What exactly is the universe? How did it begin? How will it end? Explore these questions and more in The Universe: The Big Bang, Black Holes, and Blue Whales. Readers ages 12 to 15 embark on an exciting journey that starts with the Big Bang and takes them all the way to the end of the universe, with many exciting stops in between. Take a look billions of years into the past and discover the mind-bending early moments of the universe, the rise of the first stars, and the formation of the earliest galaxies. Explore the birth of our sun and solar system and the formation of the only place in the universe known to support life: the earth. Finally, zoom billions of years into the future to learn about the death of the sun, a colossal collision of galaxies, and even the fate of the universe itself. The Universe includes hands-on STEM projects that encourage critical and creative thinking skills, along with graphic novel-style illustrations, amazing photography from NASA, and links to online resources. Try these hands-on science projects! • Create models to understand the scale of the universe • Build a device for observing the sun • Explore the effects of local climate change