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Nothing: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) Illustrated Edition, Kindle Edition

by Frank Close (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 311 ratings
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What is 'nothing'? What remains when you take all the matter away? Can empty space - a void - exist? This Very Short Introduction explores the science and the history of the elusive void: from Aristotle who insisted that the vacuum was impossible, via the theories of Newton and Einstein, to our very latest discoveries and why they can tell us extraordinary things about the cosmos.

Frank Close tells the story of how scientists have explored the elusive void, and the rich discoveries that they have made there. He takes the reader on a lively and accessible history through ancient ideas and cultural superstitions to the frontiers of current research. He describes how scientists discovered that the vacuum is filled with fields; how Newton, Mach, and Einstein grappled with the nature of space and time; and how the mysterious 'aether' that was long ago supposed to permeate
the void may now be making a comeback with the latest research into the 'Higgs field'.

We now know that the vacuum is far from being empty - it seethes with virtual particles and antiparticles that erupt spontaneously into being, and it also may contain hidden dimensions that we were previously unaware of. These new discoveries may provide answers to some of cosmology's most fundamental questions: what lies outside the universe, and, if there was once nothing, then how did the universe begin?

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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  1. ISBN-13
    978-0199225866
  2. Edition
    Illustrated
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    OUP Oxford
  5. Publication date
    June 25, 2009
  6. Part of series
    Very Short Introductions
  7. Language
    English
  8. File size
    650 KB
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

`Review from previous edition: All in all, this book makes for some fascinating reading.' Chemistry World, Dennis Rouvray.`An accessible and entertaining read for layperson and scientist alike.' Physics World`The Void is well worth reading.' Robert Cailliau. CERN Courier.`It covers very complicated concepts in a mostly accessible way.' Lawrence Rudnick, Nature`A fascinating subject covered by a fascinating book.' Marcus Chown, Focus

About the Author

Frank Close is professor of physics at Oxford University and a Fellow of Exeter College. He was formerly vice president of the British Association for Advancement of Science and Head of the Theoretical Physics Division at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. He is the author of several books, including Antimatter, Neutrino, The Void, and The New Cosmic Onion. He is also the recipient of the Kelvin Medal of the Institute of Physics for his outstanding contributions to the public understanding of physics.

Ray Chase graduated from the University of Southern California with a BA in theater and a minor in cinema and television. He has since worked extensively as a voice-over artist. Among his dozens of audiobook narrations are Ian Douglas' Heritage trilogy and Robert Olen Butler's Christopher Marlowe Cobb thrillers.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005WSNRPK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ OUP Oxford; Illustrated edition (June 25, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 25, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 650 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 177 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 311 ratings

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Frank Close

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
311 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Russell A. Rohde MD
5.0 out of 5 stars "A Interesting & Challenging Read for Inquisitive Minds"
Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2013
Verified Purchase
"Nothing" - A Very Short Introduction by Frank Close, 2009. Oxford University Press, NY. ISBN 978-0-19-922586-6, SC 158 Pgs. in 6 7/8" x 4 3/8" format that includes 7 Pg. Index plus 4 pages with suggested readings. Inveiglements limited to several B/W illustrations.

Author Frank Close, Professor of Physics at Oxford is a well-published author having written a half-dozen books on particle physics. He is also a fellow at Exeter College. Writing in easily read prose (for those familiar with particle physics) his book "Nothing" is an erudite expose of modern physics beginning with explanation of nothing, or a void. He begins with historical discussion of the vacuum or void (as noted in the Creation Hymn of Rig-Veda 1,700 years ago) & noting Thales had denied existence of No-thing 600 BC, i.e. that the universe could not originate from No-thing, discussing Empedocles concept of ur-matter (air, water, fire and earth) and the aphorism that "nature abhors a vacuum" was the accepted logic for 2,000 years; and concludes in discussing scientific experimental findings by von Guerick, Blaise, Pascal, Toricelli, Hooke and Boyle.

