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Space Oddities: The Mysterious Anomalies Challenging Our Understanding of the Universe
Experimental physicist at CERN and acclaimed science presenter Harry Cliff offers an eye-opening account of the inexplicable phenomena that science has only recently glimpsed, and that could transform our understanding of the fundamental nature of reality.
Something strange is going on in the cosmos. Scientists are uncovering a catalogue of weird phenomena that simply can’t be explained by our long-established theories of the universe. Particles with unbelievable energies are bursting from beneath the Antarctic ice. Unknown forces seem to be tugging on the basic building blocks of matter. Stars are flying away from us far faster than anyone can explain.
After decades of fruitless searching, could we finally be catching glimpses of a profound new view of our physical world? Or are we being fooled by cruel tricks of the data?
In Space Oddities, Harry Cliff, a physicist who does cutting-edge work on the Large Hadron Collider, provides a riveting look at the universe’s most confounding puzzles. In a journey that spans continents, from telescopes perched high above the Atacama Desert to the subterranean caverns of state-of-the-art particle colliders to balloons hovering over the frozen icesheets of the South Pole, he meets the men and women hunting for answers—who have staked their careers and reputations on the uncertain promise of new physics.
The result is a mind-expanding, of-the-moment look at the fields of physics and cosmology as they transform before us. With wonder, clarity, and a dose of humor, Cliff investigates the Are these anomalies accidents of nature, or could they be pointing us toward vast, hidden worlds?
Something strange is going on in the cosmos. Scientists are uncovering a catalogue of weird phenomena that simply can’t be explained by our long-established theories of the universe. Particles with unbelievable energies are bursting from beneath the Antarctic ice. Unknown forces seem to be tugging on the basic building blocks of matter. Stars are flying away from us far faster than anyone can explain.
After decades of fruitless searching, could we finally be catching glimpses of a profound new view of our physical world? Or are we being fooled by cruel tricks of the data?
In Space Oddities, Harry Cliff, a physicist who does cutting-edge work on the Large Hadron Collider, provides a riveting look at the universe’s most confounding puzzles. In a journey that spans continents, from telescopes perched high above the Atacama Desert to the subterranean caverns of state-of-the-art particle colliders to balloons hovering over the frozen icesheets of the South Pole, he meets the men and women hunting for answers—who have staked their careers and reputations on the uncertain promise of new physics.
The result is a mind-expanding, of-the-moment look at the fields of physics and cosmology as they transform before us. With wonder, clarity, and a dose of humor, Cliff investigates the Are these anomalies accidents of nature, or could they be pointing us toward vast, hidden worlds?
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 26, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 9, 2024
It may be time to accept that particle physics may be just a bit over my head. By the time we get to “strange quarks” and “beauty quarks” I may be justified in thinking that those physicists are just messing with me.
Magnetic muons, missing antisocial neutrinos, muon neutrinos, pions, kaons, leptons, strong and weak forces, the standard model, beauty quarks, strange quarks — the list goes on and on and I’m starting to wonder if physics parties may just involve a bunch of quite *interesting* substances.
The alphabet soup of tiny particles aside, I was fascinated by candid accounts of attempted physics breakthroughs (wouldn’t it be fun to find something new in physics and upend our understanding of reality?) that got thwarted by experiments agreeing with existing theories and not the new shiny ones, and the thresholds needed to show that the findings are actually significant and not just wishful thinking and chance (five sigmas!), and how sometimes experiment disagreeing with the theory may be due to flaws in the experiment and not the theory itself.
Harry Cliff presents the confusing (at least to me) subject very enthusiastically, to say the least, and patiently explains what must be elementary to him but a dense thicket of stuff to me — and it indeed starts making sense (well, for five minutes until my brain purges itself in favor of something easier), and that’s a skill. He’s frank about things that got people (including him) overexcited but did not win against the established theory, and the explanation of how scientific breakthroughs do NOT happen to me was just as interesting as if they had.
I don’t think I’ll ever be a fan of or will quite understand much about particle physics, but nevertheless this was quite interesting, even if I will forget it all shortly.
3.5 stars.
——————
Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
“The first anomaly to emerge related to a specific type of decay where a beauty quark transforms into a strange quark (that’s its formal designation, not just a statement of opinion) along with two muons, those heavy cousins of the electron.”
Magnetic muons, missing antisocial neutrinos, muon neutrinos, pions, kaons, leptons, strong and weak forces, the standard model, beauty quarks, strange quarks — the list goes on and on and I’m starting to wonder if physics parties may just involve a bunch of quite *interesting* substances.
“Now, there is nothing that gets particle physicists more hot and bothered than a bump in a graph.”
The alphabet soup of tiny particles aside, I was fascinated by candid accounts of attempted physics breakthroughs (wouldn’t it be fun to find something new in physics and upend our understanding of reality?) that got thwarted by experiments agreeing with existing theories and not the new shiny ones, and the thresholds needed to show that the findings are actually significant and not just wishful thinking and chance (five sigmas!), and how sometimes experiment disagreeing with the theory may be due to flaws in the experiment and not the theory itself.
“The stakes are high, both for our understanding of nature and for the future of neutrino physics as a whole. Whatever happens, it’s clear that nature’s most elusive ingredients will continue to beguile, confuse, and fascinate for years to come. And if we keep searching, experimenting, and theorizing, there’s a chance that one day, perhaps not too far from now, they will give us our first opening into the dark universe, setting us off on a thrilling new journey of discovery.”
