Cosmology

About this course

Cosmology explores the origin, structure, evolution, and ultimate fate of the universe. In this course, learners investigate the evidence for the Big Bang, the expansion of space, and the relic radiation of the Cosmic Microwave Background, while examining how modern observations have transformed our understanding of the cosmos. Across five modules, the course introduces the composition of the universe, including ordinary matter, dark matter, dark energy, and radiation, before exploring how cosmologists model the universe using General Relativity and the Friedmann equations. Learners examine the geometry and evolution of spacetime, the earliest moments of the universe, cosmic inflation, nucleosynthesis, and the formation of the first stars and galaxies. The course also explores the large-scale structure of the cosmos and considers the long-term future of the universe through concepts such as heat death, black hole evaporation, the Big Rip, and the multiverse. Designed for learners with an interest in astronomy, physics, and the nature of the universe, this course combines observational evidence, modern cosmological theory, and current scientific discoveries to provide a coherent picture of how the universe began, evolved, and may ultimately end.

Course objectives

• examine the evidence supporting modern cosmological theories
• explore the large-scale structure of the universe
• consider the future of the universe through various scientific scenarios