An Unforgettable Talk

The speaker shares their journey from having no interest in cosmology to being captivated by Alan Guth's talk on the inflationary universe. Initially skeptical, the speaker becomes intrigued by the concept of phase transitions on a cosmic scale, which relates to their work in quantum field theory. Despite the excitement, the talk ends on a challenging note as Guth explains the unresolved issues with the inflationary model. This leads the speaker to explore potential solutions, marking the beginning of their ongoing engagement with cosmology.

What was the speaker's initial perception of cosmology during their postdoc years?

• A branch of biology

• A highly respected field

• A well-established science

• A borderline metaphysics

What sparked the speaker's interest in cosmology?

• A documentary on the universe

• A lecture on general relativity

• A seminar by Alan Guth

• A book on quantum mechanics

What concept did Alan Guth introduce that related to the speaker's existing knowledge?

• Black holes

• String theory

• Dark matter

• Phase transition in the early universe

What was the main problem with the inflationary universe theory as presented by Alan Guth?

• It predicted a shrinking universe

• It suggested the universe would never end

• It contradicted quantum field theory

• It was too complex to understand

How did the speaker respond to the challenge presented by the inflationary universe theory?

• They switched to studying biology

• They dismissed it as irrelevant

• They decided to explore potential solutions

• They ignored it