Physicist Ko Jae-hyun, a professor at the Hanlim University Semiconductor & Display School and a frequent science columnist for publications including the Korea Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, and Naeil Shinmun, has released a new book, Physics Invited the Universe (Book & Wind).
Subtitled “An Intellectual Journey to Newly Explore Humanity and Climate, Matter and Space-Time,” the book aims to guide readers to understand the world through the lens of physics, from everyday scientific curiosity to the secrets of the vast universe. The publisher has dubbed Professor Ko a “science communicator.”
Written by an optics specialist and author of The Core of Light, the book connects the universe, atmosphere, matter, and technology into a cohesive narrative. It details the rigorous process of 46 questions posed by scientists worldwide and their pursuit of answers, drawing heavily on research and advancements from the last decade to present the latest theories in the scientific community in an accessible way.
Rather than simply listing the achievements of modern physics, the author focuses on “the process of questioning and exploration that has broadened our perspective on understanding the world.” Starting with everyday curiosity, the book delves into the driving forces behind deep space exploration – including the James Webb Space Telescope, Voyager spacecraft, and exoplanets – as well as atmospheric phenomena like typhoons, space hurricanes, lightning, and fine dust. It too examines the world of materials, from reinforced glass and quantum dots to nanoparticles and structural colors, and cutting-edge technologies such as blue light, displays, Wi-Fi, LiDAR, and X-rays, bridging the gap between macro and micro, nature and technology, science and human life.
For readers wondering how science connects to their own lives, this book serves as a comprehensive guide, regardless of age or academic background. This release underscores the growing trend of scientists engaging directly with the public to demystify complex topics.
Professor Ko previously worked as a researcher at Samsung Corning and has been teaching at Hanlim University since 2004. He has consistently sought to bridge the gap between science and the public through his regular science columns in various media outlets. He is also the author of Teenagers Who Know a Little About Light, Teenagers Who Know a Little About Electromagnetism, Teenagers Who Know a Little About Quantum Mechanics, and The Core of Light, and co-authored A Rediscovery of Matter and The Age of Civilizational Transformation.