Harry Cliff presents the confusing (at least to me) subject very enthusiastically, to say the least, and patiently explains what must be elementary to him but a dense thicket of stuff to me — and it indeed starts making sense (well, for five minutes until my brain purges itself in favor of something easier), and that’s a skill. He’s frank about things that got people (including him) overexcited but did not win against the established theory, and the explanation of how scientific breakthroughs do NOT happen to me was just as interesting as if they had.
“[…] Whenever you are working at the limits of knowledge, you run the risk of making mistakes, but errors can be the greatest training of all. When I was an undergraduate, one of my tutors, a white-bearded wire of a man named Bob Butcher, had a simple phrase stuck above his desk that has stayed with me: “I’ve learned so much from my mistakes, I think I’ll make another.”
I don’t think I’ll ever be a fan of or will quite understand much about particle physics, but nevertheless this was quite interesting, even if I will forget it all shortly.
3.5 stars.
——————
Thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
——————
Also posted on my blog.
February 20, 2024
The book "Space Oddities: The Mysterious Anomalies Challenging Our Understanding of the Universe" by Harry Cliff offers a fascinating and mind-expanding account of the inexplicable phenomena that science has only recently glimpsed. Cliff, an experimental physicist at CERN, takes the readers on a riveting journey across continents, meeting the men and women who are hunting for answers to the universe's most confounding puzzles.
What may frustrate some is that lack of answers to many of these oddities.
We've got a ways to go!
The book provides a of-the-moment look at the fields of physics and cosmology as they transform before us, investigating whether these anomalies are accidents of nature or could be pointing us toward vast, hidden worlds. With wonder, clarity, and a dose of humor, Cliff's narrative is both engaging and thought-provoking, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the mysteries of the universe.
Given the detailed and engaging exploration of unexplained phenomena in the universe, "Space Oddities" is a captivating and thought-provoking read that offers a fresh perspective on our understanding of the cosmos. The author's expertise and engaging narrative style make this book a valuable addition to the literature on physics and cosmology.
Whether you're a science enthusiast or simply curious about the mysteries of the universe, "Space Oddities" is sure to expand your mind and leave you with a sense of wonder about the unknown forces at play in the cosmos.
What may frustrate some is that lack of answers to many of these oddities.
We've got a ways to go!
The book provides a of-the-moment look at the fields of physics and cosmology as they transform before us, investigating whether these anomalies are accidents of nature or could be pointing us toward vast, hidden worlds. With wonder, clarity, and a dose of humor, Cliff's narrative is both engaging and thought-provoking, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the mysteries of the universe.
Given the detailed and engaging exploration of unexplained phenomena in the universe, "Space Oddities" is a captivating and thought-provoking read that offers a fresh perspective on our understanding of the cosmos. The author's expertise and engaging narrative style make this book a valuable addition to the literature on physics and cosmology.
Whether you're a science enthusiast or simply curious about the mysteries of the universe, "Space Oddities" is sure to expand your mind and leave you with a sense of wonder about the unknown forces at play in the cosmos.
December 6, 2023
Arresting insight into the head-scratching conundrums of the universe that have befuddled physicists and cosmologists for decades. Whether it's outlining the ghostly behavior of neutrinos and muons, highlighting the cryptic nature of dark matter and energy, or dissecting the experimental anomalies that arise as scientists attempt to close in on a unified theory of the universe, Harry Cliff gives readers bite-sized intel into the oddities that shape our physical reality. Big and small. It's fascinating!
I think what struck me most about this book is that there's still so much we don't know about what we think we already know about the universe. For instance, there might be evidence to suggest that the so-called "standard model" in physics is wrong. Or, if not wrong, then at least missing elements that have yet to be uncovered. Incredible, really!
Definitely worth a read for all of you existential thinkers out there!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for the ARC in exchange for my review!
BOOK BLOG
I think what struck me most about this book is that there's still so much we don't know about what we think we already know about the universe. For instance, there might be evidence to suggest that the so-called "standard model" in physics is wrong. Or, if not wrong, then at least missing elements that have yet to be uncovered. Incredible, really!
Definitely worth a read for all of you existential thinkers out there!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for the ARC in exchange for my review!
BOOK BLOG
Want to read
March 22, 2024WSJ review: https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/book...
(Paywalled. As always, I'm happy to email a copy to non-subscribers)
Excerpt:
"For a few decades we’ve known that ordinary matter makes up only about 5% of the universe. The rest is made up of other entities, known as dark energy and dark matter, which are pushing and pulling on space-time. “When you hear the word ‘dark’ being used by physicists,” notes Mr. Cliff, “you should get very suspicious because it generally means we don’t know what we’re talking about.”
Indeed. Some hints (here and elsewhere) of resolving this conundrum. Stay tuned!
(Paywalled. As always, I'm happy to email a copy to non-subscribers)
Excerpt:
"For a few decades we’ve known that ordinary matter makes up only about 5% of the universe. The rest is made up of other entities, known as dark energy and dark matter, which are pushing and pulling on space-time. “When you hear the word ‘dark’ being used by physicists,” notes Mr. Cliff, “you should get very suspicious because it generally means we don’t know what we’re talking about.”
