The Shortest History of Our Universe

Co-Facilitators: Dwain and Sharon Bloyer, (936) 689-0031, s_bloyer@yahoo.com Dates: Tuesdays, April 1 — May 20, 2025 (8 Weeks) Time: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM Text: Shortest History of Our Universe, David Baker (12 Chapters, 216 Pages) Presentations: Required, and most will be only 20 minutes in length Location: Foxtail 2, Senior Center Class limit: 24

Imagine settling into your favorite chair, cup of coffee in hand, as we embark on the ultimate road trip—the kind that spans not just miles, but billions of years. This course is a front-row seat to the grandest story ever told: the history of the universe. We’ll start at the very beginning (a rather loud and fiery event called the Big Bang) and hurtle forward through time, past the formation of galaxies, the birth of stars, the emergence of life, and the many close calls our little planet has faced along the way.

But let’s be clear—this isn’t just another history lesson about Earth and its pesky inhabitants. No, we’re talking about the big picture here. The cosmic timeline stretches so far beyond us that our entire existence is barely a footnote. And yet, what a footnote it is! From super volcanoes to asteroid impacts, from the slow demise of our Sun to the eventual heat death of the universe (a real crowd-pleaser, that one), we’ll explore the five major catastrophes that shape, shake, and sometimes erase entire worlds.

Of course, we’re not just looking back—we’re also peering ahead. What happens to humanity in the next hundred years? A thousand? A million? A trillion? Will we go out with a whimper or find a way to keep the story going? No advanced math required, just clear, no-nonsense explanations of how the universe works, where we fit in, and why this whole existence thing is both terrifying and absolutely amazing.

Curious? Good. Let’s dive in.