Scientist takes families across the universe

Renowned physicist Brian Greene has grappled with string theory and hidden dimensions, but he entered a new frontier with his latest book, explaining some of those mind-numbing ideas to children and their parents.

In "Icarus at the Edge of Time," the Columbia University professor retells the classic Greek fable, but this time someone gets too close to a black hole -- not the sun.

	Greene

On Sunday afternoon, Greene will talk about black holes and his book, which was released this week, at Town Hall on First Hill.

The board book is the latest mainstream effort by a New Yorker who sometimes makes science cool with appearances on "The Colbert Report" and "The Late Show with David Letterman," cameo film roles and in other Hollywood work.

What he really wants is for people to grasp the broader and emotional dimensions of science.

"I really do think that science is so wonderful and so compelling and so impressive if it is told in the right context can really reach beyond the cognitive and touch the visceral," Greene said in an interview.

Greene is well-known for writing books about the cosmos for the layman, but his latest may be his most ambitious. It strives to help children and adults understand black holes, those spots of intense gravity thought to consume things that venture nearby, and maybe even slow time.

Greene's tale takes place on the spaceship Proxima, operated by five generations of astronauts, most of whom will die before the ship reaches its destination.

The essential plot, though, is known to many parents. A teenage son doesn't want to listen to his father; in this case, about flying too close to a black hole. Of course, the son gets too close, and without giving away the ending, the dramatic result offers lessons about family and science.

The Seattle P-I talked with Greene about science, family and how close we are to understanding the universe.

How does an expert on string theory decide to write a book for children?

"It is just the recognition that science needs to be communicated in a new way, a way that goes beyond the textbook and reaches people in a profound visceral way."

It's a warped concept -- five generations traveling to another point in space. Do you worry people will have a hard time relating?

"The very notion of traveling to the stars is so part of the human character. We are a species of explorers, and the ultimate exploration will be to reach out to the universe and have contact with other life that is out there.

"We are searching for life with various telescopes. We are understanding and getting a firmer grasp of the kind of technology necessary. But we are at the infancy."

What is the lesson of the book?

"You have to be fearless when confronting the cosmos, but you have to be willing to live with the consequences."

What age range is this book for?

"I really do consider this book suitable for kids as young as 4 or 5, who will hear it as a story, all the way to adults, who will hear it as a story but who will absorb some of the scientific underpinnings."

I was reading this book to my 5-year-old son, and he thought a black hole was the moon. Is it too advanced for kindergarteners?

"To hear the story as if the moon is a black hole is fine. Maybe he returns to the story at 6 or 7 or 8, and maybe begins to grasp the story more and more, and maybe has that 'aha' moment: 'Oh, that is what Einstein's relativity theory(is about).' "

You are sort of a rock star physicist, working in TV and movies. How do you explain your celebrity status?

"Celebrity status is probably too strong a word. The first book ("The Elegant Universe") did sort of create a second domain I spent some time in.

"To me, it certainly is a great balance because I always felt that purely to do the research and not bring it out into the general public ... it wasn't having enough impact."

AUTHOR'S LECTURE

Brian Greene will discuss his new book, "Icarus at the Edge of Time," at Town Hall at 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door. You can check out one of Greene's lectures on YouTube at youtube.com/watch?v=YtdE662eY_M.