Indeed. Some hints (here and elsewhere) of resolving this conundrum. Stay tuned!
April 7, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and to Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House for providing a copy of this book for review.
First off, hats off to Harry Cliff for excellent use of chapter titles as enticements. My favorite is "The Fall of Planet Vulcan."
The focus of this book is not on expected scientific observations, but rather zeroes in on the unexpected, the "What the Heck is that?!?" moment, when an anomaly is noted.
The prologue concerns CERN's Large Hadron Collider and the field of particle physics, and yes, it truy is exciting.
Particle physicists and Astrophysicists can be thought of as the *micro* and the *macro* ways of viewing everything in existence. What both types of physicists have in common is that they are interested in the effects of what they find. If you discover a previously unidentified force, you immediately want to know its impact, and what particular influences on that force cause its behavior to be variable.
If you look back through time at the birth of the cosmos, you want to know if the Universe has been speeding up or slowing down in its expansion, and if there are different ways to measure this more precisely. In both cases, you want to know what it means for humanity, because even scientists can't help but be anthrocentric.
The very first thing my non-physicist brain wanted to know was why galaxies collide at all, in the context of the Hubble constant, and whether this was a tiny example of the Hubble Tension problem. As it turns out, the behavior of galaxies nearest each other is different than those far away from each other, which makes perfect sense, when you think of them as powerhouses of collected and dispersed energy. Of course, stars are incredibly far apart from each other within a galaxy (imagine what the night sky would look like if they were closer together!) Therefore, even when galaxies do subsume each other, there is relatively little actual colliding going on. But, if you can wait, about four to five billion years from now, give or take, the night sky viewed from Earth will look a lot different.
Of course, since most of the Universe is made up of matter that we can't see, we are forgiven for our nascent level of understanding about how it all works.
This very readable explainer endeavors to make budding physicists of us all, and I am here for it, particularly the emphasis on found exceptions. Instead of trying to fit the data to a preconceived notion, we would do well to see where the evidence leads. Much like a good detective, a good scientist investigates by looking for the details that seem out of place. It's an approach that allows for more illuminating and more quickly reached breakthroughs than the scientific method currently provides on its own. In almost any discipline, if you hit a roadbloack, try changing your methodology. It might just surprise you in a Eureka! kind of way.
I highly recommend this book for all levels of scientific expertise, but most especially for those of us who need foundational principles explained.
First off, hats off to Harry Cliff for excellent use of chapter titles as enticements. My favorite is "The Fall of Planet Vulcan."
The focus of this book is not on expected scientific observations, but rather zeroes in on the unexpected, the "What the Heck is that?!?" moment, when an anomaly is noted.
The prologue concerns CERN's Large Hadron Collider and the field of particle physics, and yes, it truy is exciting.
Particle physicists and Astrophysicists can be thought of as the *micro* and the *macro* ways of viewing everything in existence. What both types of physicists have in common is that they are interested in the effects of what they find. If you discover a previously unidentified force, you immediately want to know its impact, and what particular influences on that force cause its behavior to be variable.
If you look back through time at the birth of the cosmos, you want to know if the Universe has been speeding up or slowing down in its expansion, and if there are different ways to measure this more precisely. In both cases, you want to know what it means for humanity, because even scientists can't help but be anthrocentric.
The very first thing my non-physicist brain wanted to know was why galaxies collide at all, in the context of the Hubble constant, and whether this was a tiny example of the Hubble Tension problem. As it turns out, the behavior of galaxies nearest each other is different than those far away from each other, which makes perfect sense, when you think of them as powerhouses of collected and dispersed energy. Of course, stars are incredibly far apart from each other within a galaxy (imagine what the night sky would look like if they were closer together!) Therefore, even when galaxies do subsume each other, there is relatively little actual colliding going on. But, if you can wait, about four to five billion years from now, give or take, the night sky viewed from Earth will look a lot different.
Of course, since most of the Universe is made up of matter that we can't see, we are forgiven for our nascent level of understanding about how it all works.
This very readable explainer endeavors to make budding physicists of us all, and I am here for it, particularly the emphasis on found exceptions. Instead of trying to fit the data to a preconceived notion, we would do well to see where the evidence leads. Much like a good detective, a good scientist investigates by looking for the details that seem out of place. It's an approach that allows for more illuminating and more quickly reached breakthroughs than the scientific method currently provides on its own. In almost any discipline, if you hit a roadbloack, try changing your methodology. It might just surprise you in a Eureka! kind of way.
I highly recommend this book for all levels of scientific expertise, but most especially for those of us who need foundational principles explained.
March 18, 2024
Space Oddities is modern science at work. It's mostly to do with particle physics, but whilst that highly theoretical realm always leaves me feeling 'does it matter?' the link between our understanding of the universe and why the only current solution to the missing mass is 'dark matter' are things I find baffling.
No longer.
Harry Cliff discusses the most complex science debates in physics to give us lesser mortals a good chance of understanding it. Even if I could only cope with one chapter at a time, due to brain fatigue. He also writes in a way that turns the search for the elusive anomalies into a thriller - and a highly suspenseful enjoyable one (with nobody under sentence of death or a more gory fate). It would have been good to have the diagram of the Standard Theory earlier, though
I did find myself wondering several times: but why does it matter? Why are we prepared to spend billions of dollars on extremely expensive kit that uses enormous amounts of substances extracted from the ground at huge environmental cost, then send billions of volts through them for years at a time to see what happens? The answer is partly that a huge number of academics are involved, and most governments like to support academics who might add prestige to their faltering political careers. What does it do to help you and me?
