1st Edition
Cosmological Clues Evidence for the Big Bang, Dark Matter and Dark Energy
Did the Universe have a beginning? Will it have an end? Or has it always been the same, never changing? This is the subject of cosmology; the study of the Universe, and this book provides a perfect introduction to the subject for anyone that is interested in the wonders of our Universe
This book provides an accessible overview of the Standard Model of Cosmology, which is explained in six Cosmological Clues, including evidence for the Big Bang and dark matter and dark energy - the keystones of modern cosmology.
It takes readers through some of the most exciting questions in cosmology, such as what evidence do we have that the Universe started from the Big Bang? Has dark matter been observed? Will we ever know what dark energy is? Are the multiverses real? And could the Universe be a hologram?
This book is an ideal guide for anyone interested in finding out more about our Universe. It will be of interest to those studying cosmology for the first time, including readers without a scientific background, who have an interest in looking up at the stars and wondering where they all came from!
Key features:
- Contains the latest evidence for the Big Bang, dark matter, and dark energy and explores exciting scientific ideas, such as inflation and multiverses
- Provides a clear explanation of the main theories of how the Universe evolved based on key observations - the Cosmological Clues
- Gives the reader a concise introduction to the scientific process, using cosmology as the example, and explores why it has been so successful in creating the technologies we have today
1. The Evolution. 1.1. Cosmology - Is the Universe Evolving? 1.2. The Standard Model of Cosmology. 1.3. Scientific Thinking. 1.4. Key Historical Cosmological Clues. 1.5. Where are we in the Universe? 2. The Reasoning. 2.1. What Is the Scientific Process? 2.3. How to make Theories and Revolutions. 3. The Clues. 3.1 What is a Cosmological Clue? 3.2. Clue 1: The Expanding Universe. 3.3. Clue 2: The Existence of Dark Matter. 3.4. Clue 3: The Cosmic Microwave Background. 3.5. Clue 4: The Origin of The Elements. 3.6. Clue 5: The Cosmic Web. 3.7. Clue 6: The Existence of Dark Energy. 4. The Theories. 4.1. What Is A Theory? 4.2. The Standard Model of Cosmology. 4.3. The Steady State Universe. 4.4. Cosmic Inflation. 4.5. Modified Gravity Theories. 4.6. Multiverses and Other Universes. 5. The Problems. 5.1. What is a Cosmological Problem? 5.2. Problem 1: The Big Bang Problem. 5.3. Problem 2: The Dark Matter Problem. 5.4. Problem 3: The Dark Energy Problem. 5.5. Problem 4: The Cosmic Web Problem. 5.6. Problem 5: The Missing Baryon Problem. 5.7. Problem 6: The Horizon Problem. 5.8. Problem 7: The Flatness Problem. 5.9. Problem 8: The Antimatter Problem. 6. The Testing. 6.1. Where will New Clues Come from? 6.2. What Clues are we looking for? 6.3. Finding Dark Matter. 6.4. Evidence for Inflation. 6.5. How Fast Is the Universe Expanding? 6.6. Understanding Dark Energy. 6.7. How Do Galaxies Affect Cosmology? 6.8. Improving the Cosmological Parameters. 7. The Future. 7.1. What Is the Future of The Universe? 7.2. How Will Earth and Life End? 7.3. Is the Scientific Process the Key To Our Future? Appendix A. Timeline of Clues.
Biography
Carolyn Devereux is a lecturer in astrophysics at the Centre for Astrophysics Research at the University of Hertfordshire. Her particular research interest is in developing our understanding of the role of dark matter in the evolution of the Large Scale Structure of the Universe, also called the ‘Cosmic Web’. After completing her degree in Physics from the University of Birmingham, she gained a PhD from University College London while working at the Hirst Research Centre in London researching ferroelectric liquid crystals. After working in industry, she had a career break, but continued her scientific journey by studying astronomy resulting in a career change into cosmology research. She likes to share her wonder at what we know about the Universe through lectures and events for the general public.
