Cosmological Constant & Dark Energy: Global Cross-Cultural Perspectives
Encyclopedia/1. The Cosmos & The Natural World/2. Physics & Chemistry/02. Relativity & Gravitational Physics • Curated by Admin Timeline.sg
This timeline traces the global evolution of concepts related to the cosmological constant and dark energy, from ancient cosmological speculations to modern discoveries. It highlights contributions from diverse cultures and scientific revolutions.
Chronological Storyline (42 Milestones)
3000 BCE
Mesopotamian Cosmology: Heaven and Earth
Ancient Mesopotamian texts describe a flat Earth surrounded by a cosmic ocean, with the heavens as a solid dome. #cosmology #ancient
Mesopotamian Cosmology: Heaven and Earth By Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg) - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51586138
1500 BCE
Vedic Cosmology: Hiranyagarbha
The Rigveda mentions Hiranyagarbha (golden womb) as the primeval source of creation, implying a cosmic egg or a universe expanding from a point. #cosmology #india
Vedic Cosmology: Hiranyagarbha By Manaku - https://theprint.in/pageturner/afterword/b-n-goswamy-brings-life-elusive-pahari-painter-manaku-guler/14421/, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=69671721
500 BCE
Greek Atomists: Void and Vacuum
Leucippus and Democritus propose atoms moving in a void, an early idea of empty space with potential energy. #cosmology #greece
840 CE
Al-Kindi: Cosmic Rays and Vacuum
Arab philosopher Al-Kindi speculates on the nature of space and rays, contributing to early concepts of vacuum energy. #islamicgoldenage #science
Al-Kindi: Cosmic Rays and Vacuum By Iraqi Post - Personal collection, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91832934
1021 CE
Ibn al-Haytham: Optics and Void
Ibn al-Haytham experiments with optics and questions the existence of a perfect vacuum, influencing later ideas of space. #islamicgoldenage #optics
Ibn al-Haytham: Optics and Void By Adolph Boÿ, engraved by Jeremias Falck. Used as the frontispiece to Johannes Hevelius, Selenographia, 1647 - https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbctos.2017rosen1321/?sp=9&r=0.059,0.617,0.327,0.182,0, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=165125519
1584 CE
Giordano Bruno: Infinite Universe
Bruno proposes an infinite universe with countless stars, challenging the finite cosmos and implying a homogeneous space. #cosmology #renaissance
Giordano Bruno: Infinite Universe By Unknown author - https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/obf_images/bc/3d/265d1be073eb34224006d0d35b02.jpg Gallery: https://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/image/L0015152.html Wellcome Collection gallery (2018-04-01): https://wellcomecollection.org/works/qgt4dt8k CC-BY-4.0, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133537203
1687 CE
Newton's Universal Gravity
Newton's Principia introduces law of universal gravitation, describing a static infinite universe with matter evenly distributed. #physics #gravity
1784 CE
Messier Catalog: Nebulae as Extragalactic?
