Black holes, demystified: follow along the quest to understand the history and influence of one of space science's most fascinating and confounding phenomena
Led by physicist James Trefil and astrophysicist Shobita Satyapal, this book traverses the incredible history of black holes and introduces contemporary developments and theories on still unanswered questions about the enigmatic objects. From the early work of Albert Einstein and Karl Schwarzschild to an insider look at black hole-galaxy connection research led by co-author Satyapa, the comprehensive book surveys an exciting and evolving branch of space science, with topics that include:
Visibility of black holes
Quasars, the brightest objects in the universe
The black hole at the center of the Milky Way
Popular theories on the origin of black holes
Cosmic X rays
Death of supermassives
Black hole collisions
Black holes in science fiction
Invisible to the naked eye and telescopes, black holes have mystified and entranced astronomers, scientists, and humanity for more than a century. The first image of a supermassive black hole was only unveiled in 2019, and new black holes are continually discovered. Supermassive illuminates what we know about black holes so far and what we have yet to uncover.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL "This comprehensive and insightful book explores the history of black holes, offering readers an eye-opening journey through their discovery and the science behind proving their existence. Written by a physicist and an astrophysicist, the book provides space enthusiasts with a rare insider’s perspective on the groundbreaking advancements that led to our current understanding of black holes. [...] Its strength lies in the authors’ evident passion for the subject and their admiration for the scientists who contributed to these discoveries. VERDICT A thrilling tour of the universe, spanning from its origins to its potential end."
JAMES TREFIL is a professor of physics at George Mason University. He has written more than 50 books about science for the general audience and has served as Contributing Editor for Science for USA TODAY Weekend and as a regular contributor and science consultant for Smithsonian and Astronomy magazines. SHOBITA SATYAPAL is Professor of Physics and Astronomy at George Mason University. She received the NASA Presidential Early Career Award for her work on infrared spectroscopy and instrumentation. Her research centers on understanding the connection between the growth and evolution of supermassive black holes and the host galaxies in which they reside.
Black holes, demystified: follow along the quest to understand the history and influence of one of space science's most fascinating and confounding phenomena
Led by physicist James Trefil and astrophysicist Shobita Satyapal, this book traverses the incredible history of black holes and introduces contemporary developments and theories on still unanswered questions about the enigmatic objects. From the early work of Albert Einstein and Karl Schwarzschild to an insider look at black hole-galaxy connection research led by co-author Satyapa, the comprehensive book surveys an exciting and evolving branch of space science, with topics that include:
Visibility of black holes
Quasars, the brightest objects in the universe
The black hole at the center of the Milky Way
Popular theories on the origin of black holes
Cosmic X rays
Death of supermassives
Black hole collisions
Black holes in science fiction
Invisible to the naked eye and telescopes, black holes have mystified and entranced astronomers, scientists, and humanity for more than a century. The first image of a supermassive black hole was only unveiled in 2019, and new black holes are continually discovered. Supermassive illuminates what we know about black holes so far and what we have yet to uncover.
Praise
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL "This comprehensive and insightful book explores the history of black holes, offering readers an eye-opening journey through their discovery and the science behind proving their existence. Written by a physicist and an astrophysicist, the book provides space enthusiasts with a rare insider’s perspective on the groundbreaking advancements that led to our current understanding of black holes. [...] Its strength lies in the authors’ evident passion for the subject and their admiration for the scientists who contributed to these discoveries. VERDICT A thrilling tour of the universe, spanning from its origins to its potential end."
Author
JAMES TREFIL is a professor of physics at George Mason University. He has written more than 50 books about science for the general audience and has served as Contributing Editor for Science for USA TODAY Weekend and as a regular contributor and science consultant for Smithsonian and Astronomy magazines. SHOBITA SATYAPAL is Professor of Physics and Astronomy at George Mason University. She received the NASA Presidential Early Career Award for her work on infrared spectroscopy and instrumentation. Her research centers on understanding the connection between the growth and evolution of supermassive black holes and the host galaxies in which they reside.
