A fundamental, profound review of the key issues relating to the early universe and the physical processes that occurred in it. The interplay between cosmic microwave background radiation, large scale structure, and the dark matter problem are stressed, with a central focus on the crucial issue of the phase transitions in the early universe and their observable consequences: baryon symmetry, baryogenesis and cosmological fluctuations. There is an interplay between cosmology, statistical physics and particle physics in studying these problems, both at the theoretical and the experimental / observational levels. Special contributions are devoted to primordial and astrophysical black holes and to high energy cosmic rays and neutrino astrophysics. There is also a special section devoted to the International Space Station and its scientific utilization.

The present volume "Field Theory, Quantum Gravity and " "Strings, II" comprises for the lectures delivered in 1985/86 at a joint seminar of the DAPHE observatory at Meudon and the LPTHE University Paris VI. This set of lectures contains selected topics of current interest in field and particle theory, cosmology and statistical mechanics. Basic problems of string and superstring theory are treated in a contemporary perspective, and quantum field theoretical as well as string approaches to cosmology are presented. Recent progress on integrable theories and related subjects in two, four and more dimensions is reviewed. This seminar on current developments in mathematical physics addresses researchers as well as graduate students.

A fundamental, profound review of the key issues relating to the early universe and the physical processes that occurred in it. The interplay between cosmic microwave background radiation, large scale structure, and the dark matter problem are stressed, with a central focus on the crucial issue of the phase transitions in the early universe and their observable consequences: baryon symmetry, baryogenesis and cosmological fluctuations. There is an interplay between cosmology, statistical physics and particle physics in studying these problems, both at the theoretical and the experimental / observational levels. Special contributions are devoted to primordial and astrophysical black holes and to high energy cosmic rays and neutrino astrophysics. There is also a special section devoted to the International Space Station and its scientific utilