Institute of Continuing Education (ICE)
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We are living in a golden age of astronomy, yet at the same time we, embarrassingly, don't know what 96% of the Universe is made up of: 26% is Dark Matter about which we understand some things, whilst 70% is Dark Energy which we hardly understand at all. This is the Dark Universe, in which our part of the universe could be thought of as little more than trace elements.
This course will examine how astronomers and scientists are struggling to bridge this chasm of understanding and investigate that darkest of dark objects, the Black Hole. We also consider the likelihood for life elsewhere in such a universe. As Arthur C. Clarke once said "Two possibilities exist: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not, both are equally terrifying.". Either will be species defining.