What is the Universe?
The universe is the totality of everything that exists - all space, time, matter, energy, and the physical laws that govern them. If something exists, it's part of the universe.
From the smallest subatomic particles to the largest galactic superclusters, from the beginning of time to the far future, the universe encompasses all of reality as we know it.
What's It Made Of?
Surprisingly, most of the universe is invisible to us!
Dark Energy
A mysterious force causing the universe's expansion to accelerate. We can observe its effects but don't know what it actually is.
Dark Matter
Invisible matter that doesn't emit light but provides the gravitational scaffolding that holds galaxies together.
Normal Matter
Everything we can see and touch - stars, planets, galaxies, and us! Despite being all we know, it's just 5% of the universe.
Cosmic Timeline
The Big Bang
The universe begins in an extremely hot, dense state and starts expanding rapidly. Space and time themselves are created.
First Stars & Galaxies
The first stars ignite, creating heavy elements and beginning the formation of the first galaxies in the cosmic web.
Our Solar System
The Sun and planets form from a cloud of gas and dust, setting the stage for life on Earth.
Present Day
We observe an expanding, accelerating universe filled with mysteries we're just beginning to understand.
Current Mysteries
The Hubble Tension
Different methods give different values for how fast the universe is expanding. This discrepancy could reveal new physics beyond our current understanding.
Evolving Dark Energy
New 2024 data suggests dark energy might be changing over time rather than being constant, which would revolutionize cosmology.
Early Galaxy Puzzle
The James Webb Telescope is finding galaxies that appear too mature for their age, challenging our models of cosmic evolution.
The Universe's Future
Heat Death
The universe expands forever, cooling until it reaches maximum entropy and no more work can be done.
Big Rip
Dark energy strengthens over time, eventually tearing apart galaxies, stars, planets, and even atoms.
Cyclic Universe
The universe could undergo cycles of expansion and contraction, potentially leading to new Big Bangs.