#719 in Science & math books
Reddit mentions of Just Six Numbers: The Deep Forces that Shape the Universe
Sentiment score: 3
Reddit mentions: 4
We found 4 Reddit mentions of Just Six Numbers: The Deep Forces that Shape the Universe. Here are the top ones.
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Specs:
| Height | 10 Inches |
| Length | 6 Inches |
| Number of items | 1 |
| Weight | 0.78 Pounds |
| Width | 0.75 Inches |
Nicely written!
> wherever we look, we see galaxies moving away from us.
> The further away a galaxy was, the faster it appeared to be going.
I like the way Martin Rees (in his book Just Six Numbers) uses Escher's Cubic Space Division to illustrate parts of this. If the lattice expands, then from any given cube all other cubes will be moving away from it, and faster as further away they are. No cube is special. (It's been a while since I read the book and don't have it in front of me, he explains it much better of course.)
Lawrence Krauss has a slightly different explanation in this video (watch for one minute, but a really great video, watch the whole thing if you have an hour).
Just Six Numbers by Martin Rees. It's about how the properties of the universe are perfect for humans to exist in a stable environment - really interesting.
http://www.amazon.com/Just-Six-Numbers-Forces-Universe/dp/0465036724
That's a pretty good explanation. Not sure I quite agree with the conclusion though. The very existence of the Universe is pretty unlikely. There are six numbers that shape the existence of this universe, I can't remember what they are but they are mentioned in A Brief History of Time, if I remember correctly (also this book is about them). Once you take the fact that the universe is so unlikely into account, the logic of that argument starts to fall apart.
I wouldn't call myself an atheist, and in a test like this, I'd probably be included in those that "believe in God." But for me, I'd have to say that the number one reason I "believe" in something is because I am continually astounded by the innumerable intricacies of our society, world, and universe. So many things that interconnect and influence each other that one tweak would send our existence overboard. The book Just Six Numbers elaborates this point pretty well. Now, I'm definitely not a believer in a Christian god, or any other organized religion, but I find myself wanting to believe....well, in something.