Universe : A Guide to Everything

Author: Helge Kragh

Cosmology & the universe

Published on 16 March 2026 by REAKTION BOOKS in the United Kingdom.

Hardback | 192 pages, 42 illustrations, 12 in colour
224 x 147 x 22 | 370g

The physical universe is a most peculiar concept, not only different from the objects it contains but also from space itself. Cosmology – the science that seeks to explain it – has always differed from other sciences, drawing on philosophy and even theology. These influences remain, even in today’s data-driven cosmological models. This accessible and far-reaching book traces the development of cosmological thought from antiquity to the twenty-first century, with particular focus on the foundational work of Einstein, Hubble and others in the early twentieth century. It explores how modern theories rest on a surprisingly fragile base and argues that many cosmic mysteries may remain permanently unsolved. Rich in historical and philosophical insight, this is a lucid guide to what we know – and perhaps cannot know – about the universe.