Where are we? Who are we? Do our beliefs, hopes and dreams hold any significance out there in the void? Can human purpose and meaning ever fit into a scientific worldview? Award-winning author Sean Carroll brings his extraordinary intellect to bear on the realms of knowledge, the laws of nature and the most profound questions about life, death and our place in it all. From Darwin and Einstein to the origins of life, consciousness and the universe itself, Carroll combines cosmos-sprawling science and profound thought in a quest to explain our world. Destined to sit alongside the works of our greatest thinkers, The Big Picture demonstrates that while our lives may be forever dwarfed by the immensity of the universe, they can be redeemed by our capacity to comprehend it and give it meaning.

Stephen Hawking's closest collaborator offers the intellectual superstar's final thoughts on the universe. Perhaps the biggest question Stephen Hawking tried to answer in his extraordinary life was how the universe could have created conditions so perfectly hospitable to life. In order to solve this mystery, Hawking studied the big bang origin of the universe, but his early work ran into a crisis when the math predicted many big bangs producing a multiverse - countless different universes, most of which would be far too bizarre to harbour life. Holed up in the theoretical physics department at Cambridge, Stephen Hawking and his friend and collaborator Thomas Hertog worked on this problem for twenty years, developing a new theory of the cosmos that could account for the emergence of life. Peering into the extreme quantum physics of cosmic holograms and venturing far back in time, they were startled to find a deeper level of evolution in which the physical laws themselves transform and simplify until particles, forces, and even time itself fades away. This discovery led them to a revolutionary idea: The laws of physics are not set in stone but are born and co-evolve as the universe they govern takes shape. As Hawking's final days drew near, the two collaborators published their theory, which proposed a radical new Darwinian perspective on the origins of our universe. On the Origin of Time offers a striking new vision of the universe's birth that will profoundly transform the way we think about our place in the order of the cosmos and may ultimately prove to be Hawking's greatest legacy.

Told through the fascinating 'diary' of the Universe itself, along with astronaut Tim Peake and a host of expert space STEM characters, this book takes children on a mind-blowing adventure to understand some of the really big questions about how our incredible universe came to be. How old is the universe? How hot was the Big Bang? How are stars made? What happens when galaxies collide? What is a Black Hole? Would you like to eat Cosmic Soup? (Answer: No) Does extra-terrestrial life exist? What is the future of Planet Earth? Will humans ever live on another planet? The fascinating science behind some of these questions is explaining by STEM characters who occupy key space jobs - the space geologist, the cosmologist, the quantum physicist, the astronomer, and of course, the astronaut - who distil complex subjects with humour and playfulness, appealing to a kids hungry to know more about space, the universe and our place in it.

What are the mysterious numbers that unlock the secrets of the universe? In Fantastic Numbers and Where to Find Them, leading theoretical physicist and YouTube star Tony Padilla takes us on an irreverent cosmic tour of the most extraordinary numbers in physics, using them to build a picture of how the universe works. These include Graham's number, which is so large that if you thought about it in the wrong way, your head would collapse into a singularity; TREE(3) and the mathematical games that could carry on until the universe reset itself; and 10^{-120}, which measures the desperately unlikely balance of energy the universe, and you, need to exist. Leading us down the rabbit hole to the inner workings of reality, Padilla demonstrates how these unusual numbers-big, small and worryingly infinite-are the key to unlocking such mind-bending phenomena as black holes, the holographic truth and the problem of the cosmological constant, where our two best theories of the universe come together with embarrassing consequences. Combining cutting-edge science with an entertaining cosmic quest, Fantastic Numbers and Where to Find Them is an electrifying, head-twisting guide to the most fundamental truths of the universe.

What does it look like to study the whole of history, from the big bang through the present day—and even into the remote future? How does looking at the full span of time change the way we perceive the universe, Earth, and our very existence?In Origin Story, David Christian takes readers on a wild ride through the entire 13.8 billion years we've come to know as "history." By focusing on defining events (thresholds), major trends, and profound questions about our origins, Christian exposes the hidden threads that tie everything together—from the creation of the planet to the advent of agriculture, nuclear war, and beyond. With stunning insights into the dawn of the universe, the beginning of life, the emergence of humans, and what the future might bring, Origin Story boldly reframes our place in the cosmos.

