Listen free for 30 days
-
13.8: The Quest to Find the True Age of the Universe and the Theory of Everything
- Narrated by: Sam Devereaux
- Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science & Engineering, Science
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Listen with a free trial
Buy Now for £18.29
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
In Search of Schrödinger’s Cat
- Quantum Physics and Reality
- By: John Gribbin
- Narrated by: Nicholas Masters-Waage
- Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Search of Schrodinger's Cat tells the complete story of quantum mechanics, a truth stranger than any fiction. John Gribbin takes us step by step into an even more bizarre and fascinating place, requiring only that we approach it with an open mind. He introduces the scientists who developed quantum theory. He investigates the atom, radiation, time travel, the birth of the universe, super conductors and life itself. A fascinating and delightful introduction to the strange world of the quantum - an essential element in understanding today's world.
-
-
Very much worth it, I’m serious this is really good.
- By Anonymous User on 28-08-21
-
The Invisible Universe
- By: Matthew Bothwell
- Narrated by: Matthew Bothwell
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the discovery of entirely new kinds of galaxies to a window into cosmic ‘prehistory’, Bothwell shows us the universe as we’ve never seen it before - literally. Since the dawn of our species, people all over the world have gazed in awe at the night sky. But for all the beauty and wonder of the stars, when we look with just our eyes we are seeing and appreciating only a tiny fraction of the universe. What does the cosmos have in store for us beyond the phenomena we can see, from black holes to supernovas?
-
-
superb for the layman and moderately informed too
- By Anonymous User on 04-01-22
-
Elusive
- How Peter Higgs Solved the Mystery of Mass
- By: Frank Close
- Narrated by: Richard Burnip
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the summer of 1964, a reclusive young professor at the University of Edinburgh wrote two scientific papers which have come to change our understanding of the most fundamental building blocks of matter and the nature of the universe. Peter Higgs posited the existence an almost infinitely tiny particle—today known as the Higgs boson—which is the key to understanding why particles have mass, and but for which atoms and molecules could not exist.
-
Fundamental
- How Quantum and Particle Physics Explain Absolutely Everything (Except Gravity)
- By: Tim James
- Narrated by: Tim James
- Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fundamental is a comprehensive beginner's guide to quantum mechanics, explaining not only the weirdness of the subject but the experiments that proved it to be true. Using a humorous and light-hearted approach, Fundamental tells the story of how the most brilliant minds in science grappled with seemingly impossible ideas and gave us everything from microchips to particle accelerators.
-
-
Succinct, full of physics, utterly brilliant
- By D B. on 22-08-20
-
Nature's Third Cycle
- A Story of Sunspots
- By: Arnab Rai Choudhuri
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The cycle of day and night and the cycle of seasons are two familiar natural cycles around which many human activities are organized. But is there a third natural cycle of importance for us humans? Nature's Third Cycle discusses the fascinating science behind the sunspot cycle, and gives an insider's perspective of this cutting-edge scientific research from one of the leaders of the field.
-
The Quantum Universe
- (And Why Anything That Can Happen, Does)
- By: Brian Cox, Jeff Forshaw
- Narrated by: Samuel West
- Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Quantum Universe, Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw approach the world of quantum mechanics in the same way they did in Why Does E=mc2? and make fundamental scientific principles accessible - and fascinating - to everyone.The subatomic realm has a reputation for weirdness, spawning any number of profound misunderstandings, journeys into Eastern mysticism, and woolly pronouncements on the interconnectedness of all things. Cox and Forshaw's contention? There is no need for quantum mechanics to be viewed this way.
-
-
Hopeless as an audiobook
- By Purplebirman on 23-05-21
-
In Search of Schrödinger’s Cat
- Quantum Physics and Reality
- By: John Gribbin
- Narrated by: Nicholas Masters-Waage
- Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Search of Schrodinger's Cat tells the complete story of quantum mechanics, a truth stranger than any fiction. John Gribbin takes us step by step into an even more bizarre and fascinating place, requiring only that we approach it with an open mind. He introduces the scientists who developed quantum theory. He investigates the atom, radiation, time travel, the birth of the universe, super conductors and life itself. A fascinating and delightful introduction to the strange world of the quantum - an essential element in understanding today's world.
