Description

In her book Dark Matter and the Disappearance of Dinosaurs, Lisa Randall (Harvard University), one of the leading theoretical physicists in the world, invites readers on an intellectual adventure in the evolution of our Universe from the first moments after the Big Bang to the creation of Earth and the emergence of life on our planet.

On this journey, she will talk about how events that occurred billions of years ago in the far reaches of the Universe created conditions for life – but also for extinction – on our planet. Approximately 66 million years ago, an object the size of a city crashed into Earth, killing the dinosaurs, along with three-quarters of the planet's species.

Challenging the existing theories about the role and composition of dark matter, which constitutes 25% of the Universe's matter, Randall argues that the existence of a dark matter disk at the level of our Galaxy could be responsible for this catastrophic event.

Randall's book does not merely propose a radical idea about one of the most significant events that marked our planet and the evolution of life on it, but also clearly explains the creation of the Universe, dark matter, galaxies, and comets, as well as the role of asteroids.

Randall's captivating narrative combines references to pop culture, sociopolitical conditions, and the deeper connections between what we observe and what we have yet to observe, along with the stunning beauty of our surroundings. After reading this book, it will be impossible for you to look up at the sky or observe Earth in the same way.

Lisa Randall is a professor of physics at Harvard University. She is one of the most influential theoretical physicists in the world and has received numerous awards. Her research in particle physics and cosmology has led to theories beyond the Standard Model of Particle Physics, which can be experimentally tested at CERN's LHC, while much of her work pertains to String Theory. Randall is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, an honorary member of the Institute of Physics, and holds numerous honorary degrees.