides a great insight into what may ‘explain everything’. Size 128x196mm, 176 pages, ISBN: 9781 7857 8642 6 Non Members £8.99, RSGB MEMBERS £6.29 (30% OFF) Gravitational Waves How Einstein’s spacetime ripples reveal the secrets of the universe By Brian Clegg On 14 September 2015, after 50 years of searching, gravitational waves were detected for the first time and astronomy changed for ever. Until then, investigation of the universe had depended on electromagnetic radiation: visible light, radio, X-rays and the rest. But gravitational waves - ripples in the fabric of space and time - are unrelenting, passing through barriers that stop light dead. In Gravitational Waves, Brian Clegg excellently covers so many aspects of the science here from defining a wave, talking through relativity and gravity, explaining confidence intervals to just the right level of detail needed. He goes on to explain the story of the two 4-kilometre long LIGO observatories in the US, where scientists developed incredibly sensitive detectors, capable of spotting a movement 100 times smaller than the nucleus of an atom. In 2015 they spotted the ripples produced by two black holes spiralling into each other, setting spacetime quivering. This was the first-time black holes had ever been directly detected - and it promises far more for the future of astronomy. This book is a companion title to Origins of the Universe from the Hot Science series which also explains in an accessible way CMB radiation and what it can tell us of the origins of time and space. Gravitational Waves moves your thinking on and provides a picture of how all the fundamental parts fit together - the remarkable history and struggles that make up this incredible human feat all in a way that helps you understand why this is such an important discovery. Gravitational Waves is a compelling story of human technical endeavour and a new, powerful path to understand the workings of the universe and is a great read too. Size 128x196mm, 176 pages, ISBN: 9781 7857 8642 6 Non Members £8.99, RSGB MEMBERS £6.29 (30% OFF)