cosmology
Study of everything
Cosmology is the study of the universe as a whole—its origin, structure, and eventual fate.
The term applies both to scientific cosmology, which uses physics and astronomy to model the Big Bang and cosmic expansion, and to philosophical or religious accounts of creation and cosmic order.
Modern cosmology suggests the universe is about 13.8 billion years old.
Loud explosive noise
- singularityPoint where values explode
- nucleosynthesisAtomic core formation process
- primordialExisting from the start
- creationMaking something exist
genesis · emergence · quantum fluctuation · initial conditions · cosmogony · recombination · primordial soup · first light
Complete system or domain
- multiverseHypothetical set of universes
- galaxiesGravitationally bound stellar assemblies
- nebulaeInterstellar gas clouds
- dark matterLightless cosmic mass
dark energy · voids · filaments · superclusters · observable universe · redshift · homogeneity
Regions of inescapable gravity
- quasarsExtremely luminous galactic centers
- pulsarsRotating stars emitting radiation
- supernovaeExploding massive stars
- gravitational lensingMass distorting light's path
Mutual mass attraction
- dark energyForce accelerating universal expansion
- dark matterLightless cosmic mass
- gravitonsTheoretical gravity particles
- spacetime curvatureDistortion of dimensional fabric
How observers differ
- continuumUninterrupted, gradual sequence
- curvatureDeviation from flatness
- metricStandard of measurement
- tensorMultilinear algebraic object
geodesic · event horizon · manifold · dimensionality · causality · gravitational waves
Small precise optimization adjustments
- teleologyStudy of purpose in nature
- existentialRelating to existence itself
- infiniteHaving no bounds
- eternalLasting without end
beginning · creation · first cause · contingency · necessity
Universe origin hypothesis
- steady stateUnchanging system condition
- inflationaryCausing currency devaluation
- string theoryFilament-based particle framework
- multiverse theoryCountless coexisting separate universes
big bang
Loud explosive noise
- singularityPoint where values explode
- nucleosynthesisAtomic core formation process
- primordialExisting from the start
creation · genesis · emergence · quantum fluctuation · initial conditions · cosmogony · recombination · primordial soup · first light
universe
Complete system or domain
- multiverseHypothetical set of universes
- galaxiesGravitationally bound stellar assemblies
- nebulaeInterstellar gas clouds
dark matter · dark energy · voids · filaments · superclusters · observable universe · redshift · homogeneity
black holes
Regions of inescapable gravity
- quasarsExtremely luminous galactic centers
- pulsarsRotating stars emitting radiation
- supernovaeExploding massive stars
gravitational lensing · redshift · dark energy · neutron stars
gravity
Mutual mass attraction
- dark energyForce accelerating universal expansion
- dark matterLightless cosmic mass
- gravitonsTheoretical gravity particles
relativity
How observers differ
- continuumUninterrupted, gradual sequence
- curvatureDeviation from flatness
- metricStandard of measurement
tensor · geodesic · event horizon · manifold · dimensionality · causality · gravitational waves
fine-tuning
Small precise optimization adjustments
- teleologyStudy of purpose in nature
- existentialRelating to existence itself
- infiniteHaving no bounds
eternal · beginning · creation · first cause · contingency · necessity
big bang theory
Universe origin hypothesis
- steady stateUnchanging system condition
- inflationaryCausing currency devaluation
- string theoryFilament-based particle framework
- Greek conceptslogos, ethos, pathos, hubris, arete
- traditional religionancestors, ancestral spirits, deities, rituals, sacrifices
- Andean mythologycreator god, sun god, thunder god, origin myths, sea goddess
- astronomystars, moon, sun, planet, planets
- fields of studyart, music, mathematics, history, biology
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
cosmologygeology
Study of Earth's composition
microbiology · particle physics · cellular biology · mineralogy · nanotechnology
cosmologymythology
Body of traditional tales
creationism · folk belief · astrology · mysticism · creation myth
cosmologycurrent events
Recent notable happenings
journalism · meteorology · contemporary history · ephemera · microhistory
- medieval cosmologyPre-Copernican universe structure
- indigenous cosmologyTraditional beliefs about universe origins