Templeton Ideas Podcast Vera Gluscevic (Dark Matter)
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Nov 20, 2025 Vera Gluscevic, a Professor of Physics and Astronomy at USC, dives into the mysteries of the universe, focusing on dark matter and dark energy. She shares her journey from Belgrade to cosmology, a field that connects the quantum realm to the vast cosmos. Vera explains how the Rubin Observatory will revolutionize our understanding of galaxies and discusses the importance of collaboration in science. Using a cupcake metaphor, she illustrates the relationship between dark energy, dark matter, and visible matter, making complex concepts approachable for everyone.
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Microscope Moment That Sparked Curiosity
- Vera recalls discovering microbial life under a microscope with her father and feeling ecstatic about unseen life becoming visible.
- That moment sparked her belief that she could reach out and understand the world through observation and curiosity.
Cultural Differences In Learning Physics
- Cultural habits shape how students learn physics, from deep reading to learning-by-doing under time pressure.
- Vera found value in both in-depth study and the American habit of solving problems early under tight deadlines.
Small-Scale Physics Shapes Cosmic Structure
- The universe began at very small quantum scales, so particle interactions then set the seeds for cosmic structures we see today.
- Tiny early fluctuations grew into galaxies through processes governed by those microscopic interactions.