jjares reviewed The Life Cycles of Stars: The History of the Lives and Deaths of Stars on + 3270 more book reviews
Stars are born, live, and die in a never-ending cycle of creation and death. Stars begin as vast clouds of dust and gasses called nebulae. The densest areas pull in the matter to themselves and can create a star. Then, new forces act upon the star -- inner pressure tends to expand the star but gravity tends to contract it. Eventually, they die; they lose their energy and die. This is all part of a cosmic process that goes on and on.
It is estimated that 40,000 tons of cosmic dust settle on the earth every year (and has yearly, since the beginning of time). The billions of stars are vast cosmic recycling centers that "convert common hydrogen into the much less common elements needed to create life and the stars and planets themselves." After time and countless nuclear reactions, the star's core ends up as iron. This is the beginning of the end of the star's life cycle.
Since it has been 40 years since I sat in a college science class, I was impressed by how clearly this book explained complicated theories and the latest observations that are being studied in astronomy. I didn't understand just how fascinating astronomy is until I read this very interesting (and clear) explanation.
One of the things I love about Charles Rivers Editors is that they sometimes offer an off-beat story to their readers. And those off-the-beaten-track books are often gems. At the end, I'm going to share some of my favorites from the House of Charles Rivers. Of the 6 mentioned below, the story of the Dodo Bird and the La Brea Tar Pits are absolute favorites of mine.
Off-Beat Gems from the House of Charles Rivers
The Galápagos: The History of the Famous Pacific Islands and Their Unique Ecosystem
The Roma: The History of the Romani People and the Controversial Persecutions across Europe
The Dodo: The History and Legacy of the Extinct Flightless Bird
Beavers and Plumes: The History of the Trade and Conflicts Over Beaver Hats and Feathered Hats
The United States Camel Corps: The History of the U.S. Army's Use of Camels in the Southwest during the 19th Century
The La Brea Tar Pits: The History and Legacy of One of the World's Most Famous Fossil Sites
It is estimated that 40,000 tons of cosmic dust settle on the earth every year (and has yearly, since the beginning of time). The billions of stars are vast cosmic recycling centers that "convert common hydrogen into the much less common elements needed to create life and the stars and planets themselves." After time and countless nuclear reactions, the star's core ends up as iron. This is the beginning of the end of the star's life cycle.
Since it has been 40 years since I sat in a college science class, I was impressed by how clearly this book explained complicated theories and the latest observations that are being studied in astronomy. I didn't understand just how fascinating astronomy is until I read this very interesting (and clear) explanation.
One of the things I love about Charles Rivers Editors is that they sometimes offer an off-beat story to their readers. And those off-the-beaten-track books are often gems. At the end, I'm going to share some of my favorites from the House of Charles Rivers. Of the 6 mentioned below, the story of the Dodo Bird and the La Brea Tar Pits are absolute favorites of mine.
Off-Beat Gems from the House of Charles Rivers
The Galápagos: The History of the Famous Pacific Islands and Their Unique Ecosystem
The Roma: The History of the Romani People and the Controversial Persecutions across Europe
The Dodo: The History and Legacy of the Extinct Flightless Bird
Beavers and Plumes: The History of the Trade and Conflicts Over Beaver Hats and Feathered Hats
The United States Camel Corps: The History of the U.S. Army's Use of Camels in the Southwest during the 19th Century
The La Brea Tar Pits: The History and Legacy of One of the World's Most Famous Fossil Sites
