Dr Chanda Prescod-Weinstein’s debut book is two things: a journey into the world of cosmology and particle physics, and a refreshingly eye-opening insight into the too-often exclusionary arena that is science.

The book’s main premise is that physics doesn’t just affect us all as a society, but it taps into our natural desire to learn and understand; and yet one group for many centuries, and even to this day, has deemed itself worthy to tap into that knowledge above others.

It’s not often that physics is presented from the point of view of a black woman: in fact it’s so unusual that it’s a sad rarity. Do not pick up this book thinking it will be just another title on particle physics or dark matter. It does explore those areas in an engaging and accessible way, from the Standard Model of Particle Physics – its origins and where it currently stands – to the latest theories on dark matter, but

Dr Prescod-Weinstein’s experiences of navigating her way within the field of physics as a black woman – punctuated with many examples of racism and sexism – are interwoven throughout.