-
-
Very much worth it, I’m serious this is really good.
- By Anonymous User on 28-08-21
-
The Invisible Universe
- By: Matthew Bothwell
- Narrated by: Matthew Bothwell
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the discovery of entirely new kinds of galaxies to a window into cosmic ‘prehistory’, Bothwell shows us the universe as we’ve never seen it before - literally. Since the dawn of our species, people all over the world have gazed in awe at the night sky. But for all the beauty and wonder of the stars, when we look with just our eyes we are seeing and appreciating only a tiny fraction of the universe. What does the cosmos have in store for us beyond the phenomena we can see, from black holes to supernovas?
-
-
superb for the layman and moderately informed too
- By Anonymous User on 04-01-22
-
Elusive
- How Peter Higgs Solved the Mystery of Mass
- By: Frank Close
- Narrated by: Richard Burnip
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the summer of 1964, a reclusive young professor at the University of Edinburgh wrote two scientific papers which have come to change our understanding of the most fundamental building blocks of matter and the nature of the universe. Peter Higgs posited the existence an almost infinitely tiny particle—today known as the Higgs boson—which is the key to understanding why particles have mass, and but for which atoms and molecules could not exist.
-
Fundamental
- How Quantum and Particle Physics Explain Absolutely Everything (Except Gravity)
- By: Tim James
- Narrated by: Tim James
- Length: 5 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fundamental is a comprehensive beginner's guide to quantum mechanics, explaining not only the weirdness of the subject but the experiments that proved it to be true. Using a humorous and light-hearted approach, Fundamental tells the story of how the most brilliant minds in science grappled with seemingly impossible ideas and gave us everything from microchips to particle accelerators.
-
-
Succinct, full of physics, utterly brilliant
- By D B. on 22-08-20
-
Nature's Third Cycle
- A Story of Sunspots
- By: Arnab Rai Choudhuri
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The cycle of day and night and the cycle of seasons are two familiar natural cycles around which many human activities are organized. But is there a third natural cycle of importance for us humans? Nature's Third Cycle discusses the fascinating science behind the sunspot cycle, and gives an insider's perspective of this cutting-edge scientific research from one of the leaders of the field.
-
The Quantum Universe
- (And Why Anything That Can Happen, Does)
- By: Brian Cox, Jeff Forshaw
- Narrated by: Samuel West
- Length: 8 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Quantum Universe, Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw approach the world of quantum mechanics in the same way they did in Why Does E=mc2? and make fundamental scientific principles accessible - and fascinating - to everyone.The subatomic realm has a reputation for weirdness, spawning any number of profound misunderstandings, journeys into Eastern mysticism, and woolly pronouncements on the interconnectedness of all things. Cox and Forshaw's contention? There is no need for quantum mechanics to be viewed this way.
-
-
Hopeless as an audiobook
- By Purplebirman on 23-05-21
-
Elemental
- How the Periodic Table Can Now Explain (Nearly) Everything
- By: Tim James
- Narrated by: Roger Davis
- Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 2016, with the addition of four final elements - nihonium, moscovium, tennessine and oganesson - to make a total of 118 elements, the periodic table was finally complete, rendering any pre-existing books on the subject obsolete. Tim James, the secondary-school science teacher we all wish we'd had, provides an accessible and wonderfully entertaining 'biography of chemistry' that uses stories to explain the positions and patterns of elements in the periodic table. Many popular science titles tend to tell the history of scientific developments, leaving the actual science largely unexplained; James, however, makes use of stories to explain the principles of chemistry within the table, showing its relevance to everyday life.
-
-
A book for anyone who wants to understand the the discovery’s and wonders of the universe
- By Claire S. on 17-08-18
-
The Hidden Reality
- Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos
- By: Brian Greene
- Narrated by: Brian Greene
- Length: 13 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There was a time when “universe” meant all there is. Everything. Yet, in recent years discoveries in physics and cosmology have led a number of scientists to conclude that our universe may be one among many. With crystal-clear prose and inspired use of analogy, Brian Greene shows how a range of different “multiverse” proposals emerges from theories developed to explain the most refined observations of both subatomic particles and the dark depths of space.
