cosmology is one of those sciences where experimentation is rare. The scientist observes the universe and draws his own conclusions. But this might change now with reports of two experiments on the dynamics of phase transition in the early universe. These pioneering experiments, performed in France and Finland, have confirmed several theories about the history of our universe.

The basic idea of phase transitions is illustrated by the familiar example of melting of ice. The interesting phase transitions in the universe are, however, of a different kind