Our Violent Universe: Colliding Black Holes, Cosmic Explosions, and the Quest to Reveal the Sky's Secrets

The thrilling quest to unravel the mysteries of our unpredictable and spectacularly violent Universe

When ancient observers gazed out at the stars, they saw a harmonious cosmos whose stability and enduring order guided the steps of humanity. Even today, the serenity of the night sky betrays the fact that we inhabit a Universe roiled by unprecedented violence. This book reveals how scientists in research outposts around the world are pursuing traces of some of the most extreme cosmic events-and unlocking the secrets of our violent Universe.

Award-winning astrophysicist Kumiko Kotera takes readers behind the scenes of the cutting-edge science of multi-messenger astronomy, which seeks to capture the fleeting "messengers" emitted by grand stellar phenomena such as supernovae, pulsars, black hole collisions, and gamma-ray bursts. Sources of colossal quantities of energy, these events release light but also emit cosmic rays, neutrinos, and even gravitational waves, which astronomers have only recently begun to detect. Kotera interweaves personal anecdotes from her globetrotting fieldwork with engaging explanations of this exciting new science, demonstrating along the way how science is a collaborative enterprise that unites diverse voices and talents.

A lyrical blend of captivating stories and pioneering science, Our Violent Universe shares the excitement, wonder, and sheer joy of solving vast cosmic puzzles, venturing to observatories in remote corners of the planet where astronomers are pushing the boundaries of discovery.