Patterns in the Void: Why Nothing Is Important

by Sten F. Odenwald

Patterns in the Void examines the great dark matter and dark regions that pervade the universe, from elementary particles to the immense areas of "vacuum" that make up most of deep space, and everything that is - or is not. Like the void itself, the book ranges in temporal and spatial scales - from our human world, down to the molecular and subatomic world, and up into the farthest reaches of the expanding universe. Building upon the great theories...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813339383
• ISBN13: 9780813339382
• Release Date: June 2002
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Beautiful, Eloquent, Personal and Enlightening

What is this book about? In a few words it is about "Nothingness" or the vacuum or "Void", cosmology and the fate of our Universe. What is the Void? It may surprise you to find out that physicists unilaterally agree that, in a strict sense, there is no such thing as nothing anywhere in our Universe. What is the nature of the apparent emptiness between particles of matter and the space between galaxies? The answer - Fields. These fields are the ubiquitous, ephemeral, and evanescent Higgs, Gravitational, Electromagnetic (QED), (electro) Weak, and Strong (QCD - color). This answer is obviously incomplete. QFT may be penultimate to an absolutely fundamental M-theory. In an additional sense, I think it's fair to say that Patterns is a study of one humble astronomer's experience, observations, and search for meaning in and of the physics of Spacetime & Gravity, the Vacuum, and the physics of Fields. It is a search you can comfortably ride along with - sharing in the exploration, gaining ontological handles for carry-on technical concepts. Here's a quick look at the Table of Contents: Prolog Acknowledgements 1. The Dark Constellations Why We Fear the Dark 2. The Spirits Within Invisible Fields and Ethers 3. Blind Spots Quantum Fields and the Physical Vacuum 4. Patterns in the Void Vacuum Energy and Hidden Fields 5. Gravity's Web Space, Time, and Gravity 6. Eternity's Road Cosmic Space and Its Expansion 7. Eternity's End Dark Energy and Cosmic Acceleration 8. Between Shadow and Light Quantum Gravity and the Nature of Space 9. A Fire in the Whole The Unstable Void 10. The Sundered Worlds The Creation of the Universe Epilog Glossary Bibliography Index Well, how does `Patterns in he Void' read? `Patterns' isn't the usual gee-wiz historical chronology or rundown of concepts and theoretical breakthroughs made by the respective physicists. Dr. Odenwald uses accessibly technical language tempered in confidential, sincere and conversational prose - addressing deep issues & questions that you and I, as mere mortals in spectator physics, might seek meaningful answers for. He is personal, warm, candid and forthcoming - even in his chapter that tackles the stark outlook for the ultimate fate of humanity and the seemingly inevitable heat death of Universe. Be prepared, some chapters have a bit of foreboding and melancholy. I can't help but feel as if this is the story of how the author faced his fears and came to final acceptance of the honest scientific facts regarding the ultimate demise of Life and the Universe. Sten uses a refreshing approach in the beginning of each chapter giving occasional real-life stories that lend warmth, meaningful context and impetus for further reading - welcoming one to move forward without trepidation. For example, he reminisces about star parties with like-minded friends of his youth - earnest and eager in their amateur astronomical attempts to grasp the big picture of cosmology. He also shares s

An enlightened view of darkness

"I just finished reading Patterns and I have to say it is one of the most exciting and troubling books I have read in a long time. Odenwald is a master at explaining just why it is we should really be afraid of the dark. As a music professional, I didn't think that a scientist could really understand the kinds of emotions I experience when I look at the night sky. Odenwald's use of his personal, and sometimes very weird, life experiences to paint his picture of the mysteries of the Void, was a stroke of genius that makes this subject very readable to someone with my non-science background. Why anyone would want to read any of the Best Sellers on this subject I will never know. I tried reading one of them and it was a hopeless journey into jargon that meant nothing to me.Odenwald's book, with its powerful emotional content, has finally let me experience the true mystery of space and the miracle of our very existence."

Thought provoking, philosphical and challenging

I originally picked up this book whilst looking for "The Book of Nothing". Skimming a few pages, I realized just how well written it was and how much it would challenge me. Scientific concepts cover everything from early philosophy and belief in the aether, through simple things like General Relativity and Quantum Physics, to the cutting edge of SuperString theory and its role of creating / being space and time. The Void is there throughout. Always mysterious, often scary, viewed in different ways throughout history. Is the Void devoid of anything, or is it just avoiding our gaze and actually the birthplace of eternity? Read it and see.I must thank Sten for adding the personal anecdotes and insight into the subject. Often a lay-persons book on physics can be dry and uninteresting. This was a book that I could not put down for a week (until it was finished). If you like this kind of style, you will also really enjoy "Geons, Black Holes, and Quantum Foam: A Life in Physics by John Archibald Wheeler"

"Patterns in the Void"

I wrote this book because of a my personal need to understand one of Nature's most mysterious ingredients - Space... But I have also learned that to completely understand how 'nothing can be something' you have to do more than just state the physics. Most popular books dwell on the physics of space, time and gravity, but in the end you, the reader, walk away even more confused about it all - and frankly, so do I. What I try to do in this book is to explore a number of personal experiences, some very weird, and to take advantage of the human gift for using imagination creatively. You will find that by being more flexible in thinking visually, and by using the talents found in the right-side of your brain, it is far easier to grasp what space is all about, and how it is that darkness can have a shape and texture. You may even discover for yourself why it is that even some professional astronomers like myself are afraid of the dark. I have included many personal anecdotes in the book to serve as a human anchor for exploring space as a physical thing. 98% of what you are, and what the universe is, is hidden in the invisible fields and dark energies that ply the Void. Our challenge is to make peace with this new information, the terrible fate of our species and cosmos, and to take some brief comfort in the joy of a living universe bathed in light. So, please enjoy this book, buy as many copies of it as you can afford to (;>) and take a walk on the wild-side of astronomy!

Wisdom of the Void

I have a fascination with nothing[ness]. PATTERNS IN THE VOID is therefore the perfect addition to my collection of books concerned with the void (THE HOLE IN THE UNIVERSE, THE BOOK OF NOTHING, etc.). But beyond that it is a really interesting and deep book. A combination of lyrical prose, cutting-edge science, personal anecdotes, and philosophical musing conspire to create a thought-provoking book that will change the way you look at the world around you. Though at times morose, sometimes downright depressing, it is still in the end a powerful and approachable addition to the genre. Highly recommended.