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The beginning of the universe, for beginners - Tom Whyntie

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TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

How did the universe begin -- and how is it expanding? CERN physicist Tom Whyntie shows how cosmologists and particle physicists explore these questions by replicating the heat, energy, and activity of the first few seconds of our universe, from right after the Big Bang.

The cosmic rays used in the early days of particle physics experiments can actually reach far greater energies than particle accelerators can achieve in the laboratory. Why do you think particle physicists switched to particle accelerators in the 1950’s, and continue to use machines like the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) today? Are there any experiments taking place now that do use cosmic rays? What might they tell us about the universe?

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Producer Cathy Kwan
  • Compositor Connie Chan
  • Director Dan Abdo, Jason Patterson
  • Animator Joey Mccormick, Mike Luzzi
  • Editor R.J. Glass
  • Educator Tom Whyntie
  • Narrator Tom Whyntie

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