Welcome to the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology

“The CTC exists to develop theories of the Universe which are both mathematically consistent and observationally testable.”
Professor Stephen Hawking

The Purpose of CTC

There are two circumstances in which the hidden basic fabric of the Universe is violently shaken and unveiled: in the enormous temperatures and densities of the Hot Big Bang and during the extreme collapse to form a black hole. CTC focuses on mathematical theories of these pivotal physical events, confronting them with observational data to gain new insight into the fundamental structure of the Universe and its origin. As well as supporting fellows and visiting professors, CTC's activites include hosting timely workshops and international conferences on frontier topics in cosmology.

Professor Paul Shellard, Director

Tree-planting ceremony in memory of Dennis Avery

The Centre for Theoretical Cosmology was very proud to host a memorial tribute honouring the life and friendship of Dennis S. Avery, who died last year. Dennis and his wife, Sally Tsui Wong-Avery, established the endowment which led to the creation of the CTC in 2007. The ...more »

Planck satellite results made public

The European Space Agency has released the first results of the Planck space observatory. The satellite, which was launched in 2009, has provided the most detailed image yet of the universe as it appeared just 380,000 years after the Big Bang. CTC members James Fergusson and ...more »

Registration opens for COSMO 2013

Registration has now opened for the seventeenth edition of the annual International Conference on Particle Physics and Cosmology - COSMO 2013 - to be held at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, Cambridge, UK in the week of September 2-6, 2013. The registration pages for ...more »

Large scale late Universe structure simulations are one of the topics for discussion at NC2012.

Intel wishes Stephen Hawking a microscopic "Happy Birthday"

At a ceremony at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology, Professor Martin Curley, Intel Vice-President and Director of Intel Labs Europe, paid tribute to Stephen Hawking and his "heroic career" as he presented him with a unique gift. The result of a competition for Intel ...more »

Stephen Hawking with Martin Curley and members of the CTC

Stephen Hawking awarded largest prize in all of science

Professor Stephen Hawking has been announced as one of the winners of the Fundamental Physics Prize, the most lucrative prize ever established in science. The award was set up in July 2012 by the Russian internet tycoon Yuri Milner with the aim of rewarding achievements in ...more »