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You’ve got questions…
…questions about space, time, gravity, and your odds of meeting your older self inside a wormhole. All the answers you need are right here.
As a species, we may not agree on much, but one thing brings us all together: a need to know. We all wonder, and deep down we all have the same big questions. Why can’t I travel back in time? Where did the universe come from? What’s inside a black hole? Can I rearrange the particles in my cat and turn it into a dog?
Physics professor Daniel Whiteson and scientist-turned-cartoonist Jorge Cham are experts at explaining science in ways we can all understand, in their books and on their popular podcast, Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe. With their signature blend of humor and oh-now-I-get-it clarity, Jorge and Daniel offer short, accessible, and lighthearted answers to some of the most common, most outrageous, and most profound questions about the universe they’ve received.
This witty, entertaining, and fully-illustrated book is an essential troubleshooting guide for the perplexing aspects of reality, big and small, from the invisible particles that make up your body to the identical version of you currently reading this exact sentence in the corner of some other galaxy. If the universe came with an FAQ, this would be it.
Glance inside…
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For media inquiries, contact May-Zhee Lim (Riverhead/PRH): mzlim@penguinrandomhouse.com
What people are saying:
“Cham and Whiteson use nontechnical language and humor to discuss the most up-to-date theories about the cosmos and humans’ place in it. Illustrated with Cham’s science-themed cartoons, the book is both educational and entertaining.”
– Physics Today
“Delightful, funny, and yet rigorous and intelligent: only Jorge and Daniel can reach this exquisite balance.”
– Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and Helgoland
“Amusing intro to the mysteries of the cosmos. . .The authors’ answers always feel fresh, and Cham’s fun cartoons are a treat. Entertaining and satisfying, this is sure to please.”
-Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The authors’ work fits neatly into the recently burgeoning market of breezy pop-science books full of jokes, asides, and cartoons that serve as introductions to concepts that require much further study to fully understand. A solid foundational education in a handful of lively scientific topics.”
– Kirkus
“These are some of the biggest questions humanity has ever asked and the authors tackle them with wit, humor, expertise, and humility. . . . an excellent, easy-to-understand resource for curious people who want to start learning about cosmology.”
– Booklist
About the Authors
Jorge Cham is the creator of “Piled Higher and Deeper” (a.k.a. “PHD Comics”), the popular comic strip about life (or lack thereof) in Academia. He holds a PhD in robotics from Stanford University and is a former instructor and research associate at Caltech.
Daniel Whiteson is a Professor of Physics at the Dept. of Physics & Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. and a fellow of the American Physical Society. He earned his PhD in physics from the University of California, Berkeley, and is an active researcher, using the Large Hadron Collider at CERN to search for exotic new particles.
Together they are the hosts of the popular podcast, Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe:
They previously collaborated on the popular science book We Have No Idea
And are the co-creators of the PBS animated series Elinor Wonders Why:
In addition, they have created videos that explain complex physics topics like The Higgs Boson, Gravitational Waves, Dark Matter and Extra Dimensions. Their videos have been viewed by millions of people, appeared in major media outlets and aired on PBS.
In bookstores Nov 2, 2021.
Order your copy now:
UK shoppers:
International Editions!
Frequently Asked Questions about the Universe will be translated to 13 languages (and counting!). Find your local publisher below:
| Territory | Language | Publisher |
| China (Mainland) | Chinese (simplified) | United Sky |
| Taiwan and Hong Kong | Chinese (complex) | Commonwealth Publishing |
| Czech Republic | Czech | Prah |
| France | French | Flammarion |
| Greece | Greek | Crete University Press |
| Hungary | Hungarian | Europa |
| Indonesia | Indonesian | PT Elexmedia Komputindo |
| Italy | Italian | Longanesi |
| Japan | Japanese | Diamond |
| Poland | Polish | Insignis |
| Portugal | Portuguese | Saída de Emergência |
| Romania | Romanian | Publica |
| Russia | Russian | Portal / Labirint |
| Turkey | Turkish | Indigo Kitap |
| U.K., Australia, Commonwealth | English | John Murrays |
| United States and Canada | English | Riverhead/PRH |
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