Today@Sam Article
Professor Explains Astronomical Mysteries In New Book
April 30, 2024
SHSU Media Contact: Mikah Boyd
By Hunter King
Renee James, a professor of physics and astronomy at Sam Houston State University, has taken a unique approach with her new book, “Things That Go Bump in the Universe.” Straying away from the traditional academic route, James decided to captivate not only scholars but also the common reader.
In her own words, James reflects on her motivations for writing a book intended for a broader audience, recalling a pivotal moment in her childhood when her parents bought her Carl Sagan's book, “Cosmos.”
“It had everything. It had stuff about stars, planets, history, different languages and dove into what the future of the universe was,” James said. “I sat there, and I was like, ‘oh, I want to do what that guy does.’ That was me in sixth grade.”
That early inspiration sparked a lifelong passion for communicating the wonders of the cosmos to everyone, not just fellow academics. James found herself disappointed with some of the exclusive nature of scholarly writing during her academic journey.
“I slowly realized that I did not want to continue to leave everybody else in the dust because I thought this stuff was so cool,” James said. “That's the kind of thing that drives me to teach the intro classes. And that's the thing that drives all my creative projects, I want to be able to take this stuff and give it to people. Instead of just talking amongst ourselves in the scholarly realm.”
The creation of her book title, "Things That Go Bump in the Universe," underwent several iterations before its final form. James describes some of the things she explores in her book, from the explosive power of stars to the violent collisions of black holes. The title captures the heart of these cosmic activities in a vivid way.
During a sabbatical in Australia in 2016, James was involved in the excitement surrounding the first detection of gravitational waves resulting from the collision of two black holes: a monumental moment in scientific history. This is where James says she began to really envision the framework for her book.
“I started kind of putting together a very loose idea of the book,” she said. “And I just felt like I wanted to write an article about that. And then I found out something else that I thought was really wild. And then, after a while, it just kind of turned into an entire book idea.”
James translated complex concepts into a language accessible to all readers by drawing from conversations with astronomers and adding their stories into the narrative. Her publisher, Johns Hopkins University Press, recognized the book's potential to garner attention and helped support the book in reaching broader audiences through various platforms.
James views her book as a guided tour through the bustling universe, introducing readers to the fascinating discoveries and the brilliant minds behind them.
“The book is just a tour through a universe that is a lot busier than it seems,” James said. “Stars have the same problems we do. Sometimes they're under a lot of pressure, sometimes they explode and sometimes they have all these run-ins with other things. Ultimately, we're just here for an instant but we're brilliant for that instant.”
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