Einstein's Monsters: The Life and Times of Black Holes

An award-winning astronomy professor reveals the mystery and might of our universe’s most enigmatic objects.Nearly every galaxy contains at its center a supermassive black hole, which can be millions or billions of times the mass of the Sun. In Einstein’s Monsters, a mind-blowing exploration of black holes from birth to death, distinguished astronomer Chris Impey argues that this phenomenon may hold the key that unlocks the origins and structure of our universe.In his always “entertaining and informative style” (Wall Street Journal), Impey examines our nascent understanding of supermassive black holes through astrophysical discoveries from the eighteenth century and beyond. He addresses vital questions surrounding black holes: How did we discern the existence of black holes despite being unable to observe them directly? Could one travel through a black hole without being “spaghettified” by the force of gravity? Blending new research with scientific history and the drama of ongoing exploration, Einstein’s Monsters presents an essential introduction to the incredible entities that shape our understanding of the cosmos.