Mysteries of dark matter, dark energy to be focus of museum event


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LAWRENCE — On a clear night in rural Kansas, the visible stars stretch across the horizon, but they are just a fraction of the stars and other astral components that comprise our ever-expanding universe.

The accelerating pace of this expansion and its cause — known as one of greatest mysteries in physics — will be the subject of a KU Natural History Museum event at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, at the Free State Brewing Co., 636 Massachusetts St. The event is a part of the museum's ongoing series called Science on Tap.

Kansas State University Professor Bharat Ratra will lead a lecture and discussion about the relationship between dark matter, dark energy and the accelerating expansion. Dark energy is the leading candidate for the mechanism that is responsible for accelerating the expansion of the cosmos.

Ratra will describe the research that persuades cosmologists that dark energy and dark matter are by far the main components of the energy budget of the universe.

Science on Tap is modeled on science cafés, which take place in restaurants, coffee shops and other venues in cities worldwide. The events offer the chance to discuss science and technology topics in an informal setting with an expert in a particular subject.

For more information, visit the museum online.


Thu, 10/11/2012

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Jen Humphrey

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