And then, you could say much the same about football (any version). Why does it matter? It's the goal, the prize at the end...
No longer.
Harry Cliff discusses the most complex science debates in physics to give us lesser mortals a good chance of understanding it. Even if I could only cope with one chapter at a time, due to brain fatigue. He also writes in a way that turns the search for the elusive anomalies into a thriller - and a highly suspenseful enjoyable one (with nobody under sentence of death or a more gory fate). It would have been good to have the diagram of the Standard Theory earlier, though
I did find myself wondering several times: but why does it matter? Why are we prepared to spend billions of dollars on extremely expensive kit that uses enormous amounts of substances extracted from the ground at huge environmental cost, then send billions of volts through them for years at a time to see what happens? The answer is partly that a huge number of academics are involved, and most governments like to support academics who might add prestige to their faltering political careers. What does it do to help you and me?
And then, you could say much the same about football (any version). Why does it matter? It's the goal, the prize at the end...
January 13, 2024
Thanks to Harry Cliff, Doubleday Books, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I decided to request this book due to my love of all things space, science, and nature. I found this book to be an interesting combination of science/particle physics and space/astrophysics. And while both are topics of particular interest to me, I was surprised to find that most of this book talked about particle physics, and the nuanced, and seemingly chaotic relationship that has resulted in so many unknowns about the universe and our existence. It also provides a unique insight into the history of particle physics, and how so much of our understanding and knowledge has been developed in recent years. It also provides interesting context about how little of the universe has been discovered, and how much of it is unknown.
The topics discussed within the book are complex, even when summarized in layman’s terms. However, Harry Cliff does a good job of providing appropriate context, weaving in personal stories, and using appropriate language to make these difficult topics easier to understand. Kudos, Harry!
I do think that the book summary should be updated to better communicate the complex topics of particle physics that consume more than 50+% of the book.
Overall, I provided this book with 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 stars. I would recommend this book to a friend, although with caution that the topics are difficult, and it should be read only if you have a passion for particle physics and/or astrophysics.
I decided to request this book due to my love of all things space, science, and nature. I found this book to be an interesting combination of science/particle physics and space/astrophysics. And while both are topics of particular interest to me, I was surprised to find that most of this book talked about particle physics, and the nuanced, and seemingly chaotic relationship that has resulted in so many unknowns about the universe and our existence. It also provides a unique insight into the history of particle physics, and how so much of our understanding and knowledge has been developed in recent years. It also provides interesting context about how little of the universe has been discovered, and how much of it is unknown.
The topics discussed within the book are complex, even when summarized in layman’s terms. However, Harry Cliff does a good job of providing appropriate context, weaving in personal stories, and using appropriate language to make these difficult topics easier to understand. Kudos, Harry!
I do think that the book summary should be updated to better communicate the complex topics of particle physics that consume more than 50+% of the book.
Overall, I provided this book with 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4 stars. I would recommend this book to a friend, although with caution that the topics are difficult, and it should be read only if you have a passion for particle physics and/or astrophysics.
March 28, 2024
In this delightfully readable book, Harry Cliff takes us into the anomalies that are starting to make areas of physics seems to be nearing a paradigm shift, just as occurred in the past with relativity and quantum theory.
We start with, we are introduced to some past anomalies linked to changes in viewpoint, such as the precession of Mercury (explained by general relativity, though originally blamed on an undiscovered planet near the Sun), and then move on to a few examples of apparent discoveries being wrong: the BICEP2 evidence for inflation (where the result was caused by dust, not the polarisation being studied), the disappearance of an interesting blip in LHC results, and an apparent mistake in the manipulation of numbers that resulted in alleged discovery of dark matter particles. These are used to explain how statistics plays a part, and the significance of sigmas.
We go on to explore a range of anomalies in particle physics and cosmology that may indicate either a breakdown in the standard model of particle physics or provide small moves towards understanding what's going in with big bang cosmology, dark matter or dark energy. Cliff brings these stories alive, often speaking to individuals involved - in fact, in one case (the ANITA neutrino experiment) he spends too much time on the context of both the individual and the nuts and bolts of making the experiment work, where we could do with a bit more of the science - but mostly this works very well.
All this is done in a highly conversational style. I loved the way, for instance, that experimentalist Cliff refers to theoretical physicists getting over-excited by a Large Hadron Collider result that was later eliminated by saying 'It was theoretical physicists, the overexcitable little dears, who were so desperate for signs of something new that they were prepared to jump on any bump, no matter how insubstantial.'
My only real concern about the book is that Cliff really should have read the recent title The Blind Spot, pointing out some shortcomings in the approach of many scientists, particularly physicists. As is too often the case with popular science, he sometimes states as fact theories that are not universally accepted because there is no direct evidence to support them. This is particular obvious in talking about inflation and dark matter particles (as opposed to other explanations of the dark matter phenomenon). This is particular ironic here, where in both cases apparent anomalies he covers prove to be false dawns.
