Strap in for a rip-roaring ride through the history of the universe, starting with the Big Bang, and bringing us right up to present day. What was the universe like when it was a few seconds old? How had it changed by its millionth birthday? And when did time even start, for that matter?! The story of the last 13.8 billion years in one handy volume, you can read about the start of stars, the growth of galaxies and the production of planets. Plus, there are some great dad jokes.

Includes index.

In the beginning -- Blink of an eye -- The first seconds -- What's the matter? -- Get atom! -- Getting bigger -- Time for time -- Feel the force -- A matter of gravity -- Photon booth -- In a fog -- Recombination -- Cosmic microwave background -- Dark matter -- In the dark -- You star! -- Cosmic dawn -- Here's carbon! -- Turning cloudy -- Galaxies get it together -- How many stars? -- Star quality -- The galactic zoo -- Galaxies gang up -- Looking back -- The tragic death of a star -- Live fast, die young -- What's blacker than black? -- Packing it all in -- Full speed ahead -- Hello, solar system! -- Planet plans -- The great eight -- Mooning around -- More on moons -- Asteroids -- Metero-what? -- Hairy stars -- Early Earth -- Breaking up is hard to do -- Life's a gas! -- Get more life -- Hey people, you're late! -- Planets everywhere -- Are we alone? -- The end of the world -- How will the universe end? -- Ripped or crunched? -- How we know what we know -- Sizing it up -- Space exploration timeline -- Space places -- To infinity ... and beyond!.