This is a subfield that uses advanced mathematical methods to analyze and model the structure and evolution of the universe.
Big Bang Theory: This is the prevailing model of the universe's beginning, which postulates that the universe originated in a singularity and has been expanding ever since.
Observational Cosmology: This deals with the measurement and characterization of the properties of the universe using telescopes and other astronomical instruments.
Dark Matter: This is a hypothetical form of matter that appears to interact primarily through gravity, and is thought to make up the majority of matter in the universe.
General and Special Relativity: These are the two branches of Einstein's theory of gravity, which describe the behavior of gravity in both strong and weak regimes.
Cosmic Background Radiation: This is the electromagnetic radiation that fills the universe and is thought to be the remnants of the Big Bang.
Inflation: This is a hypothetical period of exponential expansion soon after the Big Bang that is thought to account for certain features of the universe's structure.
Black Holes: These are regions of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape.
Dark Energy: This is a form of energy that appears to permeate the universe and is thought to be responsible for the universe's accelerating expansion.
Large-Scale Structure Formation: This is the study of the formation and evolution of the large-scale structures in the universe, such as galaxies and clusters of galaxies.
Gravitational Waves: These are ripples in spacetime caused by the acceleration of massive objects, and were first detected in 2015 by the LIGO experiment.
Quantum Cosmology: This is the study of the application of quantum mechanics to cosmology, and attempts to describe the universe on the smallest scales.
String Theory: This is a theoretical framework that attempts to reconcile general relativity with quantum mechanics by postulating that elementary particles are not point-like, but rather one-dimensional "strings" of energy.
Multiverse Theory: This is the hypothesis that our universe is just one of many universes that exist within a larger multiverse, and is often motivated by the underlying mathematics of string theory.
Cosmic Inflation: This is the hypothesis that the universe underwent a period of exponential expansion shortly after the Big Bang, which is thought to account for the uniformity of the cosmic microwave background radiation.
Dark Ages: This is the period of cosmic history between the universe's formation and the first stars and galaxies, and is thought to be characterized by the cooling of cosmic gas and the accumulation of dark matter.
Newtonian Cosmology: A classical approach to explaining the universe's behavior, which was developed by Sir Isaac Newton. It is based on the laws of motion and gravity.
General Relativity Cosmology: A modern approach developed by Albert Einstein that seeks to explain the universe's structure and behavior. It is based on the assumption that space and time are interdependent and curved.
Big Bang Cosmology: A theory that explains the origin of the universe through a single gigantic explosion. It also describes how the universe has evolved since that point.
Inflationary Cosmology: A modification of the Big Bang theory that assumes the universe underwent a brief period of exponential expansion shortly after the Big Bang.
String Cosmology: A cosmological model based on string theory, which explains the origin and structure of the universe with the help of mathematical equations.
Loop Quantum Cosmology: A modification of the Big Bang theory that uses loop quantum gravity to explain the universe's origin and structure. It assumes a "quantum bounce" instead of a Big Bang explosion.
Brane Cosmology: A cosmological model where our universe is a 3-dimensional brane embedded in a higher dimensional space-time. It tries to explain the observed properties of our universe and its interaction with other dimensions.
Cyclic Cosmology: A cosmological model based on the idea that the universe has been through an infinite number of cycles of expansion and contraction, with each cycle ending in a "Big Crunch" and the start of a new cycle.
Emergent Cosmology: A new type of cosmological theory that tries to explain the universe's emergence from complex network systems. It assumes that the universe emerges from complex interactions of its smallest constituents.