Cosmological Inflation

Cosmological inflation is a theory describing a rapid expansion of the universe just after the Big Bang. Imagine the universe as a balloon that suddenly inflates exponentially in size within fractions of a second. This expansion helps explain why the universe appears uniform and flat today, smoothing out irregularities. It also provides insights into the formation of galaxies and large-scale structures. By stretching tiny quantum fluctuations to cosmic scales, inflation sets the stage for the density variations that lead to galaxy formation, influencing the distribution of matter we observe in the universe today.