Deconstructing Cosmology

by Robert H. Sanders

The advent of sensitive high-resolution observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation and their successful interpretation in terms of the standard cosmological model has led to great confidence in this model's reality. The prevailing attitude is that we now understand the Universe and need only work out the details. In this book, Sanders traces the development and successes of Lambda-CDM, and argues that this triumphalism may be premature. The model's two major components, dark energy and dark matter, have the character of the pre-twentieth-century luminiferous aether. While there is astronomical evidence for these hypothetical fluids, their enigmatic properties call into question our assumptions of the universality of locally determined physical law. Sanders explains how modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) is a significant challenge for cold dark matter. Overall, the message is the field of cosmology has not become frozen, and there is much fundamental work ahead for tomorrow's cosmologists.

152 pages, Hardcover

Published November 7, 2016

Reviews

[Stephen Perrenod · Rating 5 out of 5]

A current and balanced view of what may be the most significant question in cosmology today. Is the canonical Lambda-CDM cosmology fully explanatory and is dark matter really required? The alternative of modification to the law of gravity has been around for decades but is getting renewed attention with emergent entropic gravity and with continued refinement of galactic scale observations. He knows his stuff, and lays out the major options with clarity and fairness.