''Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the 10th Dimension'' (1994, ) is a book by

Michio Kaku Michio Kaku (, ; born January 24, 1947) is an American theoretical physicist, futurist, and popularizer of science (science communicator). He is a professor of theoretical physics in the City College of New York and CUNY Graduate Center. Kaku is ...

, a

theoretical physicist Theoretical physics is a branch of physics that employs mathematical models and abstractions of physical objects and systems to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena. This is in contrast to experimental physics, which uses experim ...

from the

City College of New York The City College of the City University of New York (also known as the City College of New York, or simply City College or CCNY) is a public university within the City University of New York (CUNY) system in New York City. Founded in 1847, Cit ...

. It focuses on Kaku's studies of higher

dimension In physics and mathematics, the dimension of a mathematical space (or object) is informally defined as the minimum number of coordinates needed to specify any point within it. Thus, a line has a dimension of one (1D) because only one coor ...

s referred to as hyperspace. The recurring theme of the book is that all four forces of the universe (the

strong force The strong interaction or strong force is a fundamental interaction that confines quarks into proton, neutron, and other hadron particles. The strong interaction also binds neutrons and protons to create atomic nuclei, where it is called the ...

, the

weak force Weak may refer to: Songs * "Weak" (AJR song), 2016 * "Weak" (Melanie C song), 2011 * "Weak" (SWV song), 1993 * "Weak" (Skunk Anansie song), 1995 * "Weak", a song by Seether from '' Seether: 2002-2013'' Television episodes * "Weak" (''Fear t ...

electromagnetism In physics, electromagnetism is an interaction that occurs between particles with electric charge. It is the second-strongest of the four fundamental interactions, after the strong force, and it is the dominant force in the interactions o ...

, and

gravity In physics, gravity () is a fundamental interaction which causes mutual attraction between all things with mass or energy. Gravity is, by far, the weakest of the four fundamental interactions, approximately 1038 times weaker than the str ...

) become more coherent and their description simpler in higher dimensions.

Summary

Michio Kaku tries to explain higher dimensions, first analyzing the history of higher dimensions of space and the struggle to unite

quantum mechanics Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles. It is the foundation of all quantum physics including quantum chemistry, q ...

and

general relativity General relativity, also known as the general theory of relativity and Einstein's theory of gravity, is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1915 and is the current description of gravitation in modern physics. ...

in one theory. He then goes on to detail theories concerning the 2-D world, named "

Flatland ''Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions'' is a satirical novella by the English schoolmaster Edwin Abbott Abbott, first published in 1884 by Seeley & Co. of London. Written pseudonymously by "A Square", the book used the fictional two-dim ...

". The end of the book discusses such topics as

wormhole A wormhole ( Einstein-Rosen bridge) is a hypothetical structure connecting disparate points in spacetime, and is based on a special solution of the Einstein field equations. A wormhole can be visualized as a tunnel with two ends at separate p ...

parallel universe Parallel universe often refers to parallel universes in fiction, a self-contained separate world, universe or reality coexisting with the real world, which is used as a recurring plot point or setting used in fantasy and science fiction. Parallel ...

s and the fate of the universe.

Part I Entering the Fifth Dimension

* Worlds Beyond Space and Time * Mathematicians and Mystics * The Man Who "Saw" the Fourth Dimension * The Secret of Light: Vibrations in the Fifth Dimension

Part II Unification in Ten Dimensions

* Quantum Heresy * Einstein's Revenge * Superstrings * Signals from the Tenth Dimension * Before Creation

Part III Wormholes: Gateways to Another Universe?

* Black Holes and Parallel Universes * To Build a Time Machine * Colliding Universes

Part IV Masters of Hyperspace

* Beyond the Future. * The Fate of Universe * Conclusion further

Reception

A 1994 review for the ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the ...

'' noted that the book is not written for physicists, but for the "lay people excited by the possibilities" of their discoveries, and that for them, it is a good fit. Reviewing the book for '' The Observatory'' in 1996, Ian Crawford was quite negative; noting that he "was disappointed with this book". He criticized "low level of basic scholarship" visible in poor referencing standards, occasional if minor errors, and unwarranted "sweeping generalizations". He also noted that while the book author is acknowledged to be an expert on superstrings, he found the book discussion of this concept quite lacking. A 2004 review in

SF Signal ''SF Signal'' was a science fiction blog and fanzine published from 2003 to 2016. The site was launched by John DeNardo and JP Frantz and focused on writings, events, and other topics focusing on the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and other ...

praised the book for engaging, educational writing on an interesting topic, diluted by irrelevant biographical passages. Michael Starks reviewing the book in 2016 was also more positive, calling it "a lovely book full of fascinating info on the evolution of physics and cosmology".

References

External links

* * * {{Dimension topics Books by Michio Kaku Popular physics books 1994 non-fiction books String theory books