Delve into a groundbreaking scientific discussion on the origins of the universe in this World Science Festival panel featuring renowned cosmologists and astronomers. Explore the implications of the 2014 discovery of potential ripples in space-time fabric from the Big Bang, and the subsequent debates within the scientific community. Learn about the inflationary theory, BICEP2 findings, cosmic fluctuations, and the challenges facing our understanding of the universe's beginning. Gain insights from experts like Andrei Linde, Alan Guth, and John Kovac as they discuss topics such as chaotic inflation, density fluctuations, and quantum fluctuations. Engage with cutting-edge cosmological theories and observations in this comprehensive 1 hour 35 minute exploration of our quest to understand the universe's origins.
Overview
Syllabus
Brian Greene's Introduction.
Participant Introductions.
Can we confirm that there are ripples in the fabric of space?
What did you find with BICEP2?
What is the inflationary theory?
What is making the universe accelerate?
What were the main issues with the inflationary theory?
What is chaotic inflation?
How do we calculate density motivations?
Looking for cosmic fluctuation.
How close were the predictions to the observations?
How confident are you that the swirls are coming from quantum fluctuations?
What are the concerns about the inflationary theory?
Final thoughts.
Taught by
World Science Festival
