A fun and informative guide to the biggest unanswered questions in the Universe.
PHD Comics creator Jorge Cham and particle physicist Daniel Whiteson team up to explain everything we DON'T know about the Universe, from Cosmic Rays and Dark Matter to time travel and the Big Bang. Filled with their popular infographics, cartoons, and clear and entertaining explanations, this book is perfect for anyone who's curious about science and all the big questions we still haven't answered.
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What people are saying:
"Lucid and irreverent... This fun guide is just the ticket for science fans of any age."
- Publisher's Weekly, 
Starred Review
"Lively... An entertaining and educational review for anyone seeking to brush up
on or build his or her knowledge--or, perhaps better, lack of knowledge."
- Kirkus Reviews
"It's hard to imagine a more enjoyable way to explore the unknown than by reading this book. Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson will guide you through the biggest mysteries of the cosmos, smiling all the way."
- Sean Carroll, author of The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself
"This witty book reveals the humbling vastness of our ignorance about the universe, along with charming insights into what we actually do understand."
- Carlo Rovelli, author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics and Reality Is Not What It Seems
"A delightful combination of comedy and cosmology that is as charming as it is informative."
- Zach Weinersmith, creator of Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
"Jorge Cham and Daniel Whiteson bring a whimsical light touch to some very heavy topics, and the result is a sheer delight for the reader."
- Jennifer Ouellette, author of The Calculus Diaries and Me, Myself and Why: Searching for the Science of Self.
Media links
Read this excerpt on the PHD website, or this excerpt on Popular Science Magazine. Daniel was interviewed for Science Friday, and we were featured on Space.com. Jorge was interviewed by Prof. Michio Kaku on Science Fantastic. Nautilus Magazine also published this excerpt about space, and BBC Sky at Night reviewed our book and interviewed Jorge (as did Chemistry World in their podcast and in print). Meanwhile, Nature interviewed Jorge and Daniel in their podcast, while Nature Physics gave the book an awesome review. Jorge illustrated over 26 reviews of the book from Amazon, and was interviewed by the NPR show Inquiry. Daniel was interviewed for NPR's Here and Now. If you'd like to know how Jorge and Daniel started working together, Physics World published this great review of our book AND later the oral history of our collaboration. We also made awesome video collaborations based on chapters of the book with Henry Reich of Minute Physics, Derek Muller of Veritasium, Joe Hanson of "It's OK To Be Smart", Minute Earth, Hank Green's SciShow Space and Dianna Cowern's Physics Girl. Check out this great article on Symmetry Magazine about our book and this awesome editorial by Daniel on the need to teach the unknown. Listen to Daniel talk about the Universe on The Lopate Show or read this interview with Jorge and Daniel on Unbound Worlds. Check out this fun comic collaboration with SMBC's Zach Weinersmith, and this one with David Malki's Wondermark. Listen to Daniel introduce why we wrote the book on the PRH Audio website. And listen to this preview of the audiobook.
Read Jorge's letter announcing the book.
"We Have No Idea" has been translated to 23 languages (and counting!).
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Watch the trailer >>
About The Authors
Jorge Cham is the creator of "Piled Higher and Deeper" (a.k.a. "PHD Comics"), the popular comic strip about life (or lack thereof) in Academia. Daniel Whiteson is an Associate Professor of Experimental Particle Physics at the Dept. of Physics & Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. Together they have created videos that explain complex physics topics like The Higgs Boson, Gravitational Waves, Dark Matter and Extra Dimensions. Their videos have been viewed by millions of people, appeared in major media outlets and aired on PBS.
International Editions!
We Have No Idea has been translated to 23 languages (and counting!). Find your local publisher below:
| Territory | Language | Publisher |
| Brazil | Portuguese | Editora Record |
| Bulgaria | Bulgarian | Iztok-Zapad |
| China (Mainland) | Chinese (simplified) | United Sky |
| Czech Republic | Czech | Prah |
| Estonia | Estonian | Hea Lugu |
| France | French | Flammarion |
| Germany | German | C. Bertelsmann |
| Greece | Greek | Crete University Press |
| Hungary | Hungarian | Europa |
| Israel | Hebrew | Yedioth |
| Italy | Italian | Longanesi |
| Japan | Japanese | Diamond |
| Latin America | Spanish | Oceano |
| Netherlands | Dutch | Unieboek/Het Spectrum |
| Poland | Polish | Insignis |
| Russia | Russian | Atticus-Azbooka |
| South Korea | Korean | Sahoi Pyoungnon |
| Spain | Spanish | Capitan Swing |
| Sweden | Swedish | Volante |
| Taiwan and Hong Kong | Chinese (complex) | Commonwealth Publishing |
| Thailand | Thai | WeLearn |
| Turkey | Turkish | Indigo Kitap |
| U.K., Australia, Commonwealth | English | John Murrays |
| Ukraine | Ukrainian | Nash Format |
| United States and Canada | English | Riverhead/PRH |
| Vietnam | Vietnamese | Nha Nam |
The 
Book Tour!
