Scribd
Upload
228 views

Cosmos

cosmology

Uploaded by

cassannova
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
228 views

Cosmos

cosmology

Uploaded by

cassannova
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

contents 2002

the once and future


cosmos
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

INTRODUCTION
Volume 12 Number 2

EXPANSION
2 Making Sense 22 Surveying Spacetime
of Modern Cosmology with Supernovae
by P. James E. Peebles by Craig J. Hogan, Robert P. Kirshner
Confused about all the theories? Good. and Nicholas B. Suntzeff
Exploding stars seen across immense distances show that
the cosmic expansion may be accelerating— a sign that an
exotic form of energy could be driving the universe apart.
EVOLUTION
30 Cosmological Antigravity
4 The First Stars by Lawrence M. Krauss
in the Universe The long-derided cosmological constant—
a contrivance of Albert Einstein’s— may explain changes
by Richard B. Larson and Volker Bromm
Exceptionally massive and bright, the earliest in the expansion rate of the universe.
stars changed the course of cosmic history.
40 The Quintessential Universe
12 The Life Cycle of Galaxies by Jeremiah P. Ostriker and Paul J. Steinhardt
The universe has recently been commandeered by
by Guinevere Kauffmann and Frank van den Bosch an invisible energy field, which is causing its expansion
Astronomers are on the verge of explaining to accelerate outward.
the bewildering variety of galaxies.
50 The Fate of Life
in the Universe
by Lawrence M. Krauss and Glenn D. Starkman
Billions of years ago the universe was too hot for life to
exist. Countless aeons from now, it will become so cold
and empty that life, no matter how ingenious, will perish.

Cone Nebula, captured in April 2002


by the Hubble Space Telescope

C2 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN THE ONCE AND FUTURE COSMOS


COPYRIGHT 2002 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC.
Spheres of gravitational influence,
page 66
STRUCTURE
DESTINY
58 Is Space Finite?
by Jean-Pierre Luminet, Glenn D. Starkman
and Jeffrey R. Weeks 74 A Cosmic Cartographer
Conventional wisdom says the universe is infinite. by Charles L. Bennett, Gary F. Hinshaw and Lyman Page
But it could be finite, merely giving the illusion The Microwave Anisotropy Probe will provide
of infinity. Upcoming measurements may a much sharper picture of the early universe.
finally resolve the issue.

66 The Universe’s 76 Echoes from the Big Bang


by Robert R. Caldwell and Marc Kamionkowski
Unseen Dimensions Scientists may soon glimpse the universe’s beginnings
by studying subtle fluctuations in the cosmic
by Nima Arkani-Hamed, Savas Dimopoulos
and Georgi Dvali microwave background.
The visible universe could lie on a membrane
floating in a higher-dimensional space. 82 Exploring Our Universe
The extra dimensions would help unify the
forces of nature and could hold parallel universes.
and Others
by Martin Rees
In this century cosmologists will unravel the mystery
of our universe’s birth— and perhaps prove the
existence of other universes as well.

88 Ripples in Spacetime
by W. Wayt Gibbs
LIGO, a controversial observatory for detecting
gravitational waves, is coming online after eight years
and $365 million.

98 Plan B for the Cosmos


by João Magueijo
If the new cosmology fails, what’s the backup plan?

Cover illustration by Edwin Faughn; NASA /Associated Press


(opposite page); Bryan Christie Design (left and above)

Scientific American Special ( ISSN 1048 -0943), Volume 12, Number 2, 2002, published by
Scientific American, Inc., 415 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017-1111. Copyright © 2002
by Scientific American, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this issue may be reproduced by any

“Infinity box” mechanical, photographic or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording, nor
may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or otherwise copied for public or private use
without written per m ission of the publisher. Canadian BN No. 127387652RT; QST No. Q1015332537.
creates the effect To purchase additional quantities: 1 to 9 copies: U.S. $5.95 each plus $2.00 per copy for postage
and handling (outside U.S. $5.00 P&H). Send payment to Scientific American, Dept. COSM,

with mirrors, page 58 415 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017-1111. Inquiries: Fax 212-355-0408 or telephone
212-451-8890. Printed in U.S.A.

www.sciam.com THE ONCE AND FUTURE COSMOS 1


COPYRIGHT 2002 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC.

You might also like