The Dark Side of the Universe

Overview

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Delve into the mysteries of the universe in this captivating 1 hour 44 minute conference talk from the World Science Festival. Explore the enigmatic 96% of the cosmos that remains invisible to our telescopes, consisting of dark matter and dark energy. Learn how these unseen forces shape the formation of galaxies and influence the far reaches of space. Join leading researchers as they discuss their groundbreaking work, from particle collisions to underground experiments, in the quest to understand nature's dark side. Discover how familiar matter accounts for only 4% of the universe's weight, and how dark matter and energy play crucial roles in the universe's past, present, and future. Gain insights into cutting-edge detection methods, including the XENON100 detector and supernova observations. Examine the implications of Einstein's predictions about dark energy and explore competing theories. Reflect on how the perfect ratio of dark energy may create an ideal environment for life in the cosmos.

Syllabus

Brian Greene's introduction on dark matter.
What we don,t see by MOMIX
John Hockenberry's Introduction.
Participant Introductions
Why do we know that there is dark matter?
The lensing effect that reveals dark matter.
A computer simulation of what dark matter was doing as the universe was expanding.
Capturing Wimps with the XENON100.
What the XENON100 detector looks like.
Where do we go to find events that prove dark matter exists?
If lensing is correct, could that determine an unknown force?
Supersymmetry vs Another Universal Brane.
Using a supernova to detect Dark Matter.
How does a supernova tell you about dark matter?
How did Einstein predict that dark energy existed?
What is the counter explanation of dark energy?
The ratio of dark energy makes a perfect environment for life.