Matthew Kleban

Matthew Kleban is a theoretical physicist working on string theory and early-universe cosmology, with research interests that include the quantum physics of black holes and gravitational singularities. He is currently an associate professor at New York University where he has been on the faculty since 2006, holds a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford University (2003), and was a member at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey (2003-2006 and 2012-2013). Recently his work has focused on the possibility of testing theories of fundamental physics with observational cosmology, specifically the multiverse of string theory and the potentially observable traces left by cosmic bubble collisions in the cosmic microwave background radiation.

Activity: Conference

Cosmic History and Time’s Arrow
I will begin by outlining what we know of the cosmological history of the universe. I will discuss theories of the big bang - whether it was the “beginning” of time, or whether there were events that preceded it - and their implications for the ultimate fate of the universe. Lastly, I will discuss the “arrow” of time - why there is a difference between past and future - and how this difference relates to cosmology.