Published in conjunction with the opening of the new Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History, this book explains the physics of the cosmos in terms of familiar principles at work here on earth (e.g., the force of gravity that lands a baseball in the bleachers also keeps the moon in orbit). Sections cover motion, matter, and energy and are beautifully illustrated with photos and diagrams. Concepts of cosmology are saved for the final chapter, which covers string theory, black holes, dark matter, gamma-ray bursts, cosmological inflation, the Big Bang, and the search for extraterrestrial life. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)