The Edge of Space-Time
Particles, Poetry, and the Cosmic Dream Boogie
-
- Pre-Order
-
- Expected Apr 7, 2026
-
- $14.99
Publisher Description
A fresh, charming, socially conscious tour of the mysteries of space-time, from the award-winning author of The Disordered Cosmos
In her highly acclaimed debut, distinguished cosmologist and particle physicist Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein shared with her audience an abiding sense of wonder at the cosmos, while imagining a world without the entrenched injustice that plagues her field. Now, in The Edge of Space-Time, she embraces that cosmic wonder, taking readers on a mind-altering journey to the boundaries of the universe, inviting us to spend time at the edge of what we know about space-time and about ourselves.
Guided by her conviction that for humanity to go forward we must know our cosmic past and drawing on poetry and popular culture—from Langston Hughes, Queen Latifah, and Lewis Carroll, to Big K.R.I.T., Sun Ra, and Star Trek—Prescod-Weinstein renders accessible some of the most abstract concepts of theoretical physics to tell fascinating stories about the history and fundamental nature of our universe. Here we meet the quantum cat that is both dead and alive, learn the difference between dark matter and dark energy, explore the inner workings of black holes, and investigate the possibility of a unified theory of quantum gravity, following our guide out to the far reaches of the cosmic event horizon and down to the tiniest (and queerest) neutrino. Along the way, she calls on us to resist colonial approaches to space exploration and instead imagine a better path forward in our pursuit of humanity’s undeniable connection with the stars.
Through Prescod-Weinstein’s clear-eyed and unique perspective, and informed by her deep knowledge of post-colonial history and Black feminist thought, The Edge of Space-Time argues that physics is an essential way for everyone to look at the universe and presents a compelling case that “the edge” is a powerful vantage point from which to see the big picture.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this unique yet dense primer on cosmology, the study of the origin and evolution of the universe, physicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (The Disordered Cosmos) calls for an anticolonial approach to science and space exploration. She argues that "in order to move forward, we must always reach back to our past and use it as a motivation and a guide." Revealing how marvelous, strange, and unpredictable the universe is, she explains concepts like special relativity (the theory that space and time are linked), wave-particle duality (when fundamental entities, like electrons and photons, act like particles as well as waves), and black holes (regions in space with gravity so intense that nothing can escape). She blends these scientific discussions with references to poetry and popular culture, invoking T.S. Eliot to explain the concept of time, Nikki Giovanni to elucidate the possibilities of space travel, and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland to demonstrate applications of quantum mechanics. Throughout, she encourages approaches to science that prioritize humanity over capitalism, imperialism, and white supremacy; reflecting on the modern space race, for example, she asks, "How can we imagine leaving Earth's surface and making a livable home elsewhere when we can't even get it right here?" While ostensibly aimed at a lay audience—"This is supposed to be fun," Prescod-Weinstein writes in the introduction—readers may struggle with the many abstract concepts. Still, those enchanted by the mysteries of the cosmos will find this worth the effort.
