From the Big Bang to Dark Energy

From the Big Bang to Dark Energy

Instructor: Hitoshi Murayama

Access provided by Leidos

109,230 already enrolled

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

3,674 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

3 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

4 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

3,674 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

3 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

How the Universe began with daily life experience, and learn the techniques/findings in modern physics that provide us this understanding
Birth of elements and Higgs Boson
Dark matter and anti-matter—some of the more mysterious sides of the Universe
Dark energy, inflation, and the possible fates of our Universe

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

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Assessments

45 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 4 modules in this course

We have learned a lot recently about how the Universe evolved in 13.8 billion years since the Big Bang. More than 80% of matter in the Universe is mysterious Dark Matter, which made stars and galaxies to form. The newly discovered Higgs-boson became frozen into the Universe a trillionth of a second after the Big Bang and brought order to the Universe. Yet we still do not know how ordinary matter (atoms) survived against total annihilation by Anti-Matter. The expansion of the Universe started acceleration about 7 billion years ago and the Universe is being ripped apart. The culprit is Dark Energy, a mysterious energy multiplying in vacuum. I will present evidence behind these startling discoveries and discuss what we may learn in the near future.

This module connects daily experiences like night and day to understanding the Universe. You will journey from Earth to the cosmos' edge, learning modern physics techniques and findings. By the end, you will explain how physics helps us understand cosmic origins. Approach this module by relating concepts to your observations.

What's included

12 videos3 readings14 assignments

12 videos Total 95 minutes

Course Preview 2 minutes
Introduction 9 minutes
1-1 Night and Day, and Four Seasons 10 minutes
1-2 Revolution of the Earth 6 minutes
1-3 Why Elliptic? 9 minutes
1-4 Why Does Everything Fall the Same Way? 9 minutes
1-5 Beginning of the Universe Look Far into the Past I 14 minutes
1-6 Beginning of the Universe Look Far into the Past II 6 minutes
1-7 Beginning of the Universe Look Far into the Past III 7 minutes
1-8 Beginning of the Universe Look Far into the Past IV 9 minutes
1-9 Beginning of the Universe Look Far into the Past V 10 minutes
1-10 Cosmic Expansion 6 minutes

3 readings Total 30 minutes

Course Description 10 minutes
Syllabus 10 minutes
About Optional Challenge Problems 10 minutes

14 assignments Total 420 minutes

Practice Quiz 1-1 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 1-2 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 1-3 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 1-4 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 1-5 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 1-6 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 1-7 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 1-8 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 1-9 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 1-10 30 minutes
Graded Quiz 1-1 30 minutes
Graded Quiz 1-2 30 minutes
Graded Quiz 1-3 30 minutes
Optional Challenge Problem 1 30 minutes

You will explore the origin of chemical elements and their connection to the Higgs Boson. This module covers the particle's discovery and its significance in understanding matter. By the end, you will explain how elements formed and the Higgs Boson's role. Focus on the historical context of discoveries.

What's included

9 videos11 assignments

9 videos Total 97 minutes

2-1 Birth of Elements I 6 minutes
2-2 Birth of Elements II 11 minutes
2-3 Birth of Elements III 6 minutes
2-4 Birth of Elements IV 10 minutes
2-5 Birth of Elements V 14 minutes
2-6 Higgs Boson Frozen into the Universe I 8 minutes
2-7 Higgs Boson Frozen into the Universe II 14 minutes
2-8 Higgs Boson Frozen into the Universe III 16 minutes
2-9 Higgs Boson Frozen into the Universe IV 13 minutes

11 assignments Total 330 minutes

Practice Quiz 2-1 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 2-2 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 2-3 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 2-4 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 2-5 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 2-6 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 2-7 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 2-8 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 2-9 30 minutes
Graded Quiz 2-1 30 minutes
Graded Quiz 2-2 30 minutes

You will learn about dark matter and anti-matter, two mysterious aspects of the Universe. This module covers dark matter's role in galaxy formation and the puzzle of matter's survival over anti-matter. By the end, you will describe the properties of dark matter and the matter-anti-matter asymmetry. Consider the implications of these cosmic mysteries.