Charles Messier compiles a catalog of nebulae, some later identified as galaxies, hinting at a larger universe. #astronomy
Messier Catalog: Nebulae as Extragalactic? By Michael A. Phillips - http://astromaphilli14.blogspot.com.br/p/m.html official blog, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38121043
1848 CE
Kelvin and Tait: Vortex Atoms and Ether
Lord Kelvin and Peter Guthrie Tait develop vortex theory of atoms, proposing a fluid ether filling space. #physics #ether
1905 CE
Einstein's Special Relativity
Einstein's special relativity postulates constant speed of light, eliminating the need for a luminiferous ether. #physics #relativity
Einstein's Special Relativity By Lucien Chavan [1] (1868 - 1942), a friend of Einstein's when he was living in Berne. - Cropped from original at the The Albert Einstein Archives, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16699199
1915 CE
Einstein's General Relativity
Einstein completes general relativity, describing gravity as curvature of spacetime. #physics #gravity
Einstein's General Relativity By Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes Lensing (SXS) - https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/video/ligo20160211v3 (video link); see also http://www.black-holes.org/gw150914, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46994894
1917 CE
Einstein Introduces Cosmological Constant
To maintain a static universe, Einstein adds the cosmological constant (Λ) to his field equations. #cosmology #constant
Einstein Introduces Cosmological Constant By NASA/WMAP Science Team - Original version: NASA; modified by Cherkash, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11885244
1917 CE
De Sitter Universe
Willem de Sitter finds a solution to Einstein's equations with a cosmological constant, predicting an empty, expanding universe. #cosmology
De Sitter Universe By NASA / WMAP Science Team - http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/media/121238/ilc_9yr_moll4096.png, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23285693
1922 CE
Friedmann Equations
Alexander Friedmann proposes expanding universe solutions without cosmological constant, using general relativity. #cosmology #expansion
1927 CE
Lemaître's Primeval Atom
Georges Lemaître proposes the 'primeval atom' hypothesis, later known as the Big Bang, and acknowledges a cosmological constant. #cosmology #bigbang
Lemaître's Primeval Atom By Unknown author - https://societyforthehistoryofastronomy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/AA14-June-20.pdf, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=154504242
1929 CE
Hubble's Law of Expansion
Edwin Hubble discovers that galaxies recede proportionally to their distance, confirming universal expansion. #astronomy #hubble
Hubble's Law of Expansion By w:en:User:ScienceApologist - This image was copied from wikipedia:en. The original description was: The raisin bread model of the universe explains how each galaxy can perceive every other galaxy in the universe as receding from it. From the WMAP website., Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2615116
1931 CE
Einstein Renounces Cosmological Constant
After Hubble's discovery, Einstein calls the cosmological constant his 'biggest blunder', abandoning it. #cosmology #einstein
1948 CE
Steady State Theory
Bondi, Gold, and Hoyle propose steady state theory with continuous creation, requiring a negative pressure term similar to Λ. #cosmology
1956 CE
Yakov Zeldovich: Vacuum Energy Prediction
Yakov Zeldovich argues that vacuum fluctuations could produce a cosmological constant, linking quantum field theory and gravity. #physics #quantum
Yakov Zeldovich: Vacuum Energy Prediction By Stamp issuing authority - MARKA Publishing & Trading Centre. Printer - Association GOZNAK of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation - http://www.wnsstamps.post/en/stamps/RU055.14, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39238861
1965 CE
Discovery of Cosmic Microwave Background
Penzias and Wilson discover CMB, providing strong evidence for Big Bang, making steady state less likely. #cosmology #cmb
Discovery of Cosmic Microwave Background By ESA and the Planck Collaboration - Cosmic Microwave Background, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=130789180
1967 CE
Zeldovich and Novikov: Cosmological Constant and Large-Scale Structure
Zeldovich and Novikov discuss the role of vacuum energy in cosmology and structure formation. #cosmology
1970 CE
Lemaître's Tombstone: Cosmological Constant
The Belgian Academy includes Λ on Lemaître's tombstone, recognizing his early advocacy for the constant. #cosmology #history
1974 CE
Dicke and Peebles: Fine-Tuning Problem
Robert Dicke and James Peebles note that the cosmological constant must be extremely small, pointing out a fine-tuning issue. #cosmology #physics
Dicke and Peebles: Fine-Tuning Problem By Lucas Taylor / CERN - http://cdsweb.cern.ch/record/628469, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1433671
1980 CE
Alan Guth: Inflation Theory
Alan Guth proposes cosmic inflation, solving horizon and flatness problems, often requiring a brief phase of vacuum energy. #cosmology #inflation )
1981 CE
Kazanas and Others: Inflation and Λ