There are also occasions (again a problem pointed out in The Blind Spot) where, despite Cliff making clear the limitations of theory, he appears to make the mistake of confusing scientific models with reality. So, for example, when introducing quantum field theory he says 'Funny as it may seem, it is these fields, not particles, that are the ultimate constituents of our universe'. Contrast this with Richard Feynman in his book QED 'I want to emphasize that light comes in this form – particles. It is very important to know that light behaves like particles, especially for those of you who have gone to school, where you were probably told about light behaving like waves. I’m telling you the way it does behave – like particles.' The reality is that quantum fields, particles and waves, as means of describing quantum entities, are all models. None of them is real or 'ultimate constituents': they are extremely useful mathematical metaphors. Note the way Feynman uses 'like particles' - a safer approach.
Nonetheless, this is an excellent book, because Cliff is bringing to the fore these anomalies that often get a brief mention and then are pushed under the carpet. This is both fascinating and exciting when we think about the new directions that science in general and physics in particular might take in the future. Recommended.
We start with, we are introduced to some past anomalies linked to changes in viewpoint, such as the precession of Mercury (explained by general relativity, though originally blamed on an undiscovered planet near the Sun), and then move on to a few examples of apparent discoveries being wrong: the BICEP2 evidence for inflation (where the result was caused by dust, not the polarisation being studied), the disappearance of an interesting blip in LHC results, and an apparent mistake in the manipulation of numbers that resulted in alleged discovery of dark matter particles. These are used to explain how statistics plays a part, and the significance of sigmas.
We go on to explore a range of anomalies in particle physics and cosmology that may indicate either a breakdown in the standard model of particle physics or provide small moves towards understanding what's going in with big bang cosmology, dark matter or dark energy. Cliff brings these stories alive, often speaking to individuals involved - in fact, in one case (the ANITA neutrino experiment) he spends too much time on the context of both the individual and the nuts and bolts of making the experiment work, where we could do with a bit more of the science - but mostly this works very well.
All this is done in a highly conversational style. I loved the way, for instance, that experimentalist Cliff refers to theoretical physicists getting over-excited by a Large Hadron Collider result that was later eliminated by saying 'It was theoretical physicists, the overexcitable little dears, who were so desperate for signs of something new that they were prepared to jump on any bump, no matter how insubstantial.'
My only real concern about the book is that Cliff really should have read the recent title The Blind Spot, pointing out some shortcomings in the approach of many scientists, particularly physicists. As is too often the case with popular science, he sometimes states as fact theories that are not universally accepted because there is no direct evidence to support them. This is particular obvious in talking about inflation and dark matter particles (as opposed to other explanations of the dark matter phenomenon). This is particular ironic here, where in both cases apparent anomalies he covers prove to be false dawns.
There are also occasions (again a problem pointed out in The Blind Spot) where, despite Cliff making clear the limitations of theory, he appears to make the mistake of confusing scientific models with reality. So, for example, when introducing quantum field theory he says 'Funny as it may seem, it is these fields, not particles, that are the ultimate constituents of our universe'. Contrast this with Richard Feynman in his book QED 'I want to emphasize that light comes in this form – particles. It is very important to know that light behaves like particles, especially for those of you who have gone to school, where you were probably told about light behaving like waves. I’m telling you the way it does behave – like particles.' The reality is that quantum fields, particles and waves, as means of describing quantum entities, are all models. None of them is real or 'ultimate constituents': they are extremely useful mathematical metaphors. Note the way Feynman uses 'like particles' - a safer approach.
Nonetheless, this is an excellent book, because Cliff is bringing to the fore these anomalies that often get a brief mention and then are pushed under the carpet. This is both fascinating and exciting when we think about the new directions that science in general and physics in particular might take in the future. Recommended.
January 28, 2024
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Doubleday for an advance copy of this look at our universe the questions that seem to be arising and what happen is everything we once thought was true became just theories or completely wrong.
There is a quote, "The more I know the less I understand" from the talented drummer, lyricist and singer Don Henley, which is close to another quote from noted Marilyn Monroe fancier Albert Einstein, "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know". Same meaning, different words. That is how many view science. One explanation is as good as another, as long as the answer is the same. Saves on learning new things. However science can't work like that, as without an understanding of why things happen, there can be no real growth. No furtherance of knowledge. The only problem is as Harry Cliff points out in his book Space Oddities: The Mysterious Anomalies Challenging Our Understanding of the Universe, the more we learn, the more confused scientists are finding themselves. Have scientists been on the wrong path or are there new truths awaiting us, maybe some sort of "...(I)t's full of stars" moments. Cliff looks at these conundrums, and offers new ways of thinking about a lot of things.
The book begins almost like a thriller but from real life. Different scenes from science, out in the field, in offices and on Zoom, with secret formulas, lots of lights under the ice and applause from other scientists in group chats. From there Cliff begins to look at some of the oddities that are appearing in science. The book moves to the thought that another planet was effecting the orbit of Mercury, an idea that was cleared up by Albert Einstein in the early part of the twentieth century. From there we jump to an important announcement, that turns out to have cooked the data to prove what the team wanted to prove. Cliff moves more into the present day, including stories about the people he has worked wth, and some of the odd things that are being observed, with many questions, and lots of hmm that's funny.
This is pretty heavy book in some spots, however Harry Cliff is a very good writer and while the material might be dense, Cliff explains everything well, and makes it well sometimes not easy but followable. I never felt lost, maybe a little behind sometimes, but Cliff brought me back. Cliff has a nice writing style, smart, and yet funny with plenty of anecdotes, and stories about the people involved, that helps in making some of the science relatable. There were a lot of oh that seems important, or oh if they are confused that should be something that people should really get onto. A very interesting read, one I was not expecting, but enjoyed quite a bit.
