Cosmology means studying the universe. It helps to describe how the universe works as well as where it could be headed. Although the subject may sound complicated, many facts are mind-boggling but truly simple to understand.
our universe is expanding
The universe is constantly expanding ever since it began with the big bang. It is discovered that the expansion is happening at a very fast rate. This is implied in all galaxies. They are continually moving further away from each other! We may never be able to reach some galaxies merely because they will be too far from us.
Read more: 8 Strange Similarities Between the Cosmic Web and Human Brain
you are a product of the stars
Every element in your body (i.e. Carbon, oxygen, calcium) was once a part of a star. Stars explode (known as a supernova) and release materials into space, eventually forming planets, and eventually causing life as we know it to be born. So, you are made up of ancient stardust!
It’s all infinite
The universe does not have an edge like a balloon or box, and it has no center either. It keeps stretching out and out, infinitely in every direction! When scientists talk about the universe, they basically say it is “infinite”, even though we see only a part of it. The part of the universe we can see is called the observable universe.
Staring at Stars means Traveling to the Past
When you look at stars, you are looking at the past. It is because light travels at a specific speed, and it takes time to reach Earth. The light from our sun takes about 8 minutes to reach the Earth. Some stars are millions of light-years away. So when you stare at those stars, you see them as they were millions of years ago.
Gravity Slows Time
According to the relativity theory, time changes depending on gravity. In gravity, time actually moves more slowly. Hence, humans or astronauts near strong gravity would age more slowly than humans on Earth. Definitely, it sounds like a movie plot, but it is completely true and proven.
Black Holes are surprising
Many people think of black holes are nothing more than holes. But black holes are full of matter. They have so much gravitational mass that even light cannot escape from their vicinity. They can grab matter, such as pull stars and gas, and be near them. Scientists give a theory that there’s a black hole at the centre of every galaxy, including ours.
The Big Bang Was an Expansion, Not an Explosion
Even though it might sound like it, but big bang was not an explosion . In fact, it was a rapid expansion of space itself. Everything in the Universe – space, time, matter – started from an incredibly small hot spot. Then, it began expanding rapidly and is continuing to expand now.
Most of the Universe Is Invisible
We can only see about 5% of our Universe. The rest are things we cannot see – dark matter and energy. Scientists know about dark matter due to its gravitational effects, holding galaxies together, but nobody has seen it, directly. Dark matter remains one of the largest scientific mysteries.
The End of the Universe Is Unknown
The Universe continues to expand, but it may not always expand. Some theories propose that it will freeze at some point. Other theories suggest it may collapse into itself! And a few speculate about a “Big Rip” where everything just rage rips apart. We don’t know, and cosmologists are still searching for answers.
We May Not be Alone
Some scientists have faith that multiverse theory is true. The multiverse theory suggests there are many other universes besides our own, and they could potentially have different laws of physics.