What's included

8 videos1 reading11 assignments

8 videos Total 83 minutes

3-1 Power Spectrum 11 minutes
3-2 Dark Matter I 6 minutes
3-3 Dark Matter II 10 minutes
3-4 Nature of Dark Matter I 10 minutes
3-5 Nature of Dark Matter II 9 minutes
3-6 Neutrinos and Anti-Matter I 13 minutes
3-7 Neutrinos and Anti-Matter II 13 minutes
3-8 Neutrinos and Anti-Matter III 10 minutes

1 reading Total 10 minutes

About Optional Challenge Problems 10 minutes

11 assignments Total 330 minutes

Practice Quiz 3-1 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 3-2 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 3-3 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 3-4 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 3-5 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 3-6 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 3-7 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 3-8 30 minutes
Graded Quiz 3-1 30 minutes
Graded Quiz 3-2 30 minutes
Optional Challenge Problem 2 30 minutes

You will learn about cosmic inflation, dark energy, and the Universe's possible fates. This module covers the early exponential expansion and the current accelerating expansion driven by dark energy. By the end, you will explain inflation, dark energy's effects, and predict cosmic futures. Focus on the evidence supporting these theories.

What's included

17 videos1 reading9 assignments

17 videos Total 216 minutes

4-1 Inflation and Uncertainty Principle I (Inflation) 15 minutes
4-2 Inflation and Uncertainty Principle II (Uncertainty Principle I ) 12 minutes
4-3 Inflation and Uncertainty Principle III (Uncertainty Principle II ) 10 minutes
4-4 Fate of the Universe 6 minutes
4-5 Dark Energy 9 minutes
4-6 Big Rip 7 minutes
4-7 Future Observations 12 minutes
4-8 Wrap-up 6 minutes
Extra Lecture 1 Theoretical Discovery of Higgs Boson 9 minutes
Extra Lecture 2-1 Discovery of Neutrino Oscillations and Neutrino Mass I 13 minutes
Extra Lecture 2-2 Discovery of Neutrino Oscillations and Neutrino Mass II 12 minutes
Extra Lecture 3-1 Discovery of Gravitational Waves I 8 minutes
Extra Lecture 3-2 Discovery of Gravitational Waves II 12 minutes
Extra Lecture 3-3 Discovery of Gravitational Waves III 11 minutes
Extra Lecture 3-4 Discovery of Gravitational Waves IV 5 minutes
Extra Lecture 4-1 Theoretical Foundation of Black Hole 34 minutes
Extra Lecture 4-2 Observational Evidence of Black Hole 36 minutes

1 reading Total 1 minute

Introduction 1 minute

9 assignments Total 270 minutes

Practice Quiz 4-1 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 4-2 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 4-3 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 4-4 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 4-5 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 4-6 30 minutes
Practice Quiz 4-7 30 minutes
Graded Quiz 4-1 30 minutes
Graded Quiz 4-2 30 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(867 ratings)

Hitoshi Murayama

The University of Tokyo

1 Course 109,230 learners

Offered by

The University of Tokyo

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Reviewed on Aug 5, 2023

A very fun yet educational course. I love the layout were you watch 1 short video and then take a short quiz. Personally, it helped keep my attention and overall help me in learning this subject.

Reviewed on Aug 19, 2020

I'm very happy to finished this course and this was a really awesome journey into the knowledge of the universe, thank you so much to professor Murayama for explained it in a such easy way.

Reviewed on May 24, 2017

Engaging whirlwind tour of some big questions in cosmology and high-energy physics. The instructor's wry humor adds a special twist to an informative summary of the state of play as of 2015 or so,

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