Experiments done in astronomy are quite different from other sciences. Unlike biology, chemistry, and physics, astronomers cannot hold their specimens in a petri dish and put them under a microscope. We rely solely on electromagnetic radiation to travel through space, into our telescopes, and interact with our detectors. While there have been impressive advances in our understanding of astronomy and the physical world, we are still quite limited by the sensitivity of our instruments, the size of our detectors, and our inability to probe the far reaches of the cosmos. As such, scientists can only attempt to answer questions that are within grasp of our current technology. Wondering what happened before our universe existed is a matter best left for dreaming, since making such observations are not (yet) possible. The Life and Death of the Universe: The History of the Big Bang and the Ultimate Fate of the Universe examines the fascinating history of deep space, and what the future holds. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the universe like never before.