INTO THE UNKNOWN

A leading astronomer and gifted teacher takes readers on a wondrous tour of how science confronts the big questions - about the universe's origins, destiny, and fundamental nature - and how it contends with the limits of our knowledge.

Astrophysicists have learned a remarkable amount about our universe over the last fifty years, thanks to the combination of advances in technology and computational power. But fundamental questions remain unanswered, among them: What caused the Big Bang? What happens inside black holes? Does extra-terrestrial life exist? What is the fate of the universe? Astrophysicist Kelsey Johnson takes on these questions, and more, in a book that dares to run smack into the boundaries of knowledge. The unknown - and potentially unknowable - nature of the topics in this book sit at the convergence of science, philosophy, and theology. This can be an uncomfortable space to be in, but it is where some of the most interesting questions are awaiting. Humans have learned a lot about the world around us and the universe beyond. We have had powerful insights and created profound theories about the universe and everything in it. Surely the ultimate theory must be waiting, just beyond our current knowledge. Well, maybe. In Into the Unknown, astrophysicist Kelsey Johnson takes us to the edge of scientific understanding about the universe. She doesn't just celebrate what we know but rather what we don't, and asks what it means if we never find that knowledge. Johnson argues we must reckon with possibilities - including those that may be beyond human comprehension. The very places where we have total ignorance are the places where the most important questions - about the philosophy of knowledge, the nature of our cosmos, and even the existence of God - await. As accessible as it is profound, Into the Unknown invites each of us to join in the great quest for knowledge. Kelsey Johnson is a professor of astronomy at the University of Virginia, former president of the American Astronomical Society, and founder of the award-winning Dark Skies, Bright Kids program. She has won numerous awards for her research, teaching, and promotion of science literacy. She lives in rural Virginia with her family, including two very large dogs.