What does it look like to study the whole of history, from the big bang through the present day—and even into the remote future? How does looking at the full span of time change the way we perceive the universe, Earth, and our very existence?In Origin Story, David Christian takes readers on a wild ride through the entire 13.8 billion years we've come to know as "history." By focusing on defining events (thresholds), major trends, and profound questions about our origins, Christian exposes the hidden threads that tie everything together—from the creation of the planet to the advent of agriculture, nuclear war, and beyond. With stunning insights into the dawn of the universe, the beginning of life, the emergence of humans, and what the future might bring, Origin Story boldly reframes our place in the cosmos.

From the world-renowned physicist and bestselling author of The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos, a captivating exploration of deep time and humanity's search for purpose In both time and space, the cosmos is astoundingly vast, and yet is governed by simple, elegant, universal mathematical laws. On this cosmic timeline, our human era is spectacular but fleeting. Someday, we know, we will all die. And, we know, so too will the universe itself. Until the End of Time is Brian Greene's breathtaking new exploration of the cosmos and our quest to understand it. Greene takes us on a journey across time, from our most refined understanding of the universe's beginning, to the closest science can take us to the very end. He explores how life and mind emerged from the initial chaos, and how our minds, in coming to understand their own impermanence, seek in different ways to give meaning to experience: in story, myth, religion, creative expression, science, the quest for truth, and our longing for the timeless, or eternal. Through a series of nested stories that explain distinct but interwoven layers of reality-from the quantum mechanics to consciousness to black holes-Greene provides us with a clearer sense of how we came to be, a finer picture of where we are now, and a firmer understanding of where we are headed. Yet all this understanding, which arose with the emergence of life, will dissolve with its conclusion. Which leaves us with one realization: during our brief moment in the sun, we are tasked with the charge of finding our own meaning.

Finding the true meaning of home... Rediscover Aesop's classic fable with this rhyming peep-through picture book. Richard Jones' charming illustrations perfectly capture this reimagined tale of two mice on a quest to find their place in the big wide world as they learn the true meaning of belonging and home.

The meaning of life. The variety of life. The secret of survival. Living together. This is life as we know it - and it is what biology is all about. The ever-dynamic Professor Robert Winston takes readers of all ages on a journey through life on Earth, showing how organisms live and survive on our "Goldilocks planet". All About Biology covers all the key topics including cells, the six kingdoms of life (eubacteria, archaeobacteria, protists, fungi, plants and animals), anatomy, behaviour, feeding, evolution, migration, photosynthesis, reproduction and more. Join in the discussions about whether people are the ultimate animals; which is the weirdest life form; and whether there's any alien life in the Universe. This children's book will knock spots off your school textbook by giving you the interesting information in an colourful, entertaining, and easy-to-understand way. You don't need to search the Universe for signs of life: it's all in this book!

The meaning of life. The diversity of life. The secret of survival. Live together. This is life as we know it - and this is the essence of biology.Ever-dynamic Professor Robert Winston invites readers of all ages on a journey through life on Earth, showing how organisms live and survive on our "Goldilocks Planet".Everything about biology covers all key topics, including cells, the six kingdoms of life (Eubacteria, archaebacteria, protists, fungi, plants and animals), anatomy, behavior, nutrition, evolution, migration, photosynthesis, reproduction and much more. Join the discussions about whether humans are superior animals; which of them is the strangest form of life; and whether there is any alien life in the universe.

The meaning of life. The diversity of life. The secret of survival. Live together. This is life as we know it - and this is the essence of biology.Ever-dynamic Professor Robert Winston invites readers of all ages on a journey through life on Earth, showing how organisms live and survive on our "Goldilocks Planet".Everything about biology covers all key topics, including cells, the six kingdoms of life (Eubacteria, archaebacteria, protists, fungi, plants and animals), anatomy, behavior, nutrition, evolution, migration, photosynthesis, reproduction and much more. Join the discussions about whether humans are superior animals; which of them is the strangest form of life; and whether there is any alien life in the universe.

