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Information for Readers of Genesis of the Big Bang and Big Bang Cosmology

Finally, after a long period of unavailability, Genesis of the Big Bang is again available in hardcover at a reasonable price, at www.amazon.com!!!! This opportunity has been long in coming, get your own copy NOW!!! This is the only book on the history of the Big Bang from two of its major founders, Ralph A. Alpher and Robert Herman!

And, the second of three articles written by Victor S. Alpher, Ph.D., Ralph A. Alpher's son, about his career is now available from the American Institute of Physics Journal "Radiations"!!! Check it out at:

http://www.sigmapisigma.org/radiations/2008/alpher_part2.pdf

Read about Dr. Alpher's significant role following the Second World War in helping to develop missle defenses for the West, basic science of cosmic rays with Dr. James van Allen, and his work in the "Re-Entry" group at the General Electric Research and Development Center. Here, his expertise in the physics of fluids and gases helped to develop safe approaches to re-entry of guided missles from space, which was critical not only to national defense, but also the space program. Much heretofore unknown information about Dr. Alpher's career is revealed, finally! As with Part 1, written by his son Victor S. Alpher, Ph.D., of Austin, Texas.

Please use the Contact Us Page for any communication, which will go to Dr. Victor S. Alpher. The following are presently available on a limited basis (CD $15 plus postage; DVD $25 plus postage; reduced postage for multiple orders) for the Historian of Science, and Physics/Cosmology research community:

1. 1966 Audio Interview on CD "The Universe Revisited" (@ 30 minutes).

2. 1973 Audio Lecture on CD in Richmond, Virginia--Big Bang Past, Present, Future.

3. 1988 Lecture on DVD in Dr. John Sowa's Chemistry class at Union College on the Big Bang, Union College, Schenectady, New York. Sound and picture quality excellent. Approximately 45 minutes, excellent sound and picture quality.

3. 1994 Colloquium DVD @ 90 minutes on the Big Bang. Excellent sound and picture quality.

4. 1999 Radio Interview on CD--@ 23 minutes.

5. 2000 Interview--Two on-hour DVDs, excellent sound and picture quality, interview including extensive reminiscences from Dr. Alpher's early career at the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution, and work with Drs. Gamow and Herman.

6. 60 minute DVD interview of January 4, 2005 in which Dr. Alpher discusses the current state of the Big Bang, current understanding of black holes and dark matter, and other matters of current cosmological significance. Excellent sound and picture quality.

7. In addition, a PACKET of about 50 pages of expansions, corrections, and errata is now available as a companion to Dr. Alpher´s book co-authored with Dr. Robert Herman, "Genesis of the Big Bang" (Oxford Press, 2001). As it is classified as a textbook, the best way to obtain the book is through www.amazon.com or order from a local bookseller.

Since February 3, 2004, Dr. Alpher was Distinguished Research Professor of Physics and Astronomy Emeritus of Union College and University, Schenectady, New York. His seminal paper, "Formation of the Chemical Elements", appeared in the journal Nature on April 1, 1948. The paper was based on his dissertation, which was attended by 300 persons, including press, resulted in a Herblock cartoon, and faculty in full academic regalia--very unusual for such an event! He was interviewed on television in 1949--also quite unusual for such scientific work. In 1945 he had also been awarded the Naval Ordnance Development Certificate (with Symbol) for his significant work for the U.S. war effort as a Physicist. During that period, while working on his degrees at night school, he was pursuing important war-related work for the U.S. government as a civilian.

For his groundbreaking work on the Big Bang theory, he has received awards from the American Philosophical Society (Magellanic Premium, the Franklin Institute (John Price Wetherill Medal), the National Academy of Sciences (Henry Draper Medal), the Belgian Academy of Sciences Physics Prize (Prix de Georges Vanderlinden), and the National Medal of Science (U.S.A.) . NASA has grouped the works of Ralph A. Alpher and Robert A. Herman along with those of Albert Einstein, Penzias and Wilson, and other important figures in cosmology of the 20th Century (COBE project brochure). His original prediction of the Cosmic Background Radiation was confirmed by observations made in 1964. Also, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through the COBE (Cosmic Background Explorer) Project further confirmed Dr. Ralph A. Alpher's groundbreaking work. COBE is one of NASA's most important projects of the last two decades in cosmology, and the Nobel Prize was awarded to John Mathers and George Smoot in 2006 for work related to COBE's findings. On July 27, 2007, Dr. Alpher was awarded the 2005 National Medal of Science by President George W. Bush. After a long illness, Dr. Ralph A. Alpher passed away on August 12, 2007 in Austin, Texas. His affiliation for the Natonal Medal of Science was designated as The Dudley Observatory--Schenectady, New York. Ralph Alpher was associated with Dudley from the 60s through the 2000s, and was its Administrator from 1987 through 2004.