Alan Guth
Proposed the theory of cosmic inflation, a modification of the Big Bang theory.
Most quoted
"If you ask where the energy for the Big Bang came from, the answer from inflation is that gravitational energy can be negative, and it can exactly cancel the positive energy of matter."
— from Lecture
"The inflationary universe theory says that the universe began as a tiny speck of false vacuum, which then inflated exponentially to become the enormous universe we see today."
— from Scientific paper/lecture
"The universe is like a giant puzzle, and we're slowly putting the pieces together. But sometimes we find a piece that doesn't fit, and then we have to start all over again."
— from Lecture
All quotes by Alan Guth (423)
The early universe was a hot, dense plasma.
Inflation provides a mechanism for generating the initial conditions for the Big Bang.
The universe is expanding at an ever-increasing rate.
We are all made of stardust.
The universe is a grand experiment.
The future of cosmology is bright.
We're living in an era of unprecedented discovery.
Inflation is a very compelling idea.
The universe is governed by fundamental laws of physics.
Inflation is a theory that explains everything, and therefore nothing.
My wife says I'm a good theoretical physicist because I'm always wrong, but I'm wrong in interesting ways.
If you're going to make a mistake, make a big one.
The universe is expanding, and so is the number of theories about it.
Cosmology is the study of the universe, which is everything, so it's a pretty big field.
I'm not saying I'm right, I'm just saying I'm less wrong than everyone else.
The problem with physics is that it's always changing. Just when you think you've got it figured out, someone comes along and proves you wrong.
My job is to come up with crazy ideas and then try to prove them wrong.
The universe is a lot like a black hole: it's full of mysteries and it's hard to get out of.
If you want to understand the universe, you have to be willing to think outside the box. And then throw the box away.
The Big Bang is a great theory, but it doesn't explain everything. For example, it doesn't explain why I can never find my car keys.
Contemporaries of Alan Guth
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Alan Guth (1947).