Janna Levin

How the universe got its spots

The study of Cosmology needs knowledge of several areas of physics - special and general relativity and quantum theory as well as much of classical physics. This requirement can be intimidating to the beginner. Janna Levin took this into account in writing 'How the universe got its spots', which is based on a collection of letters to her mother. Hence it will be useful for those readers who would like a gentle introduction to those the ideas of modern physics required for cosmology as well as anyone wanting an insight into the life of a (perhaps not so typical) cosmologist.

In the book Levin puts forward the idea that the universe might be finite, and in particular that its topology might mean that if we travelled far enough then we would return to our starting point even if the geometry doesn't force this to be the case. Although we haven't seen any copies of ourselves in the universe, such finiteness might also show up in the cosmological microwave background radiation as certain patterns (the spots of the title of the book). The book didn't actually convince me that the universe is finite, but I felt that Levin puts the case for it in a well thought out and understandable way.

Amazon.com info

Paperback 224 pages
ISBN: 0753813769
Salesrank: 1251279
Weight:0.44 lbs

Published: 2003 Phoenix (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd )

Marketplace:New from $2.47:Used from $2.38

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Amazon.co.uk info

Paperback 224 pages
ISBN: 0753813769
Salesrank: 526940
Weight:0.44 lbs

Published: 2003 Phoenix

Marketplace:New from £78.54:Used from £10.61

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Amazon.ca info

Paperback 224 pages
ISBN: 0753813769
Salesrank: 233083
Weight:0.44 lbs

Published: 2003 McArthur & Co / Orion Con Trad

Marketplace:New from CDN$ 113.46:Used from CDN$ 20.08

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Book Description
An original and personal quest to discover the size and shape of the universe, by an exciting new voice in popular science writing

Book Description

An original and personal quest to discover the size and shape of the universe, by an exciting new voice in popular science writing

travelogue on science and cosmology more than hard descripitions ****
The author states that her concept for the book is a series of essays written to her mom, mostly about her work and the science. It is an interesting collection of essays that sums up the essence of cosmological topology (what shape is the universe, what shape did it have in earlier stages) for a layman audience. It lacks the complex mathematics behind the ideas and the proofs and spends a fair bit of time with her own tribulations in a shakey marriage and the processes of academic science, so if you want just the meat this isn't your book. I found it entertaining, interesting and an easy read.

travelogue on science and cosmology more than hard descripitions ****

The author states that her concept for the book is a series of essays written to her mom, mostly about her work and the science. It is an interesting collection of essays that sums up the essence of cosmological topology (what shape is the universe, what shape did it have in earlier stages) for a layman audience. It lacks the complex mathematics behind the ideas and the proofs and spends a fair bit of time with her own tribulations in a shakey marriage and the processes of academic science, so if you want just the meat this isn't your book. I found it entertaining, interesting and an easy read.

Is author the leopard with her spots? ****
How the Leopard Changed Its Spots : The Evolution of Complexity The book seems to have a very personal diary entry quality. I'm not buying that. The author has changed her spots. Levin talks about four major models: 1) her first model the E8 soccer ball model ( 12 o) 2) Week's model: minimal manifold model ( near A4 by vertice number at 22 or 23 : can also fit my elliptical E8) 3) Thurston's model ( SO(6) or SU(4) or A3) broken Weeks's Model ? 4) Levin's second model as hexagonal prism D6 model ( again 12 vertices): a broken E8 model? She uses a standing wave like elliptical projection method for her "spots spheres". She's probably our generation's Sophie Germaine. It seems like she tends to "use" men and thinks more like a man than a woman at times. They say only once a century does a woman come along who has the abilities of a kind that are comparable to the top men. But it appears she is still pretty young and self centered. She has sowed it up in a book when she should have been studying to get as much knowledge as she needed first? It is at least good to know that people like her are around who have some fractal background although she seem to have ignored that in her book. She seems somewhat mathematically naive in terms of : 1) group theory/ Lie algebras 2) theory of surfaces/ standing waves 3) discrete mathematics I really can't fault her much as it has taken me many years to develop a knowledge in these areas. From the picture "Map" result I got was D=Sqrt[3] on the elliptical projection: that would be D=Sqrt[3]+1 =~2.73 which is a number associated with SU(3) or A2 in the curvature Lie Algebra approach. I would need to do a box counting dimension analysis of the different models in the Levin projections to get an idea which is the best in fractal terms. There is no indication that she or the people she is working with have taken that step. My indication is that the Week's model is more likely using my own E8 elliptical invariant Klein-Gordon, but neither of them had that when they did their work. I think that the author should read Joao Magueijo's book as well. Faster Than the Speed of Light: The Story of a Scientific Speculation

