Books in Space Mysteries series

The Big Bang theory describes the very beginnings of the universe, when it was infinitesimally small and infinitely dense, and follows its rapid expansion and evolution, from the formation of nuclei within the first few minutes to the creation of the first galaxies a billion years later. The Big Bang theory is a cornerstone of modern cosmology, and although astronomers cannot directly observe the birth of the universe, the theory is widely accepted because it makes concrete predictions of the current observable universe, which have been tested repeatedly with striking success. Supporting the Next Generation Science Standards' emphasis on scientific collection and analysis of data and evidence-based theories, this book will help students understand the observational evidence supporting the Big Bang theory and speculate on the ultimate fate of the universe it implies.

Black holes seem like the stuff of science fiction. It's incredible to think there's a mass in the universe with such a strong pull of gravity that not even light can escape it. But it's not science fiction, and there isn't just one black hole out there. Diagrams and photographs help readers explore concepts that even scientists can't fully explain yet. This book will encourage future astrophysicists that more is going on in the night sky than meets the eye.

On December 26, 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detected gravitational waves generated from merging black holes for the first time in human history. Through an engaging, easily accessible approach, the origins, dynamics, and ultimate fate of black holes are thoroughly unraveled so that students without a scientific background can grasp complex physics theories. This book supports the Next Generation Science Standards' emphasis on scientific collection and analysis of data and evidence-based theories by discussing the methods research universities and space agencies use to explore black holes.

Every generation is filled with the wonder of what's out there beyond our planet, making space travel and exploration one of the most popular science topics of all time. But what happens to all that stuff we send up into outer space? Does it come back down to Earth or stay up there forever? This exciting, high-interest topic attracts even reluctant readers to read about STEAM topics. Fact boxes add extra information that's Out of this World! throughout the book. Each spread is complemented with vivid NASA photography.

Questions about the universe are as popular as they are daunting to answer. Let this book help satiate young readers curiosity about outer space and the universe by answering this important question. Each page is written with accessible, age-appropriate language and paired with visual aids, including tons of photography from NASA. Fact boxes with Out of this World! tidbits add interest throughout the work, while graphic organizers enhance engagement and comprehension. This book will be right at home in any library or classroom.

The Standard Model explains how the universe works at distances a billion times smaller than the size of an atom. However, in the Standard Model, none of the particles have mass, yet one only has to look around to see that things do have mass. Explaining the source of mass has been the goal of particle physicists for over half a century, culminating in the discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider in 2012. Supporting the Next Generation Science Standards' emphasis on scientific collection and analysis of data and evidence-based theories, this book simplifies the difficult concept of the Higgs mechanism through analogies to everyday experiences as well as pictures, diagrams, and intuitive explanations.

On December 26, 2015, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detected gravitational waves generated from merging black holes for the first time in human history. Through an engaging, easily accessible approach, the origins, dynamics, and ultimate fate of black holes are thoroughly unraveled so that students without a scientific background can grasp complex physics theories. This book supports the Next Generation Science Standards' emphasis on scientific collection and analysis of data and evidence-based theories by discussing the methods research universities and space agencies use to explore black holes.

"In September of 2015, the scientific world was buzzing: gravitational waves had been detected. It was a dramatic and conclusive demonstration of Einstein's theory of general relativity--the most complex and far-reaching theory in the history of physics. Through detailed diagrams, relatable analogies, and informative sidebars, this text cuts through the complexity and sophistication, providing an accessible introduction to the physics of waves, the implications of general relativity, and the ways in which gravitational waves can bring new understanding of the universe around us."--