Jorge Cham - Frequently Asked Questions about the Universe

We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe

Everyone has questions.

Its an inherent part of being human. As a species, we may not agree on much: politics, favorite sports team, best place to get a taco at twelve a.m. But one thing brings us all together: a need to know. We all wonder, and deep down we all have the same questions.

Why cant I travel back in time? Is there another version of me out there? Where did the universe come from? How long are humans going to be around? And who eats tacos at twelve a.m. anyway?

Fortunately, we have answers.

Science has made incredible progress over the last few hundred years, and theres a lot we can say about some very fundamental questions about the universe. There are, of course, still huge mysteries (see our previous book, We Have No Idea: A Guide to the Unknown Universe), but for our species, things in the understanding-the-universe department seem to be going in the right direction. So much so that we felt it was time that somebody compiled a list of easy-to-read, cartoon-laden answers to some of humanitys most frequently asked questions.

In this book, well explore answers to some of the deepest and most existential questions that people can ask about themselves, the planet, and the nature of reality itself. Have you ever wondered why aliens havent visited us (assuming they havent)? Or whether you are truly unique, or just a preprogrammed simulation in some alien video game? Do you stay up at night, wondering if life after death is possible? In your hands are answers to all of these questions.

Each chapter covers a frequently asked question, hopefully revealing in the process some mind-blowing truth about our amazing universe. Think of this book as a primer for your next cocktail party, or as a quick, fascinating read while you sit on the toilet (thankfully, we made each chapter fairly short).

You might wonder what makes us qualified to answer these questions. Rest assured that we have that utmost of qualifications to be authorities on a given topic: we have a podcast.

In our humbly titled, twice-weekly audio program, Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe, we cover topics ranging from microwaves to intergalactic phenomena to hypothetical fundamental particles.

But its answering questions from listeners that really inspired us to write this book. For us, thats one of the most exciting parts of having a podcast. Nothing brightens our day more than opening our in-box and reading a thoughtful question from a curious listener.

And questions we definitely get! The question askers vary in age (nine to ninety-nine), occupation, and location. You might be surprised at the amazing questions that a nine-year-old from Devonshire can have about the observable universe.

It seems that asking questions and the desire to know is in our hearts. Many would say that wondering about the nature of our cosmos and our place in it is one of the joys of being alive. Of course, it might be frustrating to not know the answers right away, or to only end up with more questions (as in some of the answers in this book), but theres power in just asking the questions.

You see, asking questions supposes that its possible to find the answers, which we believe is an act of hope. What could be more hopeful than believing that the universe and all its wondrous mysteries can one day be unraveled and understood?

So join us as we plug into the collective curiosity of your fellow humans and take a dive into the questions that frequently stump them. The answers will sometimes be surprising, and they might challenge your view of the universe. Other times the answers will be agonizingly incomplete because they push up against the edge of human knowledge.

In all cases, just remember that most of the fun is in asking the question.

Enjoy!

PS: Dont forget to flush.

Why Cant I Travel Back in Time?

Actually, who said you cant travel back in time?

Its a very common wish to be able to travel back in time. Who among us wouldnt want to go back and talk to famous figures in history, or watch important moments happen in person? You could figure out who really killed JFK or what ended the dinosaurs.

More practically, it would be great to go back in time for smaller stuff, like fixing a mistake you made. If you spilled coffee on your pants, you could go back in time and... not spill it. If you said something to your boss you now regret, just go back and not say it. If you ordered a pizza with pineapple on it and then realized that its actually gross, you could go back and order a real pizza. Itd be like having an undo button (the equivalent of Ctrl+Z, or Command+Z for Mac snobs) for the universe.