Dr. Andrei Linde was one of the principal architects of the theory of cosmic inflation way back in the early 1980s. Decades passed, and still there was no experimental confirmation that the Stanford University physicist's theory was correct.
All that changed last week, when Linde got word from a colleague that his theory had at last been confirmed. Hearing the news was for Linde unexpected and enormously gratifying, as you can see in the heart-warming video above.
In the video, which was posted to YouTube on Monday, Stanford University assistant physics professor Dr. Chao-Lin Kuo knocks on the door of Linde's home. When Linde answers, Kuo explains that new research has provided "smoking gun evidence" to support inflation theory.
"Let us hope it is not a trick," Linde, known as the "father of inflation," says upon hearing the news. "I always leave with this feeling of 'what if I'm tricked? What if I believe in this just because it is beautiful?'"
Linde and Kuo go on to celebrate by popping open a bottle of champagne.
Related
Before You Go
