The Great Unknown – Seven Journeys to the Frontiers of Science

The Great Unknown

by Marcus du Sautoy

I remain convinced that the diversity of interests and topical areas that RAs engage with at NYU is second to none.  There are some subjects that are beyond my full understanding – this book is in that category. In The Great Unknown – Seven Journeys to the Frontiers of Science, the author, Marcus du Sautoy, seeks to explore the seven ‘edges’ of knowledge in the areas of science that are unknown, and provides current and past lessons learned.  Sautoy provides historical research as he posits each of the seven ‘edges’: Chaos; matter; Quantum physics; the universe; time; consciousness; and infinity.  He notes early in the book that he is an atheist, though he does come to realize that IF God is like “this”, then it is plausible that he could be persuaded there is a God.  From Big Bang theory to the realization that the world isn’t flat; from math equations that help science be better understood to which number will my die land on when I roll it next….  This is a book for those who sit around contemplating how the world began, how it sustains itself, and what the future has in store.  Black holes, planets colliding, what neural transmitters help best with an activity – Sautoy is brilliant and asks questions that are great for any non-scientist stuck in an elevator….  This book is out of my own sphere of interest, but I would hand it off to math and science focused readers.  It is recently published (2017), so the information is pertinent to today’s greatest thinkers.  For me, a pass; for the science enthusiast, pick it up now!