Already by Chapter 2 the author weighs in with discussion of the atoms, electrons and quarks, his writer-interaction prose providing a brisk understanding of particle physics to those having appropriate backgrounds and being aggressively crisp when particle physics is discussed to the novice. For less knowledgeable readers, this book is a good introductory source book on atomic compositions, gravitation, space, time, motion and electromagnetic fields, quantum mechanics, uncertainty principle and by chapter 8, the Higgs vacuum.

All in all, "Nothing" is a refreshing read on stimulating the mind to contemplate the known, unknown and help keep abreast and aware of the intense scientific efforts done world-wide which may help answer postulates surrounding the "big bang".

finis
7 people found this helpful
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Pere
4.0 out of 5 stars Good insights but some concepts require strong knowledge of quantum physics
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2020
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I liked to the book, it provides good insights on what could be the void and how it is essential for out universe, and it shows the limits of our current understanding. The void is much more than we think.

On the other hand, and maybe because it is a space that lies on the current edge of our understanding, some of the concepts and ideas rely on having strong understanding of quantum physics or quantum mechanics, or at least for me , in concepts i have not internalised , so it took me longer to read as i had to stop, re-read or even take time to investigate some concepts. And i have to say, some of the stuff may have gone over my head as there are some areas were i could not understand.

In overall , good book, good presentation, but sometimes goes down some concepts to fast or assuming a knowledge that not all reader may have (like me). Maybe it is the only way to keep a book like this to have less than 1000pages or more than 1000 formulas...

Recommended for sure
One person found this helpful
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Jay Young
5.0 out of 5 stars Much Ado About Nothing
Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2010
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People have been speculating about "Why is there something rather than nothing" for as long as we have documented history. Frank Close has written a valuable book, explaining the different speculations about the nature of "nothing" and different ideas about whether it's even possible. He begins with Aristotle's idea that "nature abhors a vacuum", and discusses other early Greek thinkers on what the primordial "nothing" might have been- some thought it was water or one of the other elements. What is really interesting is when Close discusses the history of modern Physics, from Newton to Einstein, and how the idea of "nothing" or a vacuum has changed. In that respect, this book is a good introduction to basic physics in its own right. Essentially, when all matter is taken away, you still have electromagnetic waves, which is "something." He then gets into the strange world of quantum mechanics and symmetry-breaking. In regard to quantum mechanics- I can't put it nearly as well as Close does, but basically due to the Uncertainty Principle- that you cannot know both a subatomic particle's position and momentum at the same time- there will inherently be some form of energy in a state of "nothing", and energy can produce mass, or matter. In regard to symmetry breaking- order forms when matter goes from high-energy states to low-energy states, like when water freezes to make ice. At the time of the Big Bang, matter was dense and almost unbelievably hot, and only when it cooled down, or "froze" could any kind of order develop. So we are at least a little closer to why there is something. But as Close notes at the end, we still will wonder why quantum uncertainty was coded into the universe in the first place. This is an excellent book that will help you think about the nature of reality. We humans don't understand everything about this strange universe, and in my view, probably never will. And that's the good news.
11 people found this helpful
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Sotto voce
5.0 out of 5 stars Approaching a mirror at the speed of light ...
Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2011
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A very cool, well written little book! It wanders the ages of philosophy, Newtonian physics, and special relativity and QM theory. At least 2 chapters focus on Einstein's "thought experiments" and they do so quite well. The author does a bang up job easing the readers mind into the `c' paradox. If I was to instruct an intro course in non-tech physics , I would make this `just over essay size' read a required prerequisite before the class starts. `Nothing' positions itself well as a primer to the story of the wonder of everything. From a physics perspective, `Nothing' maps the critical path from which expand all the physical sciences.