The
Book Tour!
Join us at one of these awesome events!
To get Jorge and Daniel to talk at your school, click here
Previous stops:
May 31, 2018
Bob Baker Marionette Theater, Los Angeles
7:30PM - 1345 W 1st St, Los Angeles, California, 90026
May 8, 2018
UC San Diego, San Diego
6:30PM - Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination
May 8, 2018
San Diego State University, San Diego
1:00PM - Bioscience Center Gold Aud
April 20, 2018
University of California, Irvine, Irvine
4:00PM - Student Center, Pacific Ballroom D
April 14, 2018
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ
10:00AM - Physics and Astronomy Lecture Hall
April 12, 2018
University of Michigan
12:00PM - Assembly Hall, 4th Floor, Rackham Building
March 28, 2018
Aspen Center for Physics, Aspen
5:30PM - Wheeler Opera House
March 28, 2018
Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh
10:00AM - Room SR214, Scott Russell Bldg
March 27, 2018
University of Edinburgh
1:00PM - South Gallery, Dovecot Studios
March 26, 2018
Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen
11:30AM - Sir Ian Wood Building, Room N344
March 23, 2018
University of Aberdeen
11:30AM - MacRobert Lecture Theatre
March 22, 2018
University of St. Andrews
10:30AM - Parliament Hall (Building 67)
March 21, 2018
University of Dundee
10:30AM - Dalhousie Building Room 1G06
March 20, 2018
Strathclyde University, Glasgow
12:00PM - Livingstone Tower 420
March 19, 2018
Glasgow Caledonian U., Glasgow
10:00AM - Hamish Wood Building W011
March 15, 2018
Columbia University, Irvington
7:00PM - Nevis Laboratories, 136 South Broadway, Irvington NY 10533
March 14, 2018
Atlas Obscura @ Caveat Pi Day, New York
7:00PM - 21 A Clinton Street, New York, New York, 10002
March 12, 2018
American Museum of Natural History, New York City
7:30PM - Hayden Planetarium
February 24, 2018
University of Houston, Houston
11:00AM - SEC Room 100
February 23, 2018
Rice University, Houston, TX
5:30PM - Sewell Hall 301
February 22, 2018
Texas A&M University
5:30PM - MSC Room 2300 A&B
February 21, 2018
UT Austin, Austin
7:00PM - RLM 4.102
February 8, 2018
Oregon State University
09:00AM - and 11:00am
January 29, 2018
Secret Science Club, New York City
8:00PM - 2537 Broadway @ 95th St in Manhattan
January 28, 2018
NC Museum of Natural History, Raleigh
2:30PM - SECU Daily Planet Theater, NC Museum
January 27, 2018
NC Museum of Natural History, Raleigh
11:00AM - SECU Daily Planet Theater, NC Museum,
January 25, 2018
NC Museum of Natural History, Raleigh
7:00PM - Daily Planet Cafe, 11 West Jones Street Raleigh
January 24, 2018
University of Virginia, Charlottesville
7:30PM - UVA Chemistry Bldg, 409 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904
December 8, 2017
Boston University, Boston
3:30PM - Room L112
December 6, 2017
Tufts University, Medford, MA
3:30PM - Cohen Auditorium, Aidekman Arts Center
December 5, 2017
MIT, Cambridge, MA
5:00PM - Room 34-101
December 4, 2017
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
14:00PM - Northwest Building, Room B-103 (52 Oxford St, Cambridge, MA)
November 29, 2017
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Time TBA -
November 16, 2017
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
3:30PM - Career Exploration Symposium, CENTENNIAL CENTRE FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE (CCIS) 11335 Saskatchewan Dr NW Edmonton, Alberta Canada
November 15, 2017
Michigan State University, Lansing, MI
6:30PM - E100 VetMed Center
November 3, 2017
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
6:00PM - Fisher 135
November 2, 2017
Wisconsin Book Festival, Madison, WI
06:00PM - DeLuca Forum, 330 N. Orchard St.
