Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • NPR

    A Mysterious Cosmic Recipe

    We've made huge strides in understanding the nature and composition of the physical universe, says astrophysicist Marcelo Gleiser, but it's clear that much remains to be learned — as it should be.
    by Marcelo Gleiser Jun 07, 2017 5 minutes
    Source: ESO

    Today we address the composition of the universe, in the final essay of our trilogy on cosmic questions.

    As the great German astronomer Johannes Kepler once wrote in the early 17th century: "When the storm rages and the shipwreck of the state threatens, we can do nothing more worthy than to sink the anchor of our peaceful studies into the ground of eternity."

    So, let's sink our anchor, once again, into the study of the heavens. Previously, we discussed both what an expanding universe means, and whether we can make sense of the hardest question of them all — the origin of all things. Our question today? How much do we know of the stuff that fills up the universe?

    In the interest of clarity, I'll break the cosmic recipe into its three main ingredients: the stuff we are made of; dark matter; and dark energy.

    The stuff

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from NPR

    NPR4 min read
    On 'Here In The Pitch,' Jessica Pratt's Pop Seduces Listeners Into A Los Angeles Noir
    The singer-songwriter's fourth album is her best yet, with crisp, commanding songwriting, shades of '60s baroque pop and melodies that seem to have existed forever.
    NPR3 min read
    Houston Area Braces For Flooding To Worsen Following Storms
    A flood watch remained in effect through Sunday afternoon as forecasters predicted additional rainfall Saturday night, bringing another 1 to 3 inches of water to the soaked region.
    NPR5 min readInternational Relations
    Campus Protests Over The War In Gaza Have Gone International
    Students in the U.K., France and Mexico have sought to erect what many of them call "solidarity encampments," prompting a variety of responses from university authorities and local law enforcement.

    Related Books & Audiobooks