Multimedia Gallery
Quantum Cosmos
"Quantum Cosmos." This illustration depicts the mysterious energy that's causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate.
In this abstract piece, the left side of the hour glass represents the mysterious "dark energy," that seems to be hastening the expansion of the universe. The squiggly energy elements were first drawn in pencil, then scanned and colorized. Galaxies and other conventional matter objects on the right were created the same way. The consequence of this accelerating expansion will be that super-civilizations will eventually run out of resources because the expansion will eventually carry all but local galaxies forever out of reach. Ultimately, our own observable universe will consist solely of the local group of galaxies. [Scientific American cover artwork by Don Dixon; January 1999, "Quantum Cosmos"] (Date of Image: 2003)
SORRY: THIS IMAGE IS NOT AVAILABLE IN HIGH-RESOLUTION FORMAT
Credit: ©2003 Don Dixon/cosmographica.com
Special Restrictions: Image may not be reproduced elsewhere without written permission from the artist. Contact: ddixon@cosmographica.com.
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