What is Cosmology: Definition and 918 Discussions

Cosmology (from Greek κόσμος, kosmos "world" and -λογία, -logia "study of") is a branch of astronomy concerned with the studies of the origin and evolution of the universe, from the Big Bang to today and on into the future. It is the scientific study of the origin, evolution, and eventual fate of the universe. Physical cosmology is the scientific study of the universe's origin, its large-scale structures and dynamics, and its ultimate fate, as well as the laws of science that govern these areas.The term cosmology was first used in English in 1656 in Thomas Blount's Glossographia, and in 1731 taken up in Latin by German philosopher Christian Wolff, in Cosmologia Generalis.Religious or mythological cosmology is a body of beliefs based on mythological, religious, and esoteric literature and traditions of creation myths and eschatology.
Physical cosmology is studied by scientists, such as astronomers and physicists, as well as philosophers, such as metaphysicians, philosophers of physics, and philosophers of space and time. Because of this shared scope with philosophy, theories in physical cosmology may include both scientific and non-scientific propositions, and may depend upon assumptions that cannot be tested. Cosmology differs from astronomy in that the former is concerned with the Universe as a whole while the latter deals with individual celestial objects. Modern physical cosmology is dominated by the Big Bang theory, which attempts to bring together observational astronomy and particle physics; more specifically, a standard parameterization of the Big Bang with dark matter and dark energy, known as the Lambda-CDM model.
Theoretical astrophysicist David N. Spergel has described cosmology as a "historical science" because "when we look out in space, we look back in time" due to the finite nature of the speed of light.

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  1. marcus

    Discussing Braneworld Cosmology & Its Collisions

    I personally don't follow braneworld cosmology, but there could be a thread about. It interests enough people here to have a discussion IMO A possible thread-starter is a recent post by sol2 which has some beautiful images, or links thereto, tho not necessarily directly connected to...
  2. H

    Searching for a Comprehensive Cosmology Reference Guide

    I am searching for a complete and extensive reference (or a reference set) about cosmology. It should be up to date and, if possible, with not too much formulas without proofs. It seams there are two classical books: Principles of Physical Cosmology, Peebles. Cosmological Physics, Peacock...
  3. Loren Booda

    The essential participator in quantum mechanics and cosmology

    Newton was separate from his clockwork universe; in the last century we have realized that we experimenters really subjectify the outcome of our experiment by attempting to exclude ourselves from it. Both quantum mechanics and cosmology involve an observer who participates by disturbing an...
  4. R

    String Cosmology Review Paper?

    Hi all, I'm looking for a good review on how string theory accounts for inflation. I found a great review on 'classical' inflation by Linde explaining the paradigms in terms of GR and scalar fields but am looking for a good introductory review in terms of the string paradigm. I'm hoping to...
  5. B

    An ignorant question about cosmology

    so the farther we look the more redshift we see in distant galaxies, but the farther we look the farther in time we look as well. so in other words, the farther back in time we go the faster galaxies appear to be moving away from us - the closer in time the slower...wouldnt' that implicate a...
  6. wolram

    Is Self Creation Cosmology the Key to Solving Cosmological Mysteries?

    http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0401136 The theory of Self Creation Cosmology is described and found to be as concordant as the standard cosmological 'concordance model' with local experiments and cosmological observations. However it does not require the speculative hypotheses of inflation...
  7. A

    Could someone tell me what is the best school in cosmology and high energy?

    I want to pursue for a Ph.D in these area.
  8. G

    Variable Speed of Light Cosmology: An Alternative to Inflation

    Does anyone know if VSL theories are being seriously researched, studied, and pursued? -Glenn
  9. marcus

    Can Loop Quantum Gravity Explain Inflation and the CMB?

    Some new names (new to me anyway) Shinji Tsujikawa (has published with Robert Brandenberger, background in string research now interested in loop gravity) Roy Maartens (also string background, has published with Ellis) Parampreet Singh (one of the new LQG people in India) "Loop quantum...
  10. N

    Astronomy, Cosmology, and physics of old

    How do we know that the physics we can do in labs here on Earth today is the same physics in galaxies a long time ago and far, far away? Take a collection of your favourite theories - the gravity of Newton, the electromagnetism of Maxwell, the quantum world of Schrödinger and Heisenberg...
  11. P

    Conceptional space/time cosmology

    In this theory a theoretical model is constructed for observation. (This is the first of a series) A: Space devoid of matter. B: Matter devoid of space. C: Space and Matter. In reply to "A" Is absolute space possible, a void with non-existing matter? has it been proven? can it...
  12. marcus

    New On-line Cosmology Calculator

    An astronomy prof who teaches at a University in Iowa maintains a resource page of online astro java applets for students and general public to use and one of the applets is "cosmology calculator" http://www.earth.uni.edu/~morgan/ajjar/Cosmology/cosmos.html Here is her homepage...
  13. marcus

    Lineweaver(May 2003)-web's best cosmology tutorial

    Lineweaver(May 2003)--web's best cosmology tutorial http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/March03/Lineweaver/Lineweaver_contents.html I've been using Ned Wright's (UCLA astronomy dept) cosmology tutorial and FAQ a lot, but this new one is even better for some things---more up to date...
  14. marcus

    Ashtekar quantum cosmology paper new this month

    What I suspect is a major paper by Ashtekar (and others) appeared in arXiv this month----on June 9. Mathematical structure of loop quantum cosmology Ashtekar, Bojowald, Lewandowski arXiv:gr-qc/0304074 http://www.arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/0304074 Here is the concluding paragraph: "We...
  15. marcus

    What's your favorite brief survey of modern cosmology?

    http://www.arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0202008 Here is a good overview of cosmology describing the evidence for the present model, the open questions, and what ongoing observations can be expected to resolve over the next decade. The writing is rigorous and for fellow profesionals (no effort at...
  16. T

    What is the best book on cosmology for all levels of knowledge?

    I would be thankful to you, if you tell me which book do you consider to be best, on the subject of cosmology, for: 1. Begineers 2. Intermediates 3. Advanced Thanks in advanced.
  17. marcus

    A great 16 page paper in quantum cosmology

    http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/hep-th/9910146 This is only 16 pages and in PDF so easy to print out. It is by Fotini Markopoulou and Lee Smolin and it is called "Holography in a quantum spacetime" I nominate it for the landmark eureka paper of 1999. String theory and branes are on the run...
  18. W

    Cosmology Q: Is Flat Universe w/ Dust & +ve Lambda Expanding Forever?

    Is it true that for an isotropic, homogeneous flat universe with dust and a positive cosmological constant, the universe necessarily expands forever? The argument may be, (a_t/a)^2 = (8*pi*G/3)*rho + lambda/3 (Friedmann equation) where a_t refers to the first derivative of a with...
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