Frequently Asked Questions about the Universe

„Delightful, funny, and yet rigorous and intelligent: only Jorge and Daniel can reach this exquisite balance.“ –Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and Helgoland

You’ve got questions: about space, time, gravity, and the odds of meeting your older self inside a wormhole. All the answers you need are right here.

As a species, we may not agree on much, but one thing brings us all together: a need to know. We all wonder, and deep down we all have the same big questions. Why can’t I travel back in time? Where did the universe come from? What’s inside a black hole? Can I rearrange the particles in my cat and turn it into a dog?

Researcher-turned-cartoonist Jorge Cham and physics professor Daniel Whiteson are experts at explaining science in ways we can all understand, in their books and on their popular podcast, Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe. With their signature blend of humor and oh-now-I-get-it clarity, Jorge and Daniel offer short, accessible, and lighthearted answers to some of the most common, most outrageous, and most profound questions about the universe they’ve received.

This witty, entertaining, and fully illustrated book is an essential troubleshooting guide for the perplexing aspects of reality, big and small, from the invisible particles that make up your body to the identical version of you currently reading this exact sentence in the corner of some other galaxy. If the universe came with an FAQ, this would be it.

Editorial Reviews

*09/06/2021

Physicist Whiteson and cartoonist Cham (We Have No Idea) bring their podcast Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe to the page in this amusing intro to the mysteries of the cosmos. Their survey is structured in a q&a format, and they admit that answering some questions only leads to more questions: they begin their exploration with „Why can’t I travel back in time?“–and reveal that it might be possible, with the caveat that they’re using the physicist’s version of „possible,“ as in „not prevented by the laws of physics.“ Other questions considered include „Why haven’t aliens visited us? Or have they?“ (there’s „a lot we don’t know,“ they answer); „Is an asteroid going to hit the Earth and kill us all?“ (chances are „not that high“); and „Is an afterlife possible?“ (according to physics, quantum information can’t be destroyed by the universe–so kind of). Along the way, they explain complex scientific ideas with humor: given the surface area of Mars, they write, even if trillions of dollars are spent to make it habitable, it’ll „still be cheaper by area than real estate in California.“ The authors’ answers always feel fresh, and Cham’s fun cartoons are a treat. Entertaining and satisfying, this is sure to please. (Nov.)
– Publishers Weekly

Praise for Frequently Asked Questions about the Universe:

„Easy-to-understand explanations of complex scientific theories and concepts. . . . This quirky, easily digestible book makes for a fun read.“ –Library Journal

„Cham and Whiteson use nontechnical language and humor to discuss the most up-to-date theories about the cosmos and humans’ place in it. Illustrated with Cham’s science-themed cartoons, the book is both educational and entertaining.“ –Physics Today

„Delightful, funny, and yet rigorous and intelligent: only Jorge and Daniel can reach this exquisite balance.“ –Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and Helgoland

„Amusing intro to the mysteries of the cosmos. . .The authors’ answers always feel fresh, and Cham’s fun cartoons are a treat. Entertaining and satisfying, this is sure to please.“ –Publishers Weekly (starred review)

„The authors’ work fits neatly into the recently burgeoning market of breezy pop-science books full of jokes, asides, and cartoons that serve as introductions to concepts that require much further study to fully understand. A solid foundational education in a handful of lively scientific topics.“ –Kirkus

„These are some of the biggest questions humanity has ever asked and the authors tackle them with wit, humor, expertise, and humility. . . . an excellent, easy-to-understand resource for curious people who want to start learning about cosmology.“ –Booklist
– From the Publisher

12/01/2021

Are you curious about the nature of reality? Did you ever want to know if you can travel back in time, teleport to another place, or live on Mars someday? In this pop-sci work inspired by their popular podcast Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe, cartoonist Cham and physicist Whiteson (Univ. of California, Irvine) attempt to answer these and other frequently asked questions about the universe. Incorporating humor and cartoons into bite-sized essays, this book provides easy-to-understand explanations of complex scientific theories and concepts. The authors (We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe) draw from a range of topics that would be familiar to readers of sci-fi books and fans of popular movies and television shows, such as whether it’s possible to build a space ship with a warp drive like those used in Star Trek, and whether we’re living in a Matrix-like computer simulation. The tone is conversational throughout, and Cham and Whiteson explain topics such as weather and plant biology in accessible terms. VERDICT This quirky, easily digestible book makes for a fun read.–Donna Marie Smith, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., FL
– Library Journal

2021-09-07
Two science podcasters answer their mail.

In this illustrated follow-up to We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe (2017), Cham, a cartoonist and former research associate and instructor at Caltech, and Whiteson, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Irvine, explain the basic science behind subjects that seem to preoccupy the listeners of their podcast, Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe. Most of the questions involve physics or astrophysics and take the form of, is such-and-such possible?–e.g., teleportation, alien visitors, building a warp drive, entering a black hole). The authors emphasize that they are answering as scientists, not engineers. „A physicist will say something is possible if they don’t know of a law of physics that prevents it.“ Thus, a spaceship traveling fast enough to reach the nearest star in a reasonable amount of time is not forbidden by the laws of physics, but building one is inconceivable. Similarly, wormholes and time travel are „not known to be impossible“–as are many other scenarios. Some distressing events are guaranteed. An asteroid will strike the Earth, the sun will explode, and the human race will become extinct, but studies reveal that none are immediate threats. Sadly, making Mars as habitable as Earth is possible but only with improbably futuristic technology. For those who suspect that we are living in a computer simulation, the authors describe what clues to look for. Readers may worry that the authors step beyond their expertise when they include chapters on the existence of an afterlife or the question of free will. Sticking closely to hard science, they deliver a lucid overview of brain function and the debate over the existence of alternate universes that is unlikely to provoke controversy. The authors’ work fits neatly into the recently burgeoning market of breezy pop-science books full of jokes, asides, and cartoons that serve as introductions to concepts that require much further study to fully understand.

A solid foundational education in a handful of lively scientific topics.
– Kirkus Reviews