From the world-renowned physicist and bestselling author of The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos, a captivating exploration of deep time and humanity’s search for purpose. In both time and space, the cosmos is astoundingly vast, and yet is governed by simple, elegant, universal mathematical laws. On this cosmic timeline, our human era is spectacular but fleeting. Someday, we know, we will all die. And, we know, so too will the universe itself. Until the End of Time is Brian Greene’s breathtaking new exploration of the cosmos and our quest to understand it. Greene takes us on a journey across time, from our most refined understanding of the universe’s beginning, to the closest science can take us to the very end. He explores how life and mind emerged from the initial chaos, and how our minds, in coming to understand their own impermanence, seek in different ways to give meaning to experience: in story, myth, religion, creative expression, science, the quest for truth, and our longing for the timeless, or eternal. Through a series of nested stories that explain distinct but interwoven layers of reality-from the quantum mechanics to consciousness to black holes-Greene provides us with a clearer sense of how we came to be, a finer picture of where we are now, and a firmer understanding of where we are headed. Yet all this understanding, which arose with the emergence of life, will dissolve with its conclusion. Which leaves us with one realization: during our brief moment in the sun, we are tasked with the charge of finding our own meaning. Let us embark.

From the world-renowned physicist and bestselling author of The Elegant Universe and The Fabric of the Cosmos, a captivating exploration of deep time and humanity’s search for purpose. In both time and space, the cosmos is astoundingly vast, and yet is governed by simple, elegant, universal mathematical laws. On this cosmic timeline, our human era is spectacular but fleeting. Someday, we know, we will all die. And, we know, so too will the universe itself. Until the End of Time is Brian Greene’s breathtaking new exploration of the cosmos and our quest to understand it. Greene takes us on a journey across time, from our most refined understanding of the universe’s beginning, to the closest science can take us to the very end. He explores how life and mind emerged from the initial chaos, and how our minds, in coming to understand their own impermanence, seek in different ways to give meaning to experience: in story, myth, religion, creative expression, science, the quest for truth, and our longing for the timeless, or eternal. Through a series of nested stories that explain distinct but interwoven layers of reality-from the quantum mechanics to consciousness to black holes-Greene provides us with a clearer sense of how we came to be, a finer picture of where we are now, and a firmer understanding of where we are headed. Yet all this understanding, which arose with the emergence of life, will dissolve with its conclusion. Which leaves us with one realization: during our brief moment in the sun, we are tasked with the charge of finding our own meaning. Let us embark.

Discover the greatest story ever told: the story of life on our planet, from the big bang to the dinosaurs and beyond. Before humans took their first steps, there were billions of years of vibrant and varied life on earth. Discover the fascinating story of our planet, from the formation of the universe to the first mammals, and all the incredible life that flourished in-between. Covering ice ages and fossils, life in the teeming primeval seas and the first life on land, the time of the dinosaurs and the rise of the mammals, Martin Jenkins navigates through millions of years of prehistory in enthralling and accessible style. With gorgeous art from the Kate Greenaway Medal-winning illustrator Grahame Baker Smith, this is a captivating journey through the life of our planet before we called it ours.

Once upon a star there were no stars to shine no Sun to rise no Sun to set no day no night nor any time Discover the origins of the universe and how our solar system was formed. The narrative verse takes the reader on an immersive journey through space and time, illuminated by striking, dynamic illustrations. The worlds of poetry and non-fiction collide to create a beautiful, unique picture book about our Sun.

Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs. The Astounding Interconnectedness of the UniverseThe most thrilling, genre-busting, unlikely science book you’ll ever read, from the world-renowned, multi-award-winning, superstar physicist Lisa Randal. 66 million years ago, a ten-mile-wide object from outer space hurtled into the Earth at incredible speed. The impact annihilated the dinosaurs, along with three-quarters of the other species on the planet. But what if this catastrophe was the sign of something greater: an opening vista onto the interconnectedness of the universe itself? This is the story of the astounding forces that underpin our existence; a horizon-expanding tour of the cosmos that unifies what we know about the universe with new thinking. From the far-flung reaches of space, the makeup of the universe and our solar system's place within it, to the mysterious and elusive stuff of dark matter and how it affects life here on Earth.