Big Bang
The Big Bang model describes the early hot, dense state of the Universe and its subsequent expansion.
FUTUREVERSE COSMOS LAB
Welcome to the Cosmos
The Universe is far larger and more mysterious than the Solar System we call home. From the birth of stars to enormous galaxies, from black holes to the expansion of space itself, Cosmos Lab brings the major ideas of modern astronomy together in one place.
Read, understand and explore the structures, objects and phenomena that shape our Universe.
YOUR COSMIC JOURNEY
From Stars to the Universe
Understand how different cosmic structures connect with one another.
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Stars
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Galaxies
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Cosmic Structures
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Universe
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THE BIG PICTURE
Universe
The Universe includes all of space, time, matter, energy, galaxies, stars, planets and the physical processes that connect them. Everything we observe with telescopes is part of this enormous cosmic system.
Modern observations show that the Universe has been expanding over cosmic time. Scientists study this expansion, the early Universe and the large-scale structure of galaxies to understand how the cosmos evolved.
Expansion
Distant galaxies show systematic redshifts, providing evidence that the Universe is expanding.
Cosmic Time
Light takes time to travel, so distant objects allow astronomers to observe earlier stages of cosmic history.
KEY IDEA
Studying distant galaxies is also a way of studying the history of the Universe.
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STELLAR WORLD
Stars & Stellar Evolution
Stars are enormous astronomical objects made primarily of hot plasma and held together by gravity. Their energy comes from nuclear reactions occurring in their interiors.
A star changes throughout its lifetime. Its mass strongly influences how it evolves and what kind of object it may eventually leave behind.
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Nebula
Dense regions of gas and dust can collapse under gravity.
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Protostar
Material continues collapsing and heating as a young star forms.
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Main Sequence
The longest stable stage for many stars, powered mainly by hydrogen fusion.
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Stellar Remnant
Depending on mass, a star may eventually leave a white dwarf, neutron star or black hole.
Nuclear Fusion
Fusion in stellar cores converts lighter nuclei into heavier nuclei and releases energy.
Supernova
Some massive stars end their lives in powerful stellar explosions.
Stellar Remnants
White dwarfs and neutron stars are compact remnants left after different types of stellar evolution.
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EXTREME GRAVITY
Black Holes
A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that, beyond a particular boundary, light cannot escape.
Black holes are described by general relativity and can form through the collapse of sufficiently massive stellar cores. Supermassive black holes are also found at the centers of many galaxies.
Event Horizon
The boundary around a black hole beyond which escape to the outside is not possible.
Singularity
The central region predicted by classical general relativity where spacetime curvature becomes extreme.
Accretion Disk
Hot material orbiting and falling toward a black hole can form a bright rotating disk.
IMPORTANT
A black hole itself does not shine like a normal star. Astronomers often detect black holes through their effects on nearby matter, light and surrounding spacetime.
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GIANT COSMIC SYSTEMS
Galaxies
A galaxy is a gravitationally bound system containing stars, gas, dust, dark matter and other objects. Galaxies can contain millions to trillions of stars.
They occur in different shapes and sizes and can interact, merge and change over cosmic time.
Spiral Galaxies
These galaxies have a central region surrounded by a rotating disk containing spiral arms.
Elliptical Galaxies
These galaxies generally have smooth, rounded or elongated shapes.
Irregular Galaxies
These galaxies lack the well-defined structures seen in many spiral and elliptical galaxies.
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THE HIDDEN COSMOS
Dark Matter & Dark Energy
Much of the Universe cannot be explained by the ordinary matter that makes stars, planets and people.
Dark matter and dark energy are names given to two different phenomena inferred from astronomical observations. Their exact physical nature remains an important area of scientific research.
Dark Matter
Dark matter does not appear to emit or absorb light in the way ordinary matter does. Its gravitational effects help explain the motions of galaxies and the formation of large-scale cosmic structures.
Dark Energy
Dark energy is the name used for the unknown component associated with the accelerated expansion of the Universe.
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BEYOND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Deep Space
Deep space refers broadly to regions and objects far beyond Earth's immediate neighborhood. Astronomers use powerful telescopes to observe objects across enormous distances.
Nebulae
Large clouds of gas and dust associated with star formation, stellar evolution and other processes.
Star Clusters
Groups of stars held together by gravity, providing useful laboratories for studying stellar evolution.
Quasars
Extremely luminous active galactic nuclei powered by material falling toward supermassive black holes.
Deep-Field Observations
Long observations can reveal extremely distant, faint galaxies and provide a view into cosmic history.
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HUMANITY'S COSMIC JOURNEY
Space Missions
Space missions allow scientists to observe planets, moons, asteroids, comets, stars and distant cosmic environments using spacecraft, observatories and robotic explorers.
Space Telescopes
Observatories above Earth's atmosphere can observe wavelengths and details that are difficult to study from the ground.
Robotic Exploration
Robotic spacecraft explore environments throughout the Solar System and collect scientific measurements.
Human Exploration
Human spaceflight allows astronauts to conduct scientific experiments and operate advanced systems in space environments.
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INTERACTIVE LEARNING
Cosmic Lab
Cosmic Lab is the interactive side of Cosmos Lab. Instead of only reading about astronomical concepts, students can eventually experiment with simplified simulations and visual models.
Orbit Simulator
Visualize how objects move under gravitational influence.
Black Hole Model
Learn how the event horizon and surrounding spacetime are represented in simplified models.
Stellar Evolution
Follow the major stages through which stars can evolve.
Universe Expansion
Use a simplified visual model to understand the idea of an expanding Universe.
QUICK REFERENCE
Cosmic Vocabulary
Important terms you will encounter while studying the Cosmos.
Light-Year
A unit of distance based on how far light travels in one year.
Galaxy
A gravitationally bound system of stars, gas, dust and dark matter.
Nebula
A large cloud of gas and dust in space.
Event Horizon
The boundary around a black hole beyond which light cannot escape.
Redshift
A shift of observed light toward longer wavelengths.
Supernova
A powerful stellar explosion associated with certain stages of stellar evolution.
The Universe Is Bigger Than We Imagine.
Every observation gives us another piece of the cosmic puzzle. Keep looking up. Keep asking questions.