Includes bibliographical references (p. 161) and indexes.

"How old is the universe? How far away are the galaxies and how fast are they travelling away from us? What do the atoms in our bodies, and our very own existence, tell us about the history of the universe? Are we in a special place in the universe? What is dark matter and why do astronomers think it pervades the universe? How heavy is the vacuum? How do galaxies form?" "Michael Rowan-Robinson answers these and other questions in a highly original and intriguing way: he encapsulates our current knowledge of the universe into nine numbers. Each chapter is built around a very basic fact about the universe, beginning with the simple but profound one that we exist. Along the way, ideas that underpin modern cosmology, like the origin of the elements, the General Theory of Relativity, quantum theory, and the standard model of particle physics, are explained clearly and accessibly. And while speculative ideas like inflation, 'Theories of Everything', and strings and superstrings are here, they are treated with a refreshing scepticism. Here, then, is a masterly account of what we know (and, equally important, what we don't know) about the origin and nature of the universe."--BOOK JACKET.

Prologue: Que sais-je? -- 1. We exist -- 2. We are not in a special place -- 3. An expanding universe -- 4. A universe of finite age -- 5. The Hot Big Bang -- 6. Cold dark matter -- 7. The missing ingredient -- tilt, strings, or hot dark matter -- 8. How heavy is the vacuum? -- 9. How do galaxies form? -- 10. The nine numbers of the cosmos.