Join us for a book talk with Kelsey Johnson, who will be speaking about her new book, Into the Unknown: The Quest to Understand the Mysteries of the Cosmos. This in-person event will be free and open to the public. We recommend arriving early for the best seating.
About the Book: A leading astronomer and gifted teacher takes readers on a wondrous tour—“perfect for anyone who enjoyed Astrophysics for People in a Hurry” (Publishers Weekly)—of how science confronts the big questions about the origins, destiny, and fundamental nature of our universe.
Humans have learned a lot about the world around us and the universe beyond. We have made powerful insights and created profound theories about the universe and everything in it. Surely the ultimate theory must be waiting, just beyond our current knowledge.
Well, maybe. In Into the Unknown, astrophysicist Kelsey Johnson takes us to the edge of scientific understanding about the universe: What caused the Big Bang? What happens inside black holes? Are there other dimensions? She doesn’t just celebrate what we know but rather what we don’t, and asks what it means if we never find that knowledge. Exploring the convergence of science, philosophy, and theology, Johnson argues we must reckon with possibilities—including those that may be beyond human comprehension. The very places where we run smack into total ignorance are the places where the most important questions—about the philosophy of knowledge, the nature of our cosmos, and even the existence of God—await.
As accessible as it is profound, Into the Unknown invites each of us to join in the great quest for knowledge.
About the Author: Kelsey Johnson is a professor of astronomy at the University of Virginia, former president of the American Astronomical Society, and founder of the award-winning Dark Skies, Bright Kids program. She has won numerous awards for her research, teaching, and promotion of science literacy. She lives in rural Virginia with her family, including two very large dogs.
To order Into the Unknown, please see below for the New Dominion Bookshop book order form or call the shop at 434-295-2552.
"Colliding universes, interdimensional particles, and the nature of time are among the mind-boggling mysteries contemplated in Johnson’s mesmerizing debut. Asking what caused the big bang and what determines the laws of nature, among other enigmas, Johnson introduces readers to heady cosmic questions they didn’t know to ask, proving the universe is far stranger than they imagined."
—Publishers Weekly
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