Missing Mass and the Acceleration of the Universe. Is Quintessence the   only Explanation?
  Detailed observations of the temperature fluctuations in the microwave background radiation indicate that we live in an open universe. From the size of these fluctuations it is concluded that the geometry of the universe is quite close to Euclidean. In terms Friedmann models, this implies a mass density within 10% of the critical density required for a flat universe. Observed mass can only account for 30% of this mass density. Recently, an outstanding observation revealed that cosmos is accelerating. This motivated some astronomers to explain the missing 70% as some exotic dark energy called quintessence. In this essay, we present an alternative explanation to these cosmological issues in terms of the Friedmann Thermodynamics. This model has the capability of making definite predictions about the geometry of the universe, the missing mass problem, and the acceleration of the universe in-line with the recent observations. For future observations, we also predict where this model will start differing from the quintessence models.   (This essay received an honorable mention in the Annual Essay Competition of the Gravity Research Foundation for the year 2002-- Ed) 
Selcuk Bayin