Lee Smolin

"It is a search for a view of the universe that unites two seemingly opposed pillars of modern science: Einstein's theory of general relativity, which deals with large scale phenomena like planets, solar systems and galaxies, and quantum theory, which deals with the world of the very small -- molecules, atoms and electrons. In the last few years, physicists have made big steps toward their goal of a completely new theory of space, time and the universe,...

"A splendid, edifying report from the front lines of theorectical physics" ( San Francisco Chronicle ). In this illuminating book, renowned physicist Lee Smolin argues that fundamental physics -- the search for the laws of nature -- is losing its way. Ambitious ideas about extra dimensions, exotic particles, multiple universes, and strings have captured the public's imagination -- and the imagination of experts. But these ideas have not been tested...