November 1, 2017
University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI
5:30PM - Deluca Forum, Discovery Building
November 1, 2017
University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago
03:00PM - UIC Physics
October 28, 2017
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
10:30AM - Weiser Hall
October 27, 2017
Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
7:00PM - McPherson Chemical Lab, Room 1000 (Next to the cafe) 140 W 18th Ave
October 26, 2017
University of Pittsburg, Pittsburg, PA
08:00PM - University Club, Ballroom B, Univ of Pitt.
October 25, 2017
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL
3:00PM - Guyon Auditorium, Morris Library
October 24, 2017
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
6:00 PM -
October 18, 2017
Concordia University, Montreal
Time TBA -
October 12, 2017
University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
5:45PM - Rudolf Virchow Center
September 29, 2017
Dreamworks Animation, Glendale CA
12:00PM - 1000 Flower Street, Glendale
September 27, 2017
International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2017) , Vancouver
6:00PM - Ballroom
September 22, 2017
NIST, Gaithersburg, MD
01:00PM -
September 21, 2017
Harvard Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, MA
7:30PM - Phillips Auditorium
September 21, 2017
Northeastern Univ, Boston, MA
09:30AM - 2:00pm
September 20, 2017
MIT, Cambridge, MA
7:00PM - Building 10-250
September 20, 2017
Boston University, Boston, MA
11:15AM - CGS 129
September 19, 2017
Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
11:30AM - 4:00pm - Gerstenzang 123 + Abelson 131
September 18, 2017
Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver, BC
07:00PM - Vancouver Public Library,350 W Georgia St, Vancouver, BC V6B 6B1Central Branch
September 17, 2017
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
07:00PM - Hebb Bldg, 2045 E Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1
September 17, 2017
Science World, Vancouver, BC
02:00PM - 1455 Quebec St, Vancouver, BC V6A 3Z7
September 15, 2017
University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
2:30PM - MSTF Atrium
August 19, 2017
Atlas Obscura
06:30PM - Total Eclipse Festival!
July 17, 2017
Politikens Boghallen, Copenhagen, Denmark
05:00PM - Rådhuspladsen 37, 1550 København V
June 23, 2017
12:30PM - 1220 N. Mathilda Ave Sunnyvale, CA 94089
June 21, 2017
Google Irvine
11:30AM - 19510 Jamboree Rd, Irvine, CA 92612
June 9, 2017
University of Oslo
Time TBA - Science Library
June 8, 2017
Blackwells of Oxford
07:00PM - Blackwell's Bookshop 51 Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BQ
June 7, 2017
University of York
11:15AM - Physics Bldg. P/X001
June 7, 2017
Blackwells of Edinburgh
06:30PM - Blackwell's Bookshop Edinburgh 53 - 62 South Bridge Edinburgh EH1 1YS
June 6, 2017
How To Academy, London
06:45PM - CNCFD- Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design 16-17 Greek Street Soho London W1D 4DR
June 5, 2017
The Royal Institution of Great Britain, London
07:00PM - The Royal Institution of Great Britain 21 Albemarle Street London W1S 4BS
June 3, 2017
Hay Book Festival, Wales
07:00PM - Wales Stage, Dairy Meadows Brecon Road, Hay-on-Wye HR3 5PJ
June 2, 2017
University of Bristol, Bristol
04:30PM - Frank Lecture Theatre, School of Physics HH Wills Physics Laboratory, University of Bristol, Tyndall Avenue
May 20, 2017
Town Hall Seattle
07:30PM - Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
May 19, 2017
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), Chicago Area
08:00PM - Fermilab Ramsey Auditorium, Pine Street & Kirk Road, Batavia, IL 60510
May 18, 2017
Quimbys Books, Chicago
07:00PM - Quimbys Bookstore 1854 W. North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
May 16, 2017
Science on Tap, Portland Area
07:00PM - Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main Street, Vancouver, WA
May 15, 2017
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Los Angeles, CA
04:30PM - Von Karman Auditorium (4:30pm) OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Flintridge Bookstore (6pm)
May 11, 2017
The Cellar Door Bookstore, Riverside, CA
05:45PM - The Cellar Door Bookstore, 5225 Canyon Crest Drive Suite 30A Riverside, CA 92506
May 9, 2017
California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, CA
03:00PM - Noyes Building Room 153, 1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125
penguinrandomhouse.com.
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