If you have a HS student headed to his/her first "physics" class, this is a well posited gift that well help them grasp what's ahead and why. I've re-learned much less in much more of a book.
5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Chien Pham
5.0 out of 5 stars Book about physics, not philosophy
Reviewed in Germany on August 15, 2023
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I read nothing and I understand nothing
One person found this helpful
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DirectM 1
5.0 out of 5 stars Quite bright
Reviewed in Canada on August 13, 2019
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Some great quotes here sprinkled with insight.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic.
Reviewed in India on November 6, 2018
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Nothing. But it explains everything. A book written by the god of physics. A beautiful book to understand about yourself.
One person found this helpful
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Cathy Keustermans
2.0 out of 5 stars flies over some really good questions, avoiding the answer
Reviewed in France on March 13, 2017
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I was hopeful to read the very same questions I have been thinking about for a long time now - what exactly is the fabric of space? What do we call a dimension, or the nature of time. Went through every paragraph with enthusiasm, only to notice that - like in any other book on the same subject - we only get a historical view of the evolution of thought around the matter, without adding any new insight...
still the old view that our very space got created in the primordial soupe of potentiality - ... now in what medium does that primordial soup exists then, if not in space?
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Movie Mogul
5.0 out of 5 stars Much food for thought
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 31, 2012
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I wanted to write a review of this immensely readable little book, but as I contemplated putting fingers to keyboard, my mind suddenly went blank and I could think of nothing to write.

And I am wondering if this is the dilemma the Universe found itself in at the point of its transformation from nothing to something.

Mr Close does actually contradict himself in one or two places. On the one hand he says that the Big Bang created time and space (p143), while on the other hand he asserts that the Universe could have emerged out of the vacuum (p128).

Actually, I am not so sure that physics and cosmology really yet fully understand how it all got going.

If nothing else, a vacuum is a volume of space, but a volume of space that is enclosed inside a boundary, irrespective of whether energy or matter may or may not be present. If the Universe emerged out of the vacuum, then at the very least, space must already have existed.

Take the cathode ray tube for example. This is the most common example of a vacuum in which electrons make their way from anode to cathode. This can only happen if there is a boundary - the tube. Without the tube, the vacuum could not exist. Furthermore, anything existing outside the boundary i.e. the rest of the Universe, can have no meaning for the electrons inside the tube.

The importance and significance of boundaries were drummed into me as a pupil at school and a student at University, so it seems to me that in a discussion of vacuums, some discussion must be given to the nature of the boundary.

At the moment of the Big Bang, was there any kind of boundary, either conceptual or real? Is it possible that prior to the Big Bang, all of existence was contained in a point of zero dimension that also contained all of space?

Is it possible that all of space was wrapped inside this point of zero dimension in the same way that string theory talks about the wrapping of dimensions?

One of the problems I have with the Big Bang as it is presented to us lay people, is in being able to conceptualise it in my mind. I can imagine a single point encompassing all of existence, but my mind's eye is forced to view it from a distance, so I cannot in actuality imagine a point of zero dimension without at the same creating the space that allows me to see it from a distance, even though it is all totally imaginary. Unless I view the point from inside it, but then I feel I would be getting nowhere.

But then it occurs to me that we are not talking about just any old point of zero dimension. We are actually talking about THE definitive point of zero dimension of which there could only have been one; and not only that, in one form or other, you, me and everyone else was in there waiting for you, me and everyone else to become you, me and everyone else. Which quite frankly, I find implausible and impossible. Has physics really lost all sense of logic and rationality?

But then I ask myself, how does one conceptualise holograms, or dreams, or consciousness, though I must confess to knowing next to nothing of the physics of holograms.

Whilst being extremely informative and entertaining, Frank Close's little tome also provides much food for thought and gets you thinking about other strange and mystifying things such as - what is a virtual desktop? At its simplest, it's a little rectangle situated at the bottom right hand side of your computer monitor. Using your mouse, you can navigate within this little rectangle to switch between 2 or more real desktops.

You might have a tough time trying to explain how a software engineer might design and program this type of application. It involves layers of virtuality, because the desktop is itself an illusion, yet is a good example of how something comes out of something else that is not actually nothing, but is in fact the manipulation of binary bit patterns in a disk of 32- or 64-bit words that in reality, is never empty of full, but whose available space only appears to be changing in size.
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