Ahmedabad: Our’s understanding of the universe has evolved significantly over time. Cosmology is the branch of astronomy involving the origin and evolution of the universe, from the Big Bang to today and on into the future. Cosmologists puzzle over exotic concepts like string theory, dark matter and dark energy and whether there is one universe or many.

Astrophysicist, science communicator and author Dr Roberto Trotta of Imperial College London had shared his experience in a popular science lecture on “The Power of Simplicity” and explained the complex scientific ideas on Cosmos accessible to everybody, including young students, faculties and other enthusiastic in the Science City on Thursday.

The programme was arranged as a part of the Science and Beyond Lecture Series in association with British Council along with Gujarat Council on Science & Technology (GUJCOST) and Science City.

Speaking on the cosmic world, Dr. Roberto Trotta explained that our universe if full of dark matter and dark energy.

One explanation for dark energy is that it is a property of space. Albert Einstein was the first person to realize that empty space is not nothing. Space has amazing properties, many of which are just beginning to be understood.

By fitting a theoretical model of the composition of the universe to the combined set of cosmological observations, scientists have come up with the composition that the universe is filled with 68% dark energy, 27% dark matter and about 5% normal matter.

He explained that, most of the universe is made up of dark energy, a mysterious force that drives the accelerating expansion of the universe. The next largest ingredient is dark matter, which only interacts with the rest of the universe through its gravity. Normal matter, including all the visible stars, planets and galaxies, makes up less than 5 percent of the total mass of the universe.

In the beginning, Shri S. D. Vora, Executive Director, Science City welcomed the dignitaries and delegates and gave brief accounts of the Nobel Prize Exhibition and its student’s outreach programme.

Dr. Subhash Soni, Joint Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Govt of Gujarat gave an opening remark and urged the students and teachers to be creative and innovative for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education approach.

Ms. Sharon Memis, Director, British Council, West India introduced the guest speaker. Dr. Narottam Sahoo, Advisor, GUJCOST proposed the vote of thanks. Ms Moumita Bhattacharya, Head, British Council Ahmedabad was also graced the occasion along with many distinguished scientists and media members.

About 200 plus students and faculties from basic science, engineering and technological disciplines attended the lecture and also asked a number of questions on the universe and its mysteries.

“It was a wonderful experience on the cosmos and our exploration for a true place in the vast continuum of nature from the tiniest building blocks of matter to superclusters of galaxies in outer space – expressed Alisha Monsuri, a student of Master in Physics in Gujarat University, Ahmedabad.

DeshGujarat