Konwersatorium im. J.Pniewskiego i L.Infelda
sala 0.06, ul. Pasteura 5
2026-04-27 (11:00) 
dr Stanisław Bajtlik (Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw)
6 DIFFICULT PIECES, or the Greatest Unsolved Problems in Physics
Astrophysics is probably the most rapidly developing branch of science, which also attracts a widespread public attention. I shall briefly present a few fundamental and profound astrophysics problems that seem to be solvable in the near future. They have generated much confusion, are interesting and beautiful; exploring and understanding them can bring much joy and satisfaction. Above all, I want to explain "how we know that we know".
The problems are:
1. What is the Universe made of: dark matter and dark energy;
2. Paradoxes of the classical Big Bang theory – flatness of space-time, causality, magnetic monopoles; does the theory of cosmic inflation solve these problems?
3. Finite or infinite Universe. Geometry vs. topology;
4. Life in the Universe;
5. Cosmic singularities – the Big Bang, black holes, what remains after black hole evaporation?
6. Eternal life of the Universe? What will be left behind (and within) it?
The problems are:
1. What is the Universe made of: dark matter and dark energy;
2. Paradoxes of the classical Big Bang theory – flatness of space-time, causality, magnetic monopoles; does the theory of cosmic inflation solve these problems?
3. Finite or infinite Universe. Geometry vs. topology;
4. Life in the Universe;
5. Cosmic singularities – the Big Bang, black holes, what remains after black hole evaporation?
6. Eternal life of the Universe? What will be left behind (and within) it?