Achilles in the Quantum Universe

With wit and insight, Morris takes the reader on a gentle tour through some of the more profound aspects of infinity, something that by definition defies description. Along the way, he introduces readers to many of the greatest minds in natural philosophy, logic, mathematics and science. His approach to infinity begins with simple mathematical puzzles and rapidly progresses to the most recent theories of the structure of matter. As is often the case in science, the readers are left with more questions than answers, but Morris touches on so much of what constitutes modern physics that they will come away satisfied in any case, and perhaps feeling that our universe tumbled down Alice's rabbit hole eons ago. Morris considers the likes of worm holes, black holes, superstrings, relativity and quantum mechanics, and the bizarre possibilities posed by an infinite number of populated worlds in an infinite number of co-existing universes, all of these conjectured by physicists as they push the limits of our understanding of nature. The earliest proponents of such thoughts were subject to ridicule, but today these concepts are up for fair discussion in mainstream science. Not that scientists don't have a sense of humor: Steven Hawking, Morris reports, has proposed a Chronology Protection Agency that would protect citizens from the bewildering consequences of time travel. Line drawings. (May)