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Modern physics has shown us the immense power of black holes superstrong gravitational fields. The force of gravity warps space and time, crushing stars and perhaps galaxies too, until they fall in on themselves to form a black hole. Igor Novikov, a distinguished astrophysicist and skilled writer, explains the cosmic importance of black holes. He accounts for the physical environment of a black hole, explains how astronomers search for them, and places them in the context of the expanding universe. (view table of contents)

Product Description: One of the most exciting predictions of Einstein's theory of gravitationisthat there may exist 'black holes': putative objects whose gravitational fields are so strong that no physical bodies and signals can break free of their pull and escape...read more

The nature of time has long fascinated physicists and lay people alike. As an irresistible flow into which all events are embedded, time cannot be slowed or accelerated. It cannot be undone or turned back. In this marvelous text, Novikov describes how the thinkers throughout history have defined time and how these discoveries demonstrate that we may influence time's flow. He details the development of our views on time, from classical Greece to the modern day. This book describes how time flows in specific regions of the Universe, how it stops in black holes and splashes over the brim in white holes, and how time may convert into space and vice versa. The author explores time's genesis at the Big Bang and describes the current research on the physics of time. He details how recent discoveries indicate that time machine travel might be possible. Accessible to all, the engaging style and wonderful illustrations make this book hugely enjoyable to read. Igor Novikov is the author of Evolution of the Universe (Cambridge, 1983), Black Holes and the Universe (Cambridge, 1990), and E. Hubble, Life and Work (Cambridge, 1992). His extensive body of research begins in the former Soviet Union and his experiences add a unique touch to this book. Currently, he is the Director of the Theoretical Astrophysics Center in Copenhagen. (view table of contents)

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Product Description: Though the kinematics of the evolving universe became known decades ago, research into the physics of processes occurring in the expanding universe received a reliable observational and theoretical basis only in more recent years...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)