Jerusalem Mathematics Colloquium
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Thursday, 1st January 2004, 4:00 pm
Mathematics Building Room 2

Professor Avishai Dekel
(Institute of Physics, Hebrew University)

"DARK MATTER, DARK ENERGY, AND THE FATE OF THE UNIVERSE"

Abstract
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The last few years led to a revolution in our physical understanding of the
Universe we live in. This revolution is driven by exciting new observations
from space and from big telescopes on earth in many different wavelengths.
We now have answers to some of the major questions of cosmology, and with
these answers come new puzzles.

Will the expanding Universe eventually stop and recollapse or will it expand
forever? In what rate? Is the Universe finite or infinite in extent? Is it
curved or Euclidean? What is the composition of the matter and energy in
the Universe? How much of it is luminous and how much is dark? What is the
nature of the dark matter and the mysterious dark energy?

On our way to unfolding the properties of the universe, we meet challenges
to the common wisdom, such as the question of whether the gravitational force
is indeed always attractive.

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Light refreshments will be served at 3:30 in the Faculty Lounge
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Dark refreshments will be served at 3:30 in the Faculty Lounge

But does it really matter?
(dark matter,that is)