The 4 Percent Universe: Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Race to Discover the Rest of Reality Audiobook

Quotes

• “Somebody needed to tell this story—of all that is dark and mysterious in the cosmos. Science writer Richard Panek has risen to that task. In his journalistic yet artful style, Panek guides you through the quirky discoveries that established the existence of dark matter and dark energy. But along the way, you also get to meet the quirky cosmologists who got us there.”

  — Neil deGrasse Tyson, author of Death by Black Hole

• “It’s the biggest mystery of all: why is the universe expanding at an accelerated rate? At its heart is a search for what forces and particles make up reality. It baffled Einstein, and it now obsesses a cadre of fascinating cosmologists. By brilliantly capturing their passions and pursuits, Richard Panek has made this cosmic quest exciting and understandable.”

  — Walter Isaacson, New York Times bestselling author of Einstein: His Life and Universe

• “The 4 Percent Universe is a reliable and readable account of how scientists discovered—and are struggling to come to grips with—the astounding fact that most of the observable universe has not yet even been observed, much less understood. It has the further merit of relating how scientists arrive at their findings, rather than simply presenting their theories as objects of admiration or adoration. Highly recommended.”

  — Timothy Ferris, author of Coming of Age in the Milky Way and The Science of Liberty

• “Modern cosmology tackles some of the biggest questions we have about the nature of the cosmos. In The 4 Percent Universe, Richard Panek brings this quest down to a human scale. The rivalries, the surprises, and the excitement are brought vividly to life. People are a very tiny percentage of the universe, but we remain the most interesting part.”

  — Sean Carroll, author of From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time

• “A contemporary adventure story of modern-day explorers who venture forth into the universe not by ships, but by telescopes and satellites…Riveting.”

  — Lee Smolin, author of The Trouble with Physics

• “Science journalist Panek offers an insider’s view of the quest for what could be the ultimate revelation…This lively story of big personalities, intellectual competitiveness, and ravenous curiosity is as entertaining as it is illuminating.” 

  — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

• “A superior account of how astronomers discovered that they knew almost nothing about ninety-six percent of the universe…Panek delivers vivid sketches of scientists, lucid explanations of their work, and revealing descriptions of the often stormy rivalry that led to this scientific revolution, usually a media cliché, but not in this case.”

  — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

• “In an age when our telescopes can peer billions of years into the past, it’s humbling to learn that we don’t even know what ninety-six percent of the universe is made from. In this accessible audiobook, journalist Richard Panek explains the efforts of astronomers and physicists to unlock the twin mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. Ray Porter’s narration is perfectly paced, and his sonorous voice moves the story along with confidence, despite the sometimes technical nature of the text. But this is no dry physics lecture: Panek explains the quest for understanding through the colorful personalities who led the way, and Porter adds another layer of warmth with his characterizations.”

  — AudioFile