Physics conference to explore dark matter, dark energy Feb. 20–22
World-renowned physicists will participate in a major UCLA symposium on dark matter and dark energy in the universe on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the Marriott Hotel in Marina del Rey, Calif.
For information and a full schedule of events, visit www.physics.ucla.edu/hep/dm08/index.html.
It was at this same dark matter symposium 10 years ago that two groups of scientists reported that the universe is accelerating, as well as expanding.
"This is one of the greatest discoveries in the history of science; it's the opposite of what we expected," said symposium organizer David Cline, a UCLA professor of physics and one of the world's experts on dark matter. "We didn't know what the universe was made of until 10 years ago. The results were challenged but have held up. Dark matter and dark energy control the fate of the universe. We now know that dark energy is making the universe accelerate, but what is it, and what will happen to the universe?"
At this symposium, the pioneers of dark energy research will look back, and forward, with reflections and new findings.
"The world's experts are coming back together to address one of the most interesting subjects in science," Cline said. "The universe was starting to collapse, then turned around and started accelerating 6 billion years ago — a phenomenal event in the history of the universe. Before that, the universe was decelerating."
On Wednesday, from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m., scientists and scholars, including Nobel laureate Martin Perl, will address dark energy research and look into the future. The topic will continue Thursday morning, beginning at 8 a.m.
UCLA holds the symposium every second year.
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