Cosmology is the scientific study of the large-scale structures and dynamics of the Universe. It is a relatively young field, having only come into existence in the early 20th century with the development of Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Since then, cosmology has made great strides, with our current understanding of the Universe being largely shaped by observations made using powerful telescopes and other instruments.
The main goal of cosmology is to understand how the Universe works on the grandest of scales. This includes understanding its origin, evolution, and eventual fate. In order to do this, cosmologists use a variety of theoretical tools and observational techniques. One key tool is computer simulations, which allow us to model different aspects of the Universe and make predictions that can be tested against observations.
Currently, there are two leading theories of cosmic origins: inflationary theory and dark matter theory. Inflationary theory posits that shortly after the Big Bang, the Universe underwent a period of rapid expansion known as inflation. This caused any initially small inhomogeneities in matter distribution to be blown up to astronomical size, giving rise to today’s large-scale structure. Dark matter theory proposes that most (if not all) of the matter in the Universe is composed of an invisible substance known as dark matter. This hypothetical substance interacts very weakly with normal matter and does not emit or absorb light, making it very difficult to detect directly. However, its presence can be inferred from its gravitational effects on visible matter (such as stars and galaxies).
While these two theories are currently favored by many cosmologists, there is still much work to be done in order to confirm or refute them conclusively. For instance, one key question that remains unanswered is what exactly caused inflation to occur? Another open question is what role dark matter plays in galaxy formation and evolution – recent observations have suggested that it may not be as important as previously thought. Ultimately, answering these questions will require more data from both ground-based observatories and space-based missions such as NASA’s upcoming James Webb Space Telescope