The Great Courses: Dark Matter, Dark Energy: The Dark Side of the Universe

Did you know that everything we can see - even with our most powerful instruments - is only five percent of what we know exists? The other 95 percent of the cosmos is invisible to us, and yet it's there, holding galaxies and galaxy clusters together... or causing space itself to fly apart. Dark matter and dark energy are two of the most exciting subjects in astronomy and particle physics. Immerse yourself in the study of these mysterious phenomena in 24 lectures taught by an award-winning theoretical physicist with a gift for explaining difficult concepts in an engaging and easy-to-grasp way. Gain an understanding of the key concepts of the revolutionary view of an expanding universe, concepts which have brought us - for the first time in history - to the brink of knowing what the universe is made of. You'll begin with Einstein's theoretical physics work in the early 20th century, move to Hubble's work in observational astronomy, and finally to the cutting edge of science today. Investigate the development of our universe, explore the standard model of particle physics, and come to understand how dark matter and dark energy fit into the big picture. On your way, you'll study the motion of the stars in galaxies and galaxies within clusters; see the echoes of the big bang; witness exploding stars; and explore the geometry of space. Whether you're a scientist, a student, or just a space enthusiast, your view of the universe will be forever changed. Dark Matter, Dark Energy provides you with a comprehensive look at these two mysterious phenomena - and their startling implications for our understanding of the universe.