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Author Lambert, Dominique, 1960- author.

Title The atom of the universe : the life and work of Georges Lemaitre / Dominique Lambert ; preface by P.J.E. Peebles ; translated by Luc Ampleman ; edited by Karl van Bibber
Published Kraków : Copernicus Center Press, 2015
©2015

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Description 1 online resource (xix, 464 pages) : illustrations
Contents From Louvain to Namur -- The early years: the Jesuits, mathematics adn the mines (1894-1914) -- The Great War: from student to artilleryman (1914-1919) - The seminarian and relativity (1920-1923) -- The mathematician who became an astronomer -- From the expanding universe to the primeval atom hypothesis (1927-1931) -- The Chinese connection (1927-1950) -- Arrival on the world scene? (1931-1939) -- Science and faith: the theory of the two paths (1924-1936) -- An astronomer starstruck by algebra (1931-1957) -- From cosmology to calculation: the Stormer problem -- A time of war (1940-1944) -- Lemaître the master. A portrait of his pedagogy (1940-1944) -- From mechanics to calculators and back again (1940-1944) -- Faith and science: the Un'Ora problem (1951-1952) -- Monsignor Lemaître (1956-1964) -- Mundus est fabula. The philosophy of a cosmologist -- A "pair of Milière" and the "Nim-Pythagoras" fight -- The last years (1962-1966) -- Msgr. Georges Lemaître: a star that was without a double (1962-1966)
Summary This biography takes readers from the early childhood to the last days of Georges Lemaitre, the man behind the theory of the primeval atom, now better known as the Big Bang theory. But, who was Georges Lemaitre? He was a clergyman, a genius astronomer, an audacious cosmologist, a computer enthusiast ahead of his time, a professor with his head in the clouds, a bon vivant mathematician, and a gourmand. The book peels away these layers, chapter by chapter, from the adventures of a boy from Charleroi (Belgium), who became Monseigneur Lemaitre and influenced contemporary cosmology. The Atom of the Universe follows Lemaitre's works through the course of his life, discovering along the way his involvement with the Chinese student community, his complex relationship with the Vatican, his deep devotion to the University of Louvain, his friendship with figures such as Einstein and Eddington, his adventures through both World Wars, his travels in America, his curious interest in Moliere, and his deep faith lived through the'Amis de Jesus.'The resulting picture is of a remarkable figure who was sensitive, creative, meticulous, and, paradoxically, both discreet and exuberant, while also being a man of exceptional integrity who reconciled his science with his faith. More than a book on one person, this biography of Georges Lemaitre offers the key to a better understanding of the profound changes which took place in the fields of science, faith, and academic life in the last century
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes Print version record
Subject Lemaître, Georges, 1894-1966.
SUBJECT Lemaître, Georges, 1894-1966 fast
Subject Mathematicians -- Belgium -- Biography
Astronomers -- Belgium -- Biography
Astrophysics -- History
Big bang theory -- History
Cosmology -- History
Religion and science.
Religion and Science
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY -- Science & Technology.
SCIENCE -- Astronomy.
Astronomers
Astrophysics
Big bang theory
Cosmology
Mathematicians
Religion and science
Belgium
Genre/Form Biographies
History
Biographies.
Biographies.
Form Electronic book
Author Peebles, P. J. E. (Phillip James Edwin), writer of preface.
Ampleman, Luc, translator
Van Bibber, Karl A., editor.
ISBN 9788378860501
8378860507
Other Titles Atome d'univers. English