-
-
A great book.
- By Diana Varela on 05-05-20
-
Something Deeply Hidden
- Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime
- By: Sean Carroll
- Narrated by: Sean Carroll
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sean Carroll, theoretical physicist and one of this world’s most celebrated writers on science, rewrites the history of 20th-century physics. Already hailed as a masterpiece, Something Deeply Hidden shows for the first time that facing up to the essential puzzle of quantum mechanics utterly transforms how we think about space and time. His reconciling of quantum mechanics with Einstein’s theory of relativity changes, well, everything. Most physicists haven’t even recognized the uncomfortable truth: Physics has been in crisis since 1927.
-
-
Super position of all relevant texts.
- By Anonymous User on 15-10-19
-
The Joy of Science
- By: Jim Al-Khalili
- Narrated by: Jim Al-Khalili
- Length: 3 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Today’s world is unpredictable and full of contradictions, and navigating its complexities while trying to make the best decisions is far from easy. The Joy of Science presents 8 short lessons on how to unlock the clarity, empowerment, and joy of thinking and living a little more scientifically. In this brief guide to leading a more rational life, acclaimed physicist Jim Al-Khalili invites listeners to engage with the world as scientists have been trained to do.
-
This Way to the Universe
- A Journey into Physics
- By: Michael Dine
- Narrated by: Michael Dine
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This Way to the Universe is a celebration of the astounding, ongoing scientific investigations that have revealed the nature of reality at its smallest, at its largest, and at the scale of our daily lives. The enigmas Professor Michael Dine discusses are like landmarks on a fantastic journey to the edge of the universe.
-
-
Old style history lesson: lists of names and dates
- By Mr Chops on 06-06-22
-
The Universe in Your Hand
- A Journey Through Space, Time and Beyond
- By: Christophe Galfard
- Narrated by: Leighton Pugh
- Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Imagine if The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy were a real, practical book about the mysteries of the universe.... The Universe in Your Hand takes us on a wonder-filled journey to the surface of our dying sun, shrinks us to the size of an atom and puts us in the deathly grip of distant black holes. Along the way you might come to understand, really understand, the mind-bending science that underpins modern life, from quantum mechanics to Einstein's theory of general relativity.
-
-
Very good introduction to the subject
- By D. Robertson on 20-05-19
-
Quantum
- A Guide for the Perplexed
- By: Jim Al-Khalili
- Narrated by: Hugh Kermode
- Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From Schrodinger's cat to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, this book untangles the weirdness of the quantum world. Quantum mechanics underpins modern science and provides us with a blueprint for reality itself. And yet it has been said that if you're not shocked by it, you don't understand it. But is quantum physics really so unknowable? Is reality really so strange? And just how can cats be half alive and half dead at the same time?
-
-
A little less perplexed.
- By Mr. J. A. Ball on 05-11-16
-
Quantum Space
- Loop Quantum Gravity and the Search for the Structure of Space, Time, and the Universe
- By: Jim Baggott
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Today we are blessed with two extraordinarily successful theories of physics. The first is Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity, which describes the large-scale behavior of matter in a curved spacetime. The second is quantum mechanics. This theory describes the properties and behavior of matter and radiation at their smallest scales.
-
-
Thought provoking
- By karl on 12-12-20
-
A History of the Universe in 100 Stars
- By: Florian Freistetter
- Narrated by: Richard Burnip
- Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Astronomer Florian Freistetter has chosen 100 stars that have almost nothing in common. Some are bright and famous, some shine so feebly you need a huge telescope. There are big stars, small stars, nearby stars and faraway stars. Some died a while ago, others have not even yet come into being. Collectively they tell the story of the whole world, according to Freistetter. There is Algol, for example, the Demon Star, whose strange behaviour has long caused people sleepless nights.
