Nemesis: The Death Star

by Dr. Richard Muller

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In a word: discovery

In a sentence: Dr. Muller tells the tale of his team’s path to the Nemesis theory.

Synopsis: A group of scientists at UC Berkeley put together expertise in physics, geology, and astronomy to come up with the Nemesis theory. The theory postulates that the star Nemesis, is a companion star to our Sun, and responsible for the periodic distribution of the Oort Comet Cloud surrounding our solar system every 28 million years. These comet showers in turn are said to be the cause of massive periodic extinction events at that same interval, including the one which killed the dinosaurs.

Reactions: By way of new years resolution, I have decided to read more nonfiction this year.

I read all manner of fiction, so long as it remains decadent in some way that makes the reader want to sink in, be it in plot, language, or allegory. I tend to view nonfiction as generally ominous due to my proclivity for elegant prose, and nonfiction’s tendency towards dry facts.

Generally, the nonfiction I pick up involves topics I know will interest me in spite of any potential inelegance in writing. To that respect, I long ago gave up the notion that science, particularly physics, would be comprehensible to me in any great level of detail. Nemesis, however, made me sink in.

I read this book because my cousin thrust it at me and with strict instructions to give it a try. She developed an interest in science due in large part to her enthusiasm for nonfiction, and so I have often found our reading styles diametrically opposed. I can proudly confirm that this book has changed my view on the matter. I now enter my nonfiction year not with apprehension, but with eagerness.

Nemesis draws its reader into the thick of scientific discovery. This applies to any reader. Those hesitant towards nonfiction or apprehensive of scientific nuance. Nemesis is science told as a great mystery novel for novices, making the complex scientific theories in physics, geology, and astronomy comprehensible to the lay reader of any background. Not only comprehensible, this tale wrapped me into the thrill of hypothesizing, and had me googling everything from Dale Russell’s dinosauroids to the pronunciation of ‘Cretaceous.’ Muller lets the reader in on what it feels like to be a true theoretical scientist.

Read if: you love science or nonfiction, or harbor a trepidation for either.