Ep 2. The Key to the Cosmos

In episode 2 of Stephen Hawking's Grand Design, titled "The Key to the Cosmos," the renowned physicist delves deeper into the mysteries of the universe.

Hawking examines the groundbreaking theories of significant physicists such as Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton. He revisits their work and explores how their ideas helped to unlock the secrets of the cosmos.

The episode takes us on a journey through history, starting from the medieval era, where philosophers believed the earth was the center of the universe and ended with the modern-day understanding of the vastness of space and its contents.

Hawking discusses the various observations and experiments that have enabled scientists to learn about the universe’s composition, from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies.

One of the key concepts the episode explores is dark matter and dark energy, two invisible, elusive components that make up the vast majority of the universe. Hawking explains how these unknown components are critical to understanding the universe's structure and why they matter so much to cosmologists.

Hawking probes the most significant question in science: how can we explain the universe's beginning? He explores the theories of different physicists, including the Big Bang theory - and proposes a new model.

As the episode continues, we see how the discovery of the Higgs Boson particle helped physicists to unlock its secrets. The Higgs Boson particle was the last elusive particle predicted by the standard model of particle physics, a vital tool for understanding the universe's behavior.

Hawking highlights the cosmic microwave background radiation, which is a faint glow left by the universe's formation, and how its properties help scientists understand its origins.

Overall, "The Key to the Cosmos" is a fascinating exploration of science's biggest ideas and most fundamental questions. It is an episode worth watching for science enthusiasts or anyone curious about the universe's mysteries.