A Brief History of Time Terms

The ideas of absolute space and time came to the forefront of scientific debate only when challenged. Sir Isaac Newton’s laws of motion suggested that space was not absolute because objects do not have… read analysis of Absolute space/time

This philosophical principle arose in response to the question of why the conditions in the universe are just right to support life—whether it is sheer coincidence, or whether the universe has developed specifically to be… read analysis of Anthropic principle

Each particle has its matching antiparticle. When the two collide, they annihilate each other—in the process creating energy that is then emitted into the universe. read analysis of Anti-particle

Stephen Hawking suggests there are three arrows of time. First, there is the thermodynamic arrow, which relates to entropy. This arrow points in the direction of disorder increasing—for example, whole glasses smashing into pieces… read analysis of Arrows of time

The big bang theory first came into being after Edwin Hubble discovered that all galaxies everywhere are rapidly moving away from one another. This means all matter most likely started off all in one place… read analysis of Big bang

A black hole is a localized singularity that forms from a collapsing star. Once the star uses up its fuel, its spent energy is not enough to balance its own gravity, and it begins… read analysis of Black hole

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar found the limit at which a star’s mass is too big for it to stabilize after it runs out of fuel. If the star is bigger than this limit, it will collapse under… read analysis of Chandrasekhar limit

First created by Albert Einstein to make his theory of relativity work within a static universe, this was considered a kind of anti-gravity force that would hold everything together. When the theory of a… read analysis of Cosmological constant

One of the four main types of forces in the universe, electromagnetism draws electrically charged particles toward or away from one another according to their charge. There are positive, neutral, and negatives charges. The electromagnetic… read analysis of Electromagnetic force

A negatively charged particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom. Electrons stay on fixed orbits due according to their wavelengths. read analysis of Electron

The second law of thermodynamics states that disorder, or entropy, tends to increase in any isolated system. For example, a box with a divide in the middle could have oxygen on one side and nitrogen… read analysis of Entropy

When people still thought space was absolute—that is, that every observer anywhere could measure space in the same way regardless of their position or velocity— they needed to explain what light traveled through so… read analysis of Ether

The event horizon is the boundary of a black hole at which light, or anything else, cannot escape its gravitational pull. This is why why we cannot see black holes even though they glow. Jacob… read analysis of Event horizon

Alexander Friedmann proposed models of the universe based on the idea it is uniform on a large scale and as such should look uniform from any given point. From his work came a variety of… read analysis of Friedmann model

The gravity force-carrying particle with spin 2. read analysis of Graviton

First put forward by Sir Isaac Newton, the theory of gravity states that all particles have an attractive gravitational force that draws them together. This operates over long distances, and although it is weak… read analysis of Gravity

If real numbers run on a left to right axis, imaginary numbers run up and down. They allow for negative answers to multiplication, for example -2 times -2 equals 4, but i2 times i2 equals… read analysis of Imaginary numbers/time

A neutrally charged particle in the nucleus of an atom. read analysis of Neutron

These stars are supported against their own gravity by the exclusion principle between neutrons, so they do not collapse into black holes. They are very small, cold, and dense. Certain kinds are called… read analysis of Neutron stars

Sir Isaac Newton overturned Aristotle’s idea that matter has a natural state of rest. Instead, he showed that forces act on objects to accelerate or change their velocity, not to start them moving in… read analysis of Newton’s laws of motion

Wolfgang Pauli put forward the idea that similar particles cannot be in the same place as one another while moving in the same direction. They repel each other, meaning particles of the same kind will… read analysis of Pauli exclusion principle

A quantum of light, also seen as a force-carrying particle. read analysis of Photon

A positively charged particle in the nucleus of an atom. read analysis of Proton

A quantum is a packet of energy that is always emitted in certain quantities. The rate at which hot bodies, such as stars, lose energy is finite. The higher the frequency of the wave, the… read analysis of Quantum

A theory of how small particles are formed and act based on the quantum principle (by which energy is emitted in certain packets, or quanta) and the uncertainty principle. read analysis of Quantum mechanics

The most basic building blocks of particles that scientists have found yet. They come in different kinds and “colors,” which combine to form the particles in an atom. read analysis of Quark

A region of a galaxy that is collapsing into a large black hole at the center. Also known as quasi-stellar objects, quasars shine brightly before they are sucked into the black hole. read analysis of Quasars

Edwin Hubble first noticed that the light given off by stars in distant galaxies is shifted toward the red end of the spectrum of light. Red light has a longer wavelength than other colors, indicating… read analysis of Red shift

A singularity is a space of zero size holding an infinitely dense amount of matter. Black holes are localized singularities. The big bang starts with and the big crunch ends in a singularity. It is… read analysis of Singularity

The three dimensions of space and the dimension of time come together under the general theory of relativity to create space-time. Events take place on a point in space-time. read analysis of Space-time

Each particle (or anti-particle) is associated with a spin, which reflects the number of times one needs to turn the particle until it looks the same. For example, a single-headed arrow must complete one… read analysis of Spin

A relatively modern theory, the idea is that particles are not dots in space-time but rather waves of infinitely long, one-dimensional lengths, like strings. These strings can join together and separate but require the existence… read analysis of String theory

One of the four major types of force, the strong nuclear force creates the particles within an atom by binding together quarks. read analysis of Strong nuclear force

Richard Feynman first came up with the idea that particles do not have one history, but rather have every possible history. This means scientists cannot say exactly how a particle traveled from A to B… read analysis of Sum over histories

The laws of physics can be said to obey certain symmetries. Symmetry C is when the laws for particles are the same as their anti-particles, P is when the laws are the same in… read analysis of Symmetry

Albert Einstein first suggested the theory of relativity in 1905, which states every observer has their own unique measure of time, though the laws of science and the speed of light are the same for… read analysis of Theories of Relativity

Werner Heisenberg proposed the uncertainty principle when he found it was impossible to accurately measure the position and velocity of a particle without that examination affecting the particle’s position or velocity. To see the position… read analysis of Uncertainty principle

Stephen Hawking’s life’s work was to find the unified theory of physics, which would successfully integrate quantum mechanics with the theory of relativity. Many have joined him on this quest, but so far… read analysis of Unified theory of physics

A particle that is too small to be seen directly but can be detected by its effects on other particles. read analysis of Virtual particle

Imagine a ripple on a pond—there are peaks and troughs to the wave. The more powerful the ripple, the shorter the gap between the peaks, called the wavelength, and the higher the frequency of the… read analysis of Wavelength

One of the four main forces, this is the nuclear force relating to radioactivity and particles of spin ½, which means they look the same only after two turns. read analysis of Weak nuclear force

First proposed by Albert Einstein and Nathan Rosen in 1935, wormholes are small irregularities in space-time that allow short cuts to far-distant regions of the universe. It could be possible for an advanced civilization to… read analysis of Wormhole