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Big questions about the universe

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2011

Magda Stavinschi*
Affiliation:
Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy, Bucharest, str. Cuţitul de Argint 5, 040557 Bucharest, Romania email: [email protected]
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Abstract

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Astronomy is not only a branch of science but also an important part of the culture and civilisations of peoples. Starting with archeoastronomy to the present day, it has always contributed to a better understanding of life, of humanity. After 400 years of modern astronomy, it still addresses major problems such as: Why there is something rather than nothing? Why is nature comprehensible to humans? How is cosmos related to humanity? Do multiverses exist? Is there life on other planets? Are we alone in the universe? Does the universe have a beginning? If so, what does it mean? How did the universe originate? All these questions are a challenge for interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary investigations, for philosophers, physicists, cosmologists, mathematicians, theologians. The new insights gained by pursuing in depth these common investigations will shape the society we live in and have important consequences on the future we are creating.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2011