The Very Early Universe

• A Brief History of Time
• the Big Bang Theory: the small screen and cosmic coincidences
• Braneworld

Cosmic Inflation

• Motivation: cosmic puzzles
  
  • flatness
  • horizon: CMB sky, normal contrast
  • structure: CMB sky, high contrast
• the solution: exponential expansion
  how this creates flatness
• quantum fluctuations to cosmic fluctuations
• inflation and the CMB
• scorecard and outlook