Recommended for science readers who find pop science books kind of dull. There is some dense thoughts here, but again Cliff is very good explaining this. Burgeoning science fiction writers will probably get a lot out of this, as the science is pretty cutting edge, and the there are a lot of ideas here that could make for interesting novels. This is the first book I have read by Cliff, but I plan to read some of Cliff's earlier books, as this had a lot of fascinating moments.
There is a quote, "The more I know the less I understand" from the talented drummer, lyricist and singer Don Henley, which is close to another quote from noted Marilyn Monroe fancier Albert Einstein, "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know". Same meaning, different words. That is how many view science. One explanation is as good as another, as long as the answer is the same. Saves on learning new things. However science can't work like that, as without an understanding of why things happen, there can be no real growth. No furtherance of knowledge. The only problem is as Harry Cliff points out in his book Space Oddities: The Mysterious Anomalies Challenging Our Understanding of the Universe, the more we learn, the more confused scientists are finding themselves. Have scientists been on the wrong path or are there new truths awaiting us, maybe some sort of "...(I)t's full of stars" moments. Cliff looks at these conundrums, and offers new ways of thinking about a lot of things.
The book begins almost like a thriller but from real life. Different scenes from science, out in the field, in offices and on Zoom, with secret formulas, lots of lights under the ice and applause from other scientists in group chats. From there Cliff begins to look at some of the oddities that are appearing in science. The book moves to the thought that another planet was effecting the orbit of Mercury, an idea that was cleared up by Albert Einstein in the early part of the twentieth century. From there we jump to an important announcement, that turns out to have cooked the data to prove what the team wanted to prove. Cliff moves more into the present day, including stories about the people he has worked wth, and some of the odd things that are being observed, with many questions, and lots of hmm that's funny.
This is pretty heavy book in some spots, however Harry Cliff is a very good writer and while the material might be dense, Cliff explains everything well, and makes it well sometimes not easy but followable. I never felt lost, maybe a little behind sometimes, but Cliff brought me back. Cliff has a nice writing style, smart, and yet funny with plenty of anecdotes, and stories about the people involved, that helps in making some of the science relatable. There were a lot of oh that seems important, or oh if they are confused that should be something that people should really get onto. A very interesting read, one I was not expecting, but enjoyed quite a bit.
Recommended for science readers who find pop science books kind of dull. There is some dense thoughts here, but again Cliff is very good explaining this. Burgeoning science fiction writers will probably get a lot out of this, as the science is pretty cutting edge, and the there are a lot of ideas here that could make for interesting novels. This is the first book I have read by Cliff, but I plan to read some of Cliff's earlier books, as this had a lot of fascinating moments.
February 20, 2024
If you did any science to a high enough degree, or have read much popular science, you'll know that the wrinkle in the scientific method is the people. People like to hang on their theories, if something works nine times out of ten, throwing away that tenth version means it worked all the time and things get lost. Space Oddities is about what happens when science got better, tried to get out of these bad habits, and what it does with its anomalous results now. Harry Cliff is a particle physicist, and this is another science book that spends much time hanging out at the Large Hadron Collider. Because every time we get close to a consistent theory of the universe, something always throws it out of whack. Nothing more so than Dark Energy and Dark Matter, something we know must be there but can't detect. So Harry travels the world in the book, from Switzerland to Antarctica looking at teams trying to solve some of these very gnarly issues with very tiny things.
What makes this the most working science book I've read in quite some time is that there are no grand revelations and no great breakthroughs. Instead, he is at pains to describe the level of evidence required to start playing with scientific anomalies, and the probability stuff is fascinating and no doubt remarkably frustrating for the scientists. There are a lot of astronomers here who would love to be looking at the edge of the universe, but instead are looking at records of photon hits on a sensor on the ice. This means it can be a little frustrating narratively, there is not much of a conclusion - its more of a check-in than anything else. But as he describes rival teams of scientists hoping they get the same results from the same data, there is something still quite breathlessly exciting about it all.
What makes this the most working science book I've read in quite some time is that there are no grand revelations and no great breakthroughs. Instead, he is at pains to describe the level of evidence required to start playing with scientific anomalies, and the probability stuff is fascinating and no doubt remarkably frustrating for the scientists. There are a lot of astronomers here who would love to be looking at the edge of the universe, but instead are looking at records of photon hits on a sensor on the ice. This means it can be a little frustrating narratively, there is not much of a conclusion - its more of a check-in than anything else. But as he describes rival teams of scientists hoping they get the same results from the same data, there is something still quite breathlessly exciting about it all.
February 24, 2024
From the smallest components of the universe to the largest, most massive celestial bodies, everything is tied together. Or it may be. Or maybe not. After reading this book all that you know for sure is how we know nothing, but that we are still learning from all that we don’t know. It’s amazing to see teams of the smartest minds on Earth trying to find discrepancies. They don’t want confirmation, they want to find something new. This book explores some of these projects and talks to many people who have devoted their lives to quantum physics, astronomy and cosmology. It is fascinating to look at the experiments taking place in what sound like science fiction laboratories. How the geniuses involved live day after day in Antarctica, or buried underground. How they can spend so much time and effort only to see it all unravel in a moment. The author works at CERN so you’d think it would be impossible to talk to someone so smart and yet he makes all these unbearably difficult concepts understandable to a layperson. I can’t say that I got it all, but I learned a lot and I was not completely lost during the quantum physics parts. With regards to astronomy, this book finally explained to me something I never got: how we know how far things are and how we know the composition of these objects. There are no big answers here, but it can make you understand how we can know what we don’t know. Fascinating!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Doubleday.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Doubleday.
