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Cosmologist
Studies the origin, evolution, and ultimate fate of the universe itself.
Did you know?
The observable universe is 93 billion light-years across, but cosmologists believe it may be infinite
How subjects help
- Physics: Study the faint glow left over from the early universe to learn how it began.
- Mathematics: Use the equations of gravity to work out how space has expanded over billions of years.
- Computer Science: Run simulations that grow galaxies on a computer and compare them with the real sky.
- Philosophy: Think carefully about deep questions like what came before the Big Bang and what can be tested.
A famous name
Stephen Hawking: Cosmologist who studied black holes and the Big Bang, and wrote A Brief History of Time.
Try it yourself: Watch the Moon and model it
- For a week, draw the Moon each clear night at about the same time. How does its shape change?
- Model it: in a dark room, shine the torch (the Sun) at a ball (the Moon) held out in front of your face (Earth).
- Turn slowly on the spot, holding the ball out. Watch the lit part change, just like your drawings.
- Does your model explain what you saw? What can't it explain?
Astronomers and cosmologists compare careful observations with models, keeping the models only while they match what is really seen.
Also try: Design a base on Mars.
Known for it in
USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Italy