This comprehensive volume reviews the current theory and measurement of various parameters related to the evolution of the universe. Topics include inflation, string theory and the history of cosmology in the context of current measurements being made of the Hubble constant, matter density, and dark energy. Observational results are included from the Sloan, Digital Sky Survey, Keck, Magellan, cosmic microwave background experiments, Hubble space telescope and Chandra. Featuring chapters by leading authorities in the field, this book is a valuable resource for graduate students and professional research astronomers.