February 8, 2024
This book will leave you with a new appreciation for the universe (and the physicists who run the science)! It’s chock full of interesting knowledge and the storytelling is fantastic. It was a super enjoyable book and I was immediately swept away into the wonders of our universe. But take this from someone who has a healthy appreciation for physics and someone who likes to read about quantum mechanics in their spare time….
From the very beginnings of the universe, and the theories that make up our science to historical figures making their mark in history, it was a great book on the development of science and our understanding of the universe. I loved the authors writing style and also truly appreciated the sprinklings of humour throughout. It made it not only informative but an entertaining read.
Experiencing science through the authors own experiences were great too and the writing was fab. To take often complicated scientific theories and information and being able to convey it to the masses is a true skill and one the author did so well.
A really enjoyable read and a definite one for all science and physics lovers. (The only reason why it lost a star was because this happened to be my ‘in hospital’ read which mixed with the joyous (sarcastic) experience of A&E made me not as present and receptive as I otherwise would have been!)
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
From the very beginnings of the universe, and the theories that make up our science to historical figures making their mark in history, it was a great book on the development of science and our understanding of the universe. I loved the authors writing style and also truly appreciated the sprinklings of humour throughout. It made it not only informative but an entertaining read.
Experiencing science through the authors own experiences were great too and the writing was fab. To take often complicated scientific theories and information and being able to convey it to the masses is a true skill and one the author did so well.
A really enjoyable read and a definite one for all science and physics lovers. (The only reason why it lost a star was because this happened to be my ‘in hospital’ read which mixed with the joyous (sarcastic) experience of A&E made me not as present and receptive as I otherwise would have been!)
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
December 14, 2023
There's nothing a scientist loves more than something that's not supposed to be there. No thrill is great than those instances where what we think we know and what is really there — our theories and our experiments — don't quite match up, because where there's an anomaly, there's the potential for new science. Space Oddities is all about such anomalies, Most of the time, the thrill is fleeting. It’s a statistical fluke, a mistake in the math, a flaw in the experiment, and there’s nothing exciting to be had. Sometimes, though, sometimes, there is Nobel gold in them thar hills. From neutrinos that shouldn’t be there to forces that might not actually exist to the very fact that there is matter in the universe at all, not everything adds up neatly in our picture of the universe, while in other areas our theories are astoundingly accurate. What exactly this means and how to reconcile it is the whole endeavor of physics today, which Cliff deftly explores.
With clarity, humor, and empathy, Cliff guides us through the history and present of the oddities that have — and have not — shaken physics to its core and led the way to a better understanding of the universe and the stuff in it. Having had his own anomaly go from exciting divergence to experimental mishap, Cliff knowns both the elation and the heartache firsthand.
An engaging and readable account — no mean feat! — of cutting-edge physics, this is one of my favorite popular science books in some time. Highly recommended!
With clarity, humor, and empathy, Cliff guides us through the history and present of the oddities that have — and have not — shaken physics to its core and led the way to a better understanding of the universe and the stuff in it. Having had his own anomaly go from exciting divergence to experimental mishap, Cliff knowns both the elation and the heartache firsthand.
An engaging and readable account — no mean feat! — of cutting-edge physics, this is one of my favorite popular science books in some time. Highly recommended!
December 11, 2023
There are many great science books on the market, and many that cover cutting edge physics. But it is rare to find one that covers experimental physics so well.
First off this book is very specific in its subject matter. It covers some of the recent open questions in particle physics and astrophysics. This book doesn't give the answers just shows what questions are trying to be answered, and where physicists have stumbled in their pursuit of the answers. This is not a rebuke of the science or the scientist, it just tells the story of how hard science can be. But what is most interesting in this book is how it describes and details the experiments, how the are performed and how they are developed. Many of the esteemed popular science books, by the likes of Tyson, Hawking, and Green all attempt to explain theory, but they do not go into detail on the experimental side. This is where this book shine.
Harry Cliff is able to take very complex subjects and explain them clearly in laymen's terms. Using analogies where needed, but not over using, providing limited equations and math, so as not to scare aware the novice, but also giving some more detail to satisfy the expert.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in physics.
First off this book is very specific in its subject matter. It covers some of the recent open questions in particle physics and astrophysics. This book doesn't give the answers just shows what questions are trying to be answered, and where physicists have stumbled in their pursuit of the answers. This is not a rebuke of the science or the scientist, it just tells the story of how hard science can be. But what is most interesting in this book is how it describes and details the experiments, how the are performed and how they are developed. Many of the esteemed popular science books, by the likes of Tyson, Hawking, and Green all attempt to explain theory, but they do not go into detail on the experimental side. This is where this book shine.
Harry Cliff is able to take very complex subjects and explain them clearly in laymen's terms. Using analogies where needed, but not over using, providing limited equations and math, so as not to scare aware the novice, but also giving some more detail to satisfy the expert.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in physics.
