The Goldilocks Enigma: Why Is the Universe Suitable for Life?

The Goldilocks Enigma is Paul Davies's eagerly awaited return to cosmology, succeeding his critically acclaimed bestseller The Mind of God. In his characteristically clear and elegant style, Davies tackles the "big questions," including the biggest of them all: Why does the universe seem so well adapted for life? Recent scientific discoveries point to a perplexing fact - many different aspects of the cosmos, from the properties of the humble carbon atom to the speed of light, appear to be tailor-made to produce life. A radical new theory suggests that this is because our universe is just one of an infinite number of universes, each slightly different. Our universe is bio-friendly by accident - we have simply won the cosmic jackpot.

While this "multiverse" theory is compelling, it has bizarre implications, such as the existence of infinite copies of each of us and Matrix-like simulated universes. However, it still leaves a lot unexplained. Davies believes there is a more satisfying solution to the problem of existence: the observations we make today could help shape the nature of reality in the remote past. If this is true, then life - and, ultimately, consciousness - are not just incidental byproducts of nature, but central players in the evolution of the universe.

Whether he's elucidating dark matter or dark energy, M-theory or the multiverse, Davies brings the leading edge of science into sharp focus, provoking us to think about the cosmos and our place within it in new and thrilling ways. The Goldilocks Enigma is Davies's eagerly awaited return to cosmology, the successor to his critically acclaimed bestseller The Mind of God. In his characteristically clear and elegant style, Davies tackles the "big questions," including the biggest of them all: Why does the universe seem so well adapted for life? Recent scientific discoveries point to a perplexing fact - many different aspects of the cosmos, from the properties of the humble carbon atom to the speed of light, appear to be tailor-made to produce life. A radical new theory suggests that this is because our universe is just one of an infinite number of universes, each slightly different. Our universe is bio-friendly by accident - we have simply won the cosmic jackpot.

While this "multiverse" theory is compelling, it has bizarre implications, such as the existence of infinite copies of each of us and Matrix-like simulated universes. However, it still leaves a lot unexplained. Davies believes there is a more satisfying solution to the problem of existence: the observations we make today could help shape the nature of reality in the remote past. If this is true, then life - and, ultimately, consciousness - are not just incidental byproducts of nature, but central players in the evolution of the universe.

Whether he's elucidating dark matter or dark energy, M-theory or the multiverse, Davies brings the leading edge of science into sharp focus, provoking us to think about the cosmos and our place within it in new and thrilling ways.

product information: