{"product_id":"book-jqnz","title":"Writing the Universe","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRobin Ince explores how authors, artists and astronomers have told the story of the cosmos\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom Shakespeare and Milton to Alan Moore and Douglas Adams, writers have striven to convey the enormity and wonder of our universe. In this enlightening three-part series, Robin Ince, aided by special guests including his fellow \u003ci\u003eInfinite Monkey Cage\u003c\/i\u003e presenter Brian Cox, appraises the great communicators past and present, who have captured our imagination and advanced our knowledge.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBeginning with the birth of the universe, he reveals that Fred Hoyle's famous phrase 'the big bang' was actually a derogatory expression, coined to satirise a theory he didn't believe in. Now, it is part of our everyday language - but how helpful is it in explaining how the cosmos came about?  Physicist Carlo Rovelli uses metaphor to clarify this mind-bending concept, while for cosmologist Carlos Frenk, the time before time existed is best illustrated by Dalí's melting clocks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInvestigating the mysteries of black holes, Robin looks at how they have inspired science fiction authors and filmmakers. First conceived of by Einstein in 1915, these vast tears in the fabric of spacetime exist at the centre of every galaxy: and thanks to Nobel Prize-winning author Kip Thorne (who consulted on the movie \u003ci\u003eInterstellar\u003c\/i\u003e), we have an idea of what they might actually look like.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut what of the ultimate destiny of the universe? Will it end in a 'big crunch', a 'big rip', heat death or vacuum decay? And as they speculate around the fate of the cosmos, how careful do scientists and writers have to be to avoid arousing anxiety and bringing on 'cosmological vertigo'? Contemplating the final chapter of the universe's story, Robin wonders whether their predictions will be accurate - or whether there will be a twist in the tale...\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eProduction credits\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePresented by Robin Ince\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProduced by Marijke Peters and Adrian Washbourne\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eExecutive Producer: Alexandra Feachem\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSoundscape Designer: Jane Watkins\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWith contributions from\u003c\/i\u003e: Brian Cox, Sean Carroll, Katie Mack, Carlos Frenk, Carlo Rovelli, Janna Levin, Paul Murdin, Kip Thorne, Paul Franklyn, Fay Dowker, Paul Sutter, Louisa Buck, John Lloyd, Adam Riess and Mike Turner\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 10-24 June 2024\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49280758710576,"sku":"BDjqnz","price":14.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/jqnz-cover.jpg?v=1762372086","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-jqnz","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}