Is our universe dying? Could there be other universes? In Parallel Worlds, world-renowned physicist and bestselling author Michio Kaku—an author who “has a knack for bringing the most ethereal ideas down to earth” (Wall Street Journal)—takes readers on a fascinating tour of cosmology, M-theory, and its implications for the fate of the universe. In his first book of physics since Hyperspace, Michio Kaku begins by describing the extraordinary advances that have transformed cosmology over the last century, and particularly over the last decade, forcing scientists around the world to rethink our understanding of the birth of the universe, and its ultimate fate. In Dr. Kaku’s eyes, we are living in a golden age of physics, as new discoveries from the WMAP and COBE satellites and the Hubble space telescope have given us unprecedented pictures of our universe in its infancy. As astronomers wade through the avalanche of data from the WMAP satellite, a new cosmological picture is emerging. So far, the leading theory about the birth of the universe is the “inflationary universe theory,” a major refinement on the big bang theory. In this theory, our universe may be but one in a multiverse, floating like a bubble in an infinite sea of bubble universes, with new universes being created all the time. A parallel universe may well hover a mere millimeter from our own. The very idea of parallel universes and the string theory that can explain their existence was once viewed with suspicion by scientists, seen as the province of mystics, charlatans, and cranks. But today, physicists overwhelmingly support string-theory, and its latest iteration, M-theory, as it is this one theory that, if proven correct, would reconcile the four forces of the universe simply and elegantly, and answer the question “What happened before the big bang?” Already, Kaku explains, the world’s foremost physicists and astronomers are searching for ways to test the theory of the multiverse using highly sophisticated wave detectors, gravity lenses, satellites, and telescopes. The implications of M-theory are fascinating and endless. If parallel worlds do exist, Kaku speculates, in time, perhaps a trillion years or more from now, as appears likely, when our universe grows cold and dark in what scientists describe as a big freeze, advanced civilizations may well find a way to escape our universe in a kind of “inter-dimensional lifeboat.” An unforgettable journey into black holes and time machines, alternate universes, and multidimensional space, Parallel Worlds gives us a compelling portrait of the revolution sweeping the world of cosmology.
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“Narrator Marc Vietor comes across as a Cambridge don discoursing on the arc of physics over many years. His is a voice large and rich enough to encompass all…With Vietor, these abstract topics are made accessible and enjoyable for all levels of science aficionados. As a result, both the subject and the delivery are un-put-downable.”
— AudioFile
“Covers a tremendous amount of material…in a clear and lively way.”
— Los Angeles Times Book Review“Kaku is good at explaining the[se] cosmological ideas.”
— Scientific American“One hundred years ago, Albert Einstein revolutionized the science of cosmology. In Parallel Worlds, Michio Kaku, another genius, updates us on this science and speculates about the future of the universe.”
— San Antonio Express-News"Parallel Worlds, which meshes Kaku’s interests in physics and futurology, asks hair-raising questions…[and] runs through the recent history of cosmology.”
— Bookmarks Magazine“Accessible even for those of us who have trouble telling the difference between superstring theory and Silly String aerosol…Fascinating and sometimes downright boggling.”
— Sci Fi Magazine“Kaku caps a riveting popular treatment of the string revolution in physics.”
— Booklist (starred review)“Will excite readers with his vision of realms that may exist just beyond the tip of our noses.”
— Publishers Weekly“Deftly transforms the frontier of physics into a kind of amusement park, where you actually have fun while reading about Einstein’s relativity, quantum mechanics, cosmology, and string theory.”
— Neil deGrasse Tyson, New York Times bestselling authorBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Michio Kaku is a professor of physics at the City University of New York, cofounder of string field theory, and the author of several widely acclaimed science books. He is the science correspondent for CBS’s This Morning and host of the radio programs Science Fantastic and Explorations in Science.
Jim Meskimen is a stage, film, and television actor who has appeared in many well-known movies and television shows. He acted in Apollo 13 and Frost/Nixon for director Ron Howard, both of which were nominated for Best Picture Oscars. His television appearances include The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Friends, Lie to Me, Criminal Minds, and Parks and Recreation. He is also a painter, award-winning audiobook narrator, and audiobook director for Galaxy Audio.