Further development of inflation models from R. Brout, F. Englert, E. Gunzig, and others, linking vacuum energy to early universe. #cosmology )
1984 CE
Hawking and Moss: Quantum Cosmology and Λ
Stephen Hawking and Ian Moss discuss the cosmological constant in the context of quantum cosmology and the wave function of the universe. #cosmology #quantum
1987 CE
Bousso and Polchinski: String Theory Landscape
Later work in string theory suggests a landscape of vacua with different Λ values, possibly explaining the small value anthropically. #stringtheory #cosmology
1990 CE
COBE Satellite: CMB Anisotropies
NASA's COBE measures tiny temperature fluctuations in CMB, supporting inflation and ΛCDM model. #cosmology #satellite
COBE Satellite: CMB Anisotropies By NASA - https://science.nasa.gov/toolkits/spacecraft-icons (image link), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58072784
1995 CE
Supernova Cosmology Project Begins
Two teams, Supernova Cosmology Project and High-z Supernova Search Team, start using Type Ia supernovae to measure expansion rate. #astronomy #supernova
1998 CE
Discovery of Dark Energy: Accelerating Expansion
Both teams announce that distant supernovae are dimmer than expected, implying accelerating expansion due to dark energy, likely cosmological constant. #darkenergy #cosmology
1999 CE
Perlmutter, Schmidt, Riess Win Breakthrough Prize
Saul Perlmutter, Brian Schmidt, and Adam Riess awarded for dark energy discovery; later Nobel in 2011. #nobel #physics
Perlmutter, Schmidt, Riess Win Breakthrough Prize By Design of the medal: The Nobel Foundation. Sculptor and engraver: Erik Lindberg (1902). - Source of this work Photographer: David Monniaux (2005, 2006, 2007) Edited by: hidro 21:17, 28 July 2008 (UTC) Design of the medal: The Nobel Foundation. Sculptor and engraver: Erik Lindberg (1902)., Cc-by-sa-3.0, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18622921
2001 CE
WMAP Launch: Precision Cosmology
NASA's Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe begins mapping CMB, yielding precise cosmological parameters including dark energy density. #cosmology #satellite
WMAP Launch: Precision Cosmology By NASA / WMAP Science Team - [1]; converted from the high-resolution TIFF version to a JPEG, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3944989
2003 CE
Dark Energy Survey (DES) Collaboration
DES begins using multiple methods (weak lensing, supernovae, BAO) to study dark energy. #darkenergy #survey
Dark Energy Survey (DES) Collaboration By Felipe Menanteau and the Dark Energy Survey Collaboration - https://opensource.ncsa.illinois.edu/confluence/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=61604315, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59740733
2004 CE
Chandra Observations: Dark Energy Constraints
Chandra X-ray Observatory uses galaxy clusters to provide independent evidence for dark energy. #astronomy #xray
Chandra Observations: Dark Energy Constraints By NASA/CXC/NGST - http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=11185 (image link), Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38252467
2006 CE
Baryon Acoustic Oscillations Detected
SDSS and 2dFGRS detect BAO, providing a standard ruler measurement consistent with dark energy. #cosmology #bao
2011 CE
Nobel Prize for Dark Energy Discovery
Perlmutter, Schmidt, and Riess awarded Nobel Prize in Physics for discovery of accelerating expansion. #nobel #physics
2013 CE
Planck Satellite Results
ESA's Planck maps CMB with high precision, confirming dark energy comprises about 68% of the universe's energy density. #cosmology #esa )
Planck Satellite Results By Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14045307
2016 CE
Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) Approved
DESI project begins construction to map millions of galaxies and quasars to measure dark energy effect on expansion. #darkenergy #spectroscopy
Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) Approved By Lawrence Berkeley National Lab/KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA - DESI crossfade 4, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=134717399
2019 CE
Euclid Space Telescope Launched
ESA's Euclid mission launched to investigate dark energy and dark matter through high-precision imaging and spectroscopy. #esa #darkenergy )
Euclid Space Telescope Launched By European Space Agency - Euclid looking into the Universe, CC BY-SA 3.0 igo, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=128347141
2020 CE
Dark Energy Survey Releases Final Results
DES team publishes comprehensive analysis combining multiple probes, providing constraints on dark energy equation of state. #darkenergy #survey
2021 CE
Roman Space Telescope (WFIRST) Renamed
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, formerly WFIRST, aims to probe dark energy using multiple methods. #nasa #darkenergy
Roman Space Telescope (WFIRST) Renamed By NASA - https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery-spacecraftillustrations.html, Public domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=136706293
2022 CE
DESI First Data Release
DESI publishes its first large dataset, measuring BAO and providing improved constraints on dark energy and Hubble constant. #darkenergy #spectroscopy
