Product Description

The authors explain their theory that sub-atomic particles from exploded stars have more effect on the climate than manmade CO2. Their conclusion stems from Svensmark's research which has shown the previously unsuspected role that cosmic rays play in creating clouds. During the last 100 years cosmic rays became scarcer because unusually vigorous action by the Sun batted away many of them. Fewer cosmic rays meant fewer clouds--and a warmer world. The theory, simply put here but explained in fascinating detail, emerges at a time of intense public and political concern about climate change. Motivated only by their concern that science must be trustworthy, Svensmark and Calder invite their readers to put aside their preconceptions about manmade global warming and look afresh at the role of Nature in this hottest of world issues.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #118777 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

About the Author
Henrik Svensmark leads a group examining the Sun's effects on the climate, at the Danish National Space Center in Copenhagen. He has published 50 scientific papers on theoretical and experimental physics, including six landmark papers on climate physics. Nigel Calder has spent a lifetime spotting and explaining the big discoveries in all branches of science. He served his apprenticeship as a science writer on the original staff of the magazine New Scientist and was the magazine's Editor from 1962-66. Since then he has worked as an independent author and TV scriptwriter. He won the UNESCO Kalinga Prize for the Popularization of Science for his work for the BBC in a long succession of 'science specials', with accompanying books. His most recent book is Magic Universe (OUP, 2003), a comprehensive guide to modern science, which was shortlisted for the Aventis Prize for Science Books.

Customer Reviews

An Alternate Theory of Global Warming and Cooling
In a time where politicians and scientists argue that global warming is mainly due to mankind's continuing introduction of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, it is interesting to read other viable scientific explanations for the earth's increasing temperatures. In this excellent book the authors provide an excellent example of the latter. Their thesis is that galactic cosmic rays play a very important role in affecting the earth's climate - both warming and cooling. Not only is their line of scientific reasoning (and the scientific principles involved) very clearly explained, but the authors also present much evidence from both the recent (centuries) and the distant (millions of years) past to support this theory. The book is very well written in a most authoritative yet friendly, accessible and engaging style. This exceptional work should be required reading for all those interested in the causes of global warming. But it will likely be relished the most by science buffs.