Is author the leopard with her spots? ****

How the Leopard Changed Its Spots : The Evolution of Complexity
The book seems to have a very personal diary entry quality.
I'm not buying that. The author has changed her spots.
Levin talks about four major models:
1) her first model the E8 soccer ball model ( 12 o)
2) Week's model: minimal manifold model ( near A4 by vertice number at 22 or 23 : can also fit my elliptical E8)
3) Thurston's model ( SO(6) or SU(4) or A3) broken Weeks's Model ?
4) Levin's second model as hexagonal prism D6 model ( again 12 vertices): a broken E8 model?

She uses a standing wave like elliptical projection method for her "spots spheres".
She's probably our generation's Sophie Germaine.
It seems like she tends to "use" men and
thinks more like a man than a woman at times.
They say only once a century does a woman come along
who has the abilities of a kind that are comparable to the top men.
But it appears she is still pretty young and self centered.
She has sowed it up in a book
when she should have been studying
to get as much knowledge as she needed first?
It is at least good to know that people like her are around who
have some fractal background
although she seem to have ignored that in her book.
She seems somewhat mathematically naive in terms of :
1) group theory/ Lie algebras
2) theory of surfaces/ standing waves
3) discrete mathematics
I really can't fault her much as it has taken me many years to develop a knowledge in these areas.
From the picture "Map" result I got was D=Sqrt[3] on the elliptical projection: that would be
D=Sqrt[3]+1 =~2.73 which is a number associated with SU(3) or A2 in the curvature Lie Algebra approach.
I would need to do a box counting dimension analysis
of the different models in the Levin projections to get an idea which is the best in fractal terms.
There is no indication that she or the people she is working with have taken that step.
My indication is that the Week's model is more likely
using my own E8 elliptical invariant Klein-Gordon,
but neither of them had that when they did their work.
I think that the author should read Joao Magueijo's book
as well.
Faster Than the Speed of Light: The Story of a Scientific Speculation

reader from barrowford, uk *****
Interested in the cosmos? Got some physics? (thanks Mrs Perry, I was adunce, but a FASCINATED dunce). Have you tried to wrap your head aroundthe concept of space being curved, and found your brains curdling and yourknees turning green? if so, this is the book for you. Forget those rubberysheet models, this lady knows how to make you SEE how space could befinite, saddle shaped (my fave), or flat and infinite, and every model iscompletely comprehensible, even if you don't have elucidating dreams aboutit like I did..... This is a terrific, human-sized read, written by awoman with a real life and a handle on both her everyday experience AND(whoa!) the mind-bending mysteries of life, the univ, etc. No really, itcould be saddle shaped... like a Pringle....... honest....

reader from barrowford, uk *****

Interested in the cosmos? Got some physics? (thanks Mrs Perry, I was adunce, but a FASCINATED dunce). Have you tried to wrap your head aroundthe concept of space being curved, and found your brains curdling and yourknees turning green? if so, this is the book for you. Forget those rubberysheet models, this lady knows how to make you SEE how space could befinite, saddle shaped (my fave), or flat and infinite, and every model iscompletely comprehensible, even if you don't have elucidating dreams aboutit like I did..... This is a terrific, human-sized read, written by awoman with a real life and a handle on both her everyday experience AND(whoa!) the mind-bending mysteries of life, the univ, etc. No really, itcould be saddle shaped... like a Pringle....... honest....

Human! *****
A wonderfully understandable and personalised diary. Touches on most, if not all relevent theories in the field, but in a way which us mere humans can understand. Excellently written.

Human! *****

A wonderfully understandable and personalised diary. Touches on most, if not all relevent theories in the field, but in a way which us mere humans can understand. Excellently written.