<P>Not since Newton¿s apple has there been a physics phenomenon as deliciously appealing to the masses as Frank Close¿s <STRONG>Cosmic Onion</STRONG><EM>.</EM> Widely embraced by scientists and laypersons alike, the book quickly became an international bestseller. Translated into seven languages, it propelled the author to become a worldwide celebrity as well as an inspiration to a generation of scientists. The book¿s title itself has entered popular usage as a metaphor for the layers that can be peeled away to understand the foundations of the physical world, from dimensions and galaxies, to atoms and quarks. <P><EM>¿Close is a lucid, reliable, and enthusiastic guide to the strange and wonderful microcosmic world that dwells deep within reality¿ &nbsp