The asymmetric Universe

Presenter: Frank Close

Published: January 2014

Age: 14-19 and upwards

Views: 1355 views

Tags: symmetry;asymmetry;higgs;boson;life

Type: Lectures

Source/institution: Royal Society

Modern scientific theory describes a perfectly symmetrical Universe. A Universe in which matter is destroyed within an instant of its appearance and where nothing we now know could ever have happened. Human life itself seems to be lopsided, as the spherical embryo is transformed into a highly structured being with its internal organs mirrored asymmetrically. This talk explores the profound role of asymmetry in nature, and the role of its agent – the Higgs Boson – in creating a Universe fit for life. Frank Close OBE, is Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford.