Editing Cosmos (section)

=== Physical cosmology ===
[[Physical cosmology]] (often simply described as 'cosmology') is the scientific study of the universe, from the beginning of its physical existence. It includes speculative concepts such as a multiverse, when these are being discussed. In [[physical cosmology]], the term ''cosmos'' is often used in a technical way, referring to a particular [[spacetime]] continuum within a (postulated) [[multiverse]]. The particular cosmos in which humans live, the [[observable universe]], is generally capitalized as ''the Cosmos''.

In physical cosmology, the uncapitalized term '''cosmic''' signifies a subject with a relationship to the universe, such as 'cosmic time' (time since the [[Big Bang]]), '[[cosmic rays]]' (high energy particles or radiation detected from [[outer space|space]]), and '[[cosmic microwave background]]' (microwave radiation detectable from all directions in space).

According to [[s:Author:Charles Peter Mason|Charles Peter Mason]] in [[William Smith (lexicographer)|Sir William Smith]] ''[[Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology]]'' (1870, see book screenshot for full quote), [[Pythagoreanism|Pythagoreans]] described the universe.<ref name=CPM>{{cite book|author=Sir William Smith|title=Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology|year=1870|url=https://archive.org/stream/dictionaryofgree03smituoft#page/304/|page=305|publisher=Boston, Little}}</ref>

[[File:Philolaus-and-Philomelus-Pythagorean-Book.jpg|thumb|upright|Excerpt from [[Philolaus]] Pythagoras book (Charles Peter Mason, 1870)]]
{{blockquote|
It appears, in fact, from this, as well as from the extant fragments, that the first book (from [[Philolaus]]) of the work contained a general account of the origin and arrangement of the universe. The second book appears to have been an exposition of the nature of numbers, which in the Pythagorean theory are the essence and source of all things. (p. 305)}}

In September 2023, astrophysicists questioned the overall current view of the [[universe]], in the form of the [[Standard Model of Cosmology]], based on the latest [[James Webb Space Telescope]] studies.<ref name="NYT-20230902">{{cite news |last1=Frank |first1=Adam |last2=Gleiser |first2=Marcelo |title=The Story of Our Universe May Be Starting to Unravel |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/02/opinion/cosmology-crisis-webb-telescope.html |date=2 September 2023 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230902161629/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/02/opinion/cosmology-crisis-webb-telescope.html |archivedate=2 September 2023 |accessdate=3 September 2023 }}</ref>

In October 2023, astronomers proposed a new, more comprehensive, view of the cosmos, and which includes all objects in the universe, and suggested that the universe may have begun with [[instanton]]s, and may be a [[black hole]].<ref name="PHYS-20231018">{{cite news |author=[[Australian National University]]  |title=A new view of all objects in the universe |url=https://phys.org/news/2023-10-view-universe.html |date=18 October 2023 |work=[[Phys.org]] |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20231019205532/https://phys.org/news/2023-10-view-universe.html |archivedate=19 October 2023 |accessdate=19 October 2023 }}</ref><ref name="AJP-20231001">{{cite journal |last1=Lineweaver |first1=Charles H. |last2=Patel |first2=Vihan N.|title=All objects and some questions |date=1 October 2023 |journal=[[American Journal of Physics]] |volume=91 |issue=10 |pages=819–825 |doi=10.1119/5.0150209 |doi-access=free }}</ref>