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The fascination with Space is one, which has gripped us throughout history. Nigel Henbest and Heather Couper, two world-renowned scientists in astrophysics, chart our discoveries throughout the ages in The Secret Life of Space. Revealing the true stories behind our biggest breakthroughs in astronomy and space exploration, they detail the chance, intuition and painstaking scientific investigation, which have led and continue to lead, to the greatest moments of cosmic discovery.
Starting with the wayward asteroid that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, The Secret Life of Space leads us through history via Galileo's development of the telescope into the instrument we use today; Newton's discovery of gravity; the findings of Stanley Hey during the Second World War that solar storms affected the radar, not the Germans; to today's increasing possibility of space travel as we push the frontiers of discovery and the perennial question, is there life out there? Henbest and Couper open up this world of black holes, quasars, pulsars and supernova; celebrating the scientists and their discoveries, which continue to debunk theories, expand the possibilities of scientific breakthrough and keep the world captivated.
Heather Couper is best known for her television work which has raised the profile of astronomy in the public eye. As well as writing numerous books and articles, Professor Couper was the President of the British Astronomical Association from 1984-1986 and is a Fellow of both the Royal Astronomical Society and the Institute of Physics: Asteroid 3922 Heather is named in her honour. In 2008 she presented Cosmic Quest, a 30-part series on the history of astronomy BBC Radio 4. She was awarded the CBE for services to science in 2007.
Nigel Henbest is a leading science writer, specialising in astronomy and space. He is a prolific author, having written 40 books and over 1 000 articles which have been translated into 27 languages, as well as writing and producing many international television programmes on the Universe. Professor Henbest has been Astronomy Consultant for New Scientist magazine, editor of the Journal of the British Astronomical Association and media consultant for the Royal Greenwich Observatory. A respected commentator on human spaceflight, he is signed up as a future astronaut with Virgin Galactic.
