Dark Energy: Past, Present, and Future

Dark Energy was initially suggested as an explanation for the accelerated expansion of the cosmos, yet its true nature remains unknown. In this lecture, we will explore this mysterious aspect of the Universe alongside the human stories of discovery. We will begin by revisiting the discovery of the expanding Universe and the rise of the Big Bang and the cosmic inflation. I will then discuss the motivation for dark energy and its current state of study, including emerging inconsistencies in our measurement of the expansion rate of the Universe from different probes. Finally, we will look ahead to future experiments and theoretical considerations that can help refine our understanding of the Universe.

Speaker: Sandy Yuan, Stanford University

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