Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs

The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe

By: Lisa Randall

Narrated by: Carrington MacDuffie

In this brilliant exploration of our cosmic environment, the renowned particle physicist and New York Times bestselling author of Warped Passages and Knocking on Heaven’s Door uses her research into dark matter to illuminate the startling connections between the furthest reaches of space and life here on Earth.

Sixty-six million years ago, an object the size of a city descended from space to crash into Earth, creating a devastating cataclysm that killed off the dinosaurs, along with three-quarters of the other species on the planet. What was its origin? In Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs, Lisa Randall proposes it was a comet that was dislodged from its orbit as the Solar System passed through a disk of dark matter embedded in the Milky Way. In a sense, it might have been dark matter that killed the dinosaurs.

Working through the background and consequences of this proposal, Randall shares with us the latest findings—established and speculative—regarding the nature and role of dark matter and the origin of the Universe, our galaxy, our Solar System, and life, along with the process by which scientists explore new concepts. In Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs, Randall tells a breathtaking story that weaves together the cosmos’ history and our own, illuminating the deep relationships that are critical to our world and the astonishing beauty inherent in the most familiar things.

Top notch science and story by Lisa Randall

Inspiring and profound. Read it. You will probably regret if you do not. This kind of perspective is rare.

Fantastic !!!

The best book I've read this decade. Professor Randall is one of the great minds of our time. It's fascinating to listen to how she thinks.

awesome!!!

Very cool book about the possible connection between the most mysterious matter in the universe and the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Knowledgebomb

The only drawback of this Book is that it is too short. Lisa Randall explains her thinking and current Theories as well as The current State of Knowledge Up to The Last Two chapters in which she concludes The relationship Stated in The title. My only Dilemma After listening is to not be able to discuss other theories with her

Exceptionally thorough and accessible

If you could sum up Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs in three words, what would they be?

Informative, accessible and compelling

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs?

When I realized this was a real scientist explaining real research - the history and foundations of dark matter; the scientific method applied; the evaluation of the available data; the story of how the ideas explained in this book evolved in her thinking and in her work with other collaborators.

Have you listened to any of Carrington MacDuffie’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

She read it a little fast. I was on 0.75% most of the time.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. Too much to digest all at once.

Any additional comments?

Especially liked the manner in which she attributed credit to all the cited researchers whose work contributed to the present views.