GUWAHATI, Sept 5 � The universe which is about 15 billion years old is not just expanding but is accelerating too. The universe has come a long way since its formative stages when there was pure radiation or energy, and seven billion years ago, the universe was decelerating.
This was observed by eminent space scientist Prof Jitendranath Goswami, Director of Physical Research Laboratory, while delivering the Cotton College State University (CCSU) Foundation Lecture on �Exploring the Solar System and Beyond: the Indian Scene� at the KBR Hall of the university. �We owe our existence to an extremely small symmetry in the universe. At the beginning there was pure radiation (energy) and then energy got converted into matter (particle) and anti-matter (anti-particle) in equal amounts to preserve physical laws,� Prof Goswami said.
Pointing out that the matter we see falls short of what we do not see, Prof Goswami said that it was gravity which held matter together. Dwelling on dark energy, he said that 70 per cent of the universe was made of dark energy and 25 per cent was dark matter. �All matters including us add up to less than five per cent,� he added.
On how the Solar System began, Prof Goswami said that it could have been caused by the death of a star which, in turn, might have triggered a collapse of a molecular cloud, leading to the creation of the Solar System.
On the Indian scenario concerning exploration of the Solar System and radio astronomical study, Prof Goswami said that research was being conducted in several top-class facilities including the Pune-based Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT). �In-depth analysis of all aspects will enable better understanding of space weather,� he said.
Later, students took part in an interactive session with the scientist.
