Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Parallel Worlds
- A Journey Through Creation, Higher Dimensions, and the Future of the Cosmos
- Narrated by: Marc Vietor
- Length: 14 hrs and 50 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
Buy Now for £12.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Summary
Is our universe dying?
Could there be other universes?
In Parallel Worlds, world-renowned physicist and best-selling author Michio Kaku - an author who "has a knack for bringing the most ethereal ideas down to earth" (Wall Street Journal) - takes listeners on a fascinating tour of cosmology, M-theory, and its implications for the fate of the universe.
In his first book of physics since Hyperspace, Michio Kaku begins by describing the extraordinary advances that have transformed cosmology over the last century and particularly over the last decade, forcing scientists around the world to rethink our understanding of the birth of the universe and its ultimate fate. In Dr. Kaku's eyes, we are living in a golden age of physics, as new discoveries from the WMAP and COBE satellites and the Hubble space telescope have given us unprecedented pictures of our universe in its infancy.
As astronomers wade through the avalanche of data from the WMAP satellite, a new cosmological picture is emerging. So far the leading theory about the birth of the universe is the "inflationary universe theory", a major refinement on the big bang theory. In this theory our universe may be but one in a multiverse, floating like a bubble in an infinite sea of bubble universes, with new universes being created all the time. A parallel universe may well hover a mere millimeter from our own.
The very idea of parallel universes and the string theory that can explain their existence was once viewed with suspicion by scientists, seen as the province of mystics, charlatans, and cranks. But today physicists overwhelmingly support string theory and its latest iteration, M-theory, as it is this one theory that, if proven correct, would reconcile the four forces of the universe simply and elegantly and answer the question "what happened before the big bang?"
Already, Kaku explains, the world's foremost physicists and astronomers are searching for ways to test the theory of the multiverse using highly sophisticated wave detectors, gravity lenses, satellites, and telescopes. The implications of M-theory are fascinating and endless. If parallel worlds do exist, Kaku speculates, in time - perhaps a trillion years or more from now, as appears likely - when our universe grows cold and dark in what scientists describe as a big freeze, advanced civilizations may well find a way to escape our universe in a kind of "interdimensional lifeboat".
An unforgettable journey into black holes and time machines, alternate universes, and multidimensional space, Parallel Worlds gives us a compelling portrait of the revolution sweeping the world of cosmology.
Critic reviews
More from the same
What listeners say about Parallel Worlds
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ergonet
- 08-09-16
Insight into Nature of that thing we live in
Much of the content is covered by similar volumes, but it is a mammoth summary of the state of cosmological play. Particularly strong on the long term future, it wil pose some awkward questions for those who believe supernatural deities designed it. Whether it is true or not, it is remarkable that a recently evolved primate has come up with these ideas, especially in a short femto period in the age of the universe.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- mcsmall
- 06-11-16
Fascinating !
Michio Kaku has the ability to explain complex issues in cosmology in an accessible manner; this is mind boggling stuff which is totally absorbing .
The soft trans Atlantic narration by Marc Vietor was just right .
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- mr j booth
- 12-06-19
Great Theoretical Physics Lesson
There is a lot of theory and equations throughout the book which would be much easier to digest if it was written down (as in an physical book), but it is a well written book with lots of interesting theories and explanations of historical events with good insight into some of the leading physicists throughout time and how their theories and experiments led us to this point. I would certainly recommend this book to those with a inquisitive scientific outlook.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- sh88
- 26-02-17
Brilliantly informative book
Awesome book, well researched and informative. Really gets you thinking and wanting more. At over 14 hours its not a quick listen however you will come away better informed and possible with a mind blown from all the possibilites of the universe. Beautifully narrated so easy to understand every word. Get it!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Graham
- 11-04-18
Wow!
Perhaps the greatest mind today. Utterly thought provoking, educational and a must read. Closing chapter provides the reader with very sage advice.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- P. Barker
- 17-01-17
Brilliant
What a brilliant insight into the science behind parallel universes... I'll be reaching for the Hyperspace book next :/)
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jack
- 16-05-23
More for an academic student rather than general reader
I feel a great deal of the information although helpful and is explained very well I feel is a little much for people for me who is not a student or any sort of scientist it all seemed to blend into one thing…
electrons something something electrons something something black hole something something neutron.
I found myself blanking out a lot of the time and skipping chapters as it all seemed to blend together.
Wasn’t quite what I expect as I was looking forward to more looking at alternate realities or other planet civilisations although it does but doesn’t take up a great deal of the book.
Was very interesting nevertheless and still enjoyed it and explained very well. The narrator is an easy listen
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Nicola
- 20-02-23
Excellent
Not an easy book - but made a lot easier by the well-written but not patronising tone. It will need another listen to really understand some of the detail.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- william
- 07-12-22
thought provoking
enjoyable listen with many interesting probabilities finishing in a wonderful analogy of where humanity may go
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Mark Lavelle
- 06-08-22
Spellbinding.
When I get to the end of this book, there are so many fantastic concepts to try and understand, that's it's possible to go back to the start and listen again, and have the same enjoyment as not having heard it before.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!