So Much More to Know

[zavvy]

<b>So Much More to Know</b><br /><br />LINK<br /><br />From the nature of the cosmos to the nature of societies, the following questions span the sciences. <br /><br /><br />Is ours the only universe? <br />A number of quantum theorists and cosmologists are trying to figure out whether our universe is part of a bigger "multiverse." But others suspect that this hard-to-test idea may be a question for philosophers.<br /><br />What drove cosmic inflation? <br />In the first moments after the big bang, the universe blew up at an incredible rate. But what did the blowing? Measurements of the cosmic microwave background and other astrophysical observations are narrowing the possibilities.<br /><br />When and how did the first stars and galaxies form? <br />The broad brush strokes are visible, but the fine details aren't. Data from satellites and ground-based telescopes may soon help pinpoint, among other particulars, when the first generation of stars burned off the hydrogen "fog" that filled the universe.<br /><br />Where do ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays come from? <br />Above a certain energy, cosmic rays don't travel very far before being destroyed. So why are cosmic-ray hunters spotting such rays with no obvious source within our galaxy?<br /><br />What powers quasars? <br />The mightiest energy fountains in the universe probably get their power from matter plunging into whirling supermassive black holes. But the details of what drives their jets remain anybody's guess.<br /><br />What is the nature of black holes? <br />Relativistic mass crammed into a quantum-sized object? It's a recipe for disaster--and scientists are still trying to figure out the ingredients.<br /><br />Why is there more matter than antimatter? <br />To a particle physicist, matter and antimatter are almost the same. Some subtle difference must explain why matter is common and antimatter rare.<br /><br />Does the proton decay? <br />In a theor

 

[igorsboss]

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