Trends in cosmology: Universal truths
In June more than 30 prominent cosmologist, astronomers and physicists gathered for six days at an isolated resort in northern Sweden. Their topic: the origin of the universe. While most agreed the big bang theory is still sound, new data are challenging a more detailed scenario: the cold dark matter model. Recent observations are squeezing this model from two sides. First, ever more sensitive probes of the so-called cosmic microwave background, a cool bath of microwaves that is thought to be the faint afterglow of the big bang, have yet to reveal any regional variations in intensity. That has forced modelers to assume the early universe was exceptionally smooth, or homogeneous, with matter spread uniformly through space. At the same time, maps of the universe have revealed ever larger thickets of galaxies surrounded by larger voids. If the universe was so smooth early on, how did it come to be so clumpy This article addresses how cosmologist at this meeting addressed the big questions.
- OSTI ID:
- 6230770
- Journal Information:
- Scientific American; (USA), Vol. 263:4; ISSN 0036-8733
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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GALAXY CLUSTERS
HUBBLE EFFECT
INFLATIONARY UNIVERSE
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640106* - Astrophysics & Cosmology- Cosmology