By Marissa Wells
Contributing Writer
“Hubble, Humason, and the Big Bang: The Race to Uncover the Expanding Universe,” by Ron Voller, is an exciting work of narrative non-fiction that tells the story of how Edwin Hubble and Milton Humason, an unexpected scientific pair, uncovered the Big Bang and proved the expansion of the universe. Their work initiated a century’s work of cosmological research.
Voller’s fascination with Humason and his story inspired not only this book, but the author’s first book which was Humason’s biography.
“Humason was a tobacco-chewing, moonshining, expert poker player, horseman and fly-fisherman who bore no resemblance to the men he met on Mount Wilson at the start of his employment as a janitor,” Voller said. “He became an astronomer at the ripe old age of 31 and 10 years later was standing having with Hubble and Einstein having his picture taken having just convinced Einstein that he was wrong to suggest the universe was static and unmoving.”
It was important for Voller to create a book that honored Humason and his significant contributions as one of the greatest observers of the 20th century.
“With this book I sought to put him on equal footing with Hubble in the discovery of the Big Bang expansion theory,” Voller said. “Without Humason, Hubble would not have been able to prove its existence; I believe it’s important for people to know and understand that fact.”
The book offers a brief history of the developments from the 18th through the 20th century that set the table for the discoveries that followed, in addition to focusing on Hubble’s and Humason’s individual journeys and their trajectories to Mount Wilson. Voller also tackles the partners’ work in developing the proof that the universe is expanding and the events that followed.
“Hubble, Humason, and the Big Bang” is intended for a wide audience that includes cosmologists, casual readers of history, science and researchers and scientists interested in the field of cosmology.
In addition to being an author, Voller is a film producer, songwriter, podcast host and philanthropist. He is based in New York City. For more information about the author, his work, and to stay up to date on upcoming events and more, visit ronvoller.com.
“Hubble, Humason, and the Big Bang: The Race to Uncover the Expanding Universe” is available for $35 via ronvoller.com, Amazon, and all other online book selling sites.
