Universal Questions

Since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by the vastness of space, the mystery of the endless expanse, and the possibilities of alien civilizations and extreme natural phenomena. Certainly, I am not alone. From the earliest days of humanity’s history, our eyes and minds have been set on the cosmos. Celestial objects and events captured imaginations, provoking the development of origin myths, religions and cultural traditions. Perhaps nothing more strongly connects our species across time than an innate curiosity about where we all come from.

A photo of Dean Amber Miller

My own interest has always been that of a scientist, trying to make sense of what we have collectively learned about the nature of the universe, and striving to add to that understanding. It is astounding to me both how much we have been able to piece together, and how much remains to be explored.

The collective work of astrophysicists and cosmologists over decades has enabled us to take “baby pictures” of the cosmos from which we can glean amazingly detailed information about the age, composition, history and fundamental underlying physics of our universe. We have observed extreme phenomena like black holes that hold the key to understanding how gravity and quantum mechanics work together. High-powered telescopes have given us a clear understanding of how stars, planets and galaxies form, along with beautiful images of stars being born and spectacularly exploding. And we have confirmed almost 5,000 planets outside our solar system within the closest region of our own galaxy alone.

But each incredible insight that we uncover opens up a new set of questions: We know that the universe started off microscopic in size and has expanded to a vastness that is difficult to comprehend and that space itself continues to expand. Where did our infant universe come from in the first place, and into what is it expanding? We know that most of the universe is composed of some kind of missing mass and another kind of missing energy. What are these mysterious forms of mass and energy, and what do they mean for us? From a statistical perspective, it is all but certain that intelligent life exists on other planets. Who are these other beings, what are they like, and will we ever have contact with them?

This issue of USC Dornsife Magazine offers our experts’ perspectives on a wide array of topics related to the cosmos. You’ll find insights about the ways in which ancient cultures experienced the skies, the future ownership of outer space and its resources, how we explore the origins of the universe, what it might be like to encounter alien life and more. We hope you enjoy the read.