The Sun's Heartbeat: and Other Stories from the Life of the Star That Powers Our Planet

by Bob Berman

The beating heart of the sun is the very pulse of life on earth. And from the ancients who plotted its path at Stonehenge to the modern scientists who unraveled the nuclear fusion reaction that turns mass into energy, humankind has sought to solve its mysteries. In this lively biography of the sun, Bob Berman ranges from its stellar birth to its spectacular future death with a focus on the wondrous and enthralling, and on the heartbreaking sacrifice, laughable errors, egotistical battles, and brilliant inspirations of the people who have tried to understand its power.

What, exactly, are the ghostly streaks of light astronauts see-but can't photograph-when they're in space And why is it impossible for two people to see the exact same rainbow Why are scientists beginning to think that the sun is safer than sunscreen And how does the fluctuation of sunspots-and its heartbeat-affect everything from satellite communications to wheat production across the globe

Peppered with mind-blowing facts and memorable anecdotes about spectral curiosities-the recently-discovered "second sun" that lurks beneath the solar surface, the eerie majesty of a total solar eclipse-THE SUN'S HEARTBEAT offers a robust and entertaining narrative of how the Sun has shaped humanity and our understanding of the universe around us.

• ISBN10: 0316091014
• ISBN13: 9780316091015
• Publish Date: 13 July 2011 (first published 1 January 2011)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Out of Print: 30 October 2012
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Little, Brown & Company
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 304
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

I received a free digital copy through Net Galley.

This is a science book that reads more like a story, with the Sun as the main character, rather than a textbook with the Sun as the subject to be explained. Bob Berman's writing style is very welcoming to a non-science minded audience, but still interesting enough for those of us who are more familiar with the subject. His humor makes this a very fun read, which is the best way to help people learn. The Sun is much more than just the central star of our solar system and this book definitely explains why.