Humans have always looked up at the sky and wondered. From ancient Babylonians tracking celestial objects on clay tablets to labs probing the subatomic realm, scientific inquiry has been driven by an innately human quest – a desire to understand, quite simply, where we fit in. A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE (and our place in it) tells the story of our search for meaning in a sprawling cosmic ocean. From ancient astrology to the Copernican revolution, from dark matter to our search for life outside of earth, it will take you on a journey through the discoveries that have propelled and continually overturned our understanding of the cosmos, the nature of reality, and ourselves. From a particle physicist at the forefront of cutting-edge research into the building blocks of the universe comes a spectacular celebration of our capacity for wonder. Written with clarity and simplicity, A BRIEF HISTORY tells you everything you need to know about the fundamentals of our universe, and our restless quest to understand our place in it.