-
-
Cosmic Tour de Force
- By Matthew Skinner on 03-07-22
-
The Ascent of Gravity
- The Quest to Understand the Force That Explains Everything
- By: Marcus Chown
- Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh
- Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gravity is the weakest force in the everyday world, yet it is the strongest force in the universe. It was the first force to be recognised and described, yet it is the least understood. It is a 'force' that keeps your feet on the ground, yet no such force actually exists. Gravity, to steal the words of Winston Churchill, is 'a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma'. And penetrating that enigma promises to answer the biggest questions in science: what is space? What is time? What is the universe? And where did it all come from?
-
-
A book much bigger than it's title
- By Mr G on 12-10-17
-
The Unknown Universe
- By: Stuart Clarke
- Narrated by: David Timson
- Length: 8 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The European Space Agency released a map of the afterglow of the big bang map, which contains anomalies that challenge our understanding of the universe. This is the first book to address what will be an epoch-defining scientific paradigm shift. Will we ever know what happened before the big bang? What's at the bottom of a black hole? Are there universes beyond our own? Does time exist? Are the once immutable laws of physics changing?
-
-
Throughly enjoyed
- By Ben on 14-03-17
-
How Old Is the Universe?
- By: David A. Weintraub
- Narrated by: Brad Smith
- Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Astronomers have determined that our universe is 13.7 billion years old. How exactly did they come to this precise conclusion? How Old Is the Universe? tells the incredible story of how astronomers solved one of the most compelling mysteries in science and, along the way, introduces listeners to fundamental concepts and cutting-edge advances in modern astronomy.
Summary
A celebrated astronomer makes a powerful case for the harmony between two of physics' most important and seemingly contradictory theories.
The 20th century gave us two great theories of physics. The general theory of relativity describes the behavior of very large things, and quantum theory the behavior of very small things. In this landmark audiobook, John Gribbin - one of the best-known science writers of the past 30 years - presents his own version of the Holy Grail of physics, the search that has been going on for decades to find a unified "Theory of Everything" that combines these ideas into one mathematical package, a single equation that could be printed on a T-shirt, containing the answer to life, the universe, and everything.
With his inimitable mixture of science, history, and biography, Gribbin shows how - despite skepticism among many physicists - these two great theories are very compatible, and points to a deep truth about the nature of our existence. The answer lies, intriguingly, with the age of the universe: 13.8 billion years.
Published by Yale University Press.
"A lively and accessible look at how astronomers determined the age of our universe." - Publishers Weekly
"An exciting chronicle of a monumental scientific accomplishment by a scientist who participated in the measuring of the age of the universe." - Kirkus Reviews
"Gribbin is a confident, engaging guide...a lovingly rendered history." - Wall Street Journal
More from the same
What listeners say about 13.8: The Quest to Find the True Age of the Universe and the Theory of Everything
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- BillyRalph
- 17-03-18
Complex subject material
Interesting subject and very well researched and written but I struggled to understand the material despite having a keen interest in science.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Diwotti
- 07-05-18
A fascinating listen.
A wonderful, and also a very well written book, about the age of the universe. It goes back in time, telling the story of the age of the earth,the distances to the stars and the galaxies etc, and ultimately how the the age of the universe was discovered. Fascinating!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Michael
- 23-03-18
Simple, entertaining and easily understood
Simple, entertaining and easily understood story of how scientists arrived at the conclusion that the Universe was 13.8 billion years old.
10 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Melissa R-M
- 20-06-18
Decent read
I found this to be a good book, but not a great one. Much of the early chapters are bogged down with an excess of names and dates that get lost in the verbosity. The later sections have a bit better pace, but the final discoveries are too brief in their discussion. It almost felt that the author had a limited number of pages and spent so much in the early stages of astrophysics that by the end of the story, he had to wrap it up without detail or adequate time spent.
By the end, I did enjoy the book though. It has made me think. Ponder theories and yearn for more.
To be conclusive, the performance was sufficient. Like the book, good but not great.
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- joe gagnon
- 12-04-22
very informative and factual
has a lot of facts and information about the early universe and it's evolution according to our best estimates right now.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- HT
- 04-01-19
Needed more
There were definitely parts of the book where the author glossed over how something was figured out from observations and it would have been better if it was described a little more in depth. It was an interesting and brief history on how scientists got to figuring out how old the universe is and I am sure it will change again...