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Speaker: Lawrence Krauss, Case-Western University In
1915 Einstein completed his greatest triumph, the General Theory of
Relativity. This remarkable theory laid the basis not just for our
understanding of the motion of objects within the Universe, but the
motion of the universe itself! Yet, in 1916, it looked as if Einstein's
theory did not properly account for observations of the universe on
large scales. To resolve this problem, he added an additional term to
his equations, the so-called "Cosmological Constant". Within a decade
however, observations indicated that such a term was not necessary to
obtain agreement with observations, and Einstein called this addition
his "biggest blunder". Over the past decade, new observations have led
to a revolution in cosmology. The standard model of cosmology built up
over a 20 year period up until the early 1990's is now dead. Its
replacement may be far more bizarre. In particular, new data from a
wide variety of independent cosmological and astrophysical
observations, combine together to strongly suggest most of the energy
density of the universe today may be contained in empty space!
Remarkably, this is exactly what one would expect if Einstein's
Cosmological Constant really exists! If it does, its origin is the
biggest mystery in physics, and presents huge challenges for our
fundamental theories of elementary particles and fields. Krauss will
close by briefly describing possible implications for our understanding
of nature, for physics, and for life, of this astounding new result.
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May 30, 2007 7:00 PM Brookhaven National Laboratory, Berkner Hall Auditorium, William Floyd Parkway, Long Island Map & Directions
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Contact: Brookhaven National Laboratory  631.344.4636
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