Chasing a Runaway Universe... ...Dark Energy and the Accelerating Universe

Abstract

COSMOLOGY, THE subset of astronomy that deals with the structure and evolution of the Universe as a whole, is one of the grandest of all subjects. Cosmologists are interested in the age of the Universe (when did it begin?), in its ultimate fate (will it expand forever or collapse?), and in its overall extent and shape (is it infinite, or does it wrap around like a balloon?). They also want to understand the formation and evolution of galaxies like our Milky Way; these are the fundamental building blocks of the Universe. Ultimately, we wish to understand our origin, and our connection with the cosmos as a whole. These are topics about which humans have probably wondered ever since developing sufficiently high intelligence and curiosity.