November 12, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this one. I read a lot of popular science books, and this one stands out based on writing style alone. The author is very good at describing each experiment in context, pulling in the reader as he lays out the background, the people, and the results. I usually stay away from the human side of these stories, focusing nt on the science itself, but the author was so good at it that I wanted to hear their stories. Kudos for that.
To balance the review with a criticism, I found the section on CERN too long. I think the author was the proudest of that because of his involvement, so he went on at greater length than the other sections. Other readers may find that as involving as I foudn the other chapters, but I felt it neede editing.
I recommend the book to popular science readers who want to hear about various particle, astrophysics, etc,. experiments and the people who make them happen. It's an engaging read.
To balance the review with a criticism, I found the section on CERN too long. I think the author was the proudest of that because of his involvement, so he went on at greater length than the other sections. Other readers may find that as involving as I foudn the other chapters, but I felt it neede editing.
I recommend the book to popular science readers who want to hear about various particle, astrophysics, etc,. experiments and the people who make them happen. It's an engaging read.
December 6, 2023
Thanks to Harry Cliff, Doubleday Books, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As a person very interested in science and physics in particular, I found this book very interesting. We often hear about scientific results or breakthroughs; this tells the story of the anomalies that caused scientists to dig deeper because something didn’t fit with known expectations. The author also explores the great lengths the scientists go to ensure that unexpected errors do not taint the results.
I found the book readable. There is a section that goes into particle physics, but the author does a good job of keeping things at an understandable level.
As a person very interested in science and physics in particular, I found this book very interesting. We often hear about scientific results or breakthroughs; this tells the story of the anomalies that caused scientists to dig deeper because something didn’t fit with known expectations. The author also explores the great lengths the scientists go to ensure that unexpected errors do not taint the results.
I found the book readable. There is a section that goes into particle physics, but the author does a good job of keeping things at an understandable level.
February 6, 2024
Space Oddities is a captivating journey into the unknown realms of physics and cosmology, expertly guided by experimental physicist Harry Cliff. In this eye-opening account, Cliff explains many inexplicable phenomena that challenge our long-established theories of the universe, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the mysteries that lie beyond our current understanding.
What sets Space Oddities apart is its ability to distill complex scientific concepts into accessible narratives without sacrificing depth or precision. Cliff's passion for discovery shines through every page, inviting readers to join him in pondering the profound implications of the anomalies that defy conventional explanation.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What sets Space Oddities apart is its ability to distill complex scientific concepts into accessible narratives without sacrificing depth or precision. Cliff's passion for discovery shines through every page, inviting readers to join him in pondering the profound implications of the anomalies that defy conventional explanation.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2024
Scientists puzzle over strange cosmic phenomena that defy traditional theories. Unprecedented energies erupt from Antarctic ice, mysterious forces pull at matter, and stars accelerate inexplicably. Are these signs of a new understanding of the universe—or mere tricks of data?
Interesting and informative, this book shows how scientists explore data anomalies, searching for discoveries to further our understanding of physics. Much of the time, the original results can’t be duplicated, leading to heartbreaking disappointments. Still, the stories are engaging and easy-to-read.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Interesting and informative, this book shows how scientists explore data anomalies, searching for discoveries to further our understanding of physics. Much of the time, the original results can’t be duplicated, leading to heartbreaking disappointments. Still, the stories are engaging and easy-to-read.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
January 31, 2024
This is an exciting read on the state of the universe. The author is engaging and explains the concepts in this book thoroughly, working from a base, general physics level up to the more complex issues without sounding condescending. The book does get a little tedious at times, as wading through the nitty-gritty physics concepts is difficult as a non-physicist, no matter how well the author explains it. I would recommend this book to college students considering a physics-related future and adults interested in the state of physics today.
November 28, 2023
I'm very interested in all things space, so I looked forward to this one. I felt that the author was able to describe things in a manner that anyone would be able to understand. I enjoyed it very much, and I'd recommend adding it to your to be read list as soon as it's available.
Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 28, 2024
I think a good book either helps you learn something new, makes you feel something or entertains you. This book manages to do all three.
This is an absolutely fascinating book detailing several scientific discoveries in recent years and how they occurred. Not just the successful and proven ones but also mistakes and ones where there are still uncertainty. I’ve learnt so much from this book about Muons and Quarks and other subjects I knew little about before.
I found this so entertaining because although it explains the physics of the discovery, the story primarily focuses on how it was discovered and the people involved. Often in non-fiction I find there can be over the top descriptions of the people involved which is really distracting. Not at all here. I found I had quite a vivid picture of the people in the book just through their words and actions which was noticeable compared to other overt-described books.
I thought this was really well-written, educational and a compelling read.
This is an absolutely fascinating book detailing several scientific discoveries in recent years and how they occurred. Not just the successful and proven ones but also mistakes and ones where there are still uncertainty. I’ve learnt so much from this book about Muons and Quarks and other subjects I knew little about before.
I found this so entertaining because although it explains the physics of the discovery, the story primarily focuses on how it was discovered and the people involved. Often in non-fiction I find there can be over the top descriptions of the people involved which is really distracting. Not at all here. I found I had quite a vivid picture of the people in the book just through their words and actions which was noticeable compared to other overt-described books.
I thought this was really well-written, educational and a compelling read.
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