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On the Origin and Design of the Cosmos

Michael Strauss

Many different theories about the origin of the universe and our world have been proposed for as long as humans have been able to reason. In this talk given at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Dr. Michael Strauss reviews the scientific evidence regarding the origin of the universe. We discover why the Big Bang model is the best model of the beginning of the universe given the current scientific data. Strauss discusses also the physical parameters of the universe that have allowed it to exist and to evolve into a place that is suitable for supporting higher life forms. Strauss talks about the "anthropic principle," i.e., the observation that these physical parameters seem to be astonishingly fine-tuned to allow for life. Theologicall implications of both the Big Bang and the anthropic principle are presented.

Dr. Strauss is currently an Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. He conducts research in experimental elementary particle physics at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory near Chicago, where he studies the fundamental particles and forces in the universe. His recent research focuses upon the quarks and gluons that make up the internal structure of the proton. In 1988, he graduated from UCLA with a Ph.D. in elementary particle physics.

 Program recording date and length: 10-24-03 ~ 1 Hour 27 Minutes

Order Catalog No.: 3835