The Dark Age of the Universe

Science for the Public May 12, 2015 www.scienceforthepublic.org Lincoln Greenhill, Ph.D., Senior Research Fellow, Department of Astronomy, Harvard University and Radio Astronomer, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. In this lecture, Dr. Greenhill describes the period of the early universe called the "Dark Age": when the universe had become transparent, but there was no visible light. Stars and galaxies were just forming. Dr. Greenhill discusses the importance of this era for understanding the emergence of stars, galaxies and black holes. He also describes how radio telescopes --including his LEDA project (see website)-- are probing the Dark Age, and what they are finding.