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Under The Microscope

THE MISSING UNIVERSE AND OTHER COSMIC RIDDLES, by Graham Phillips; Penguin, 1994; 148 pages; $21.95

Reviewed by Vicki Hyde

As one might expect in a work from a presenter on Quantum, this book takes an extremely lightweight look at the "cosmic riddles" it explores, ranging from quantum physics and the question of free will to snippets on fireballs and firewalking.

Phillips says that "science is almost like a pair of magic glasses that offers a radically different view of our everyday world. It transforms the mundane universe in which we each sleep, eat, work and play into a bizarre place where time travel is possible, objects as large as the moon disappear if they're not being watched, mysterious balls of light enter other people's houses and holes in the fabric of space and time eat entire stars".

These are interesting topics, but they promise more than is delivered -- perhaps it is unfair to demand more, but the once-over-lightly treatment would leave anyone with a science bent unsatisfied.

It would be a good introduction for someone with absolutely no science background at all, as the topics are covered in brief, simplified encounters and Phillips does make a point of discussing how paradox can push scientific progress. Give it to a teenager or possibly a New Age enthusiast to flex their minds.

Vicki Hyde is the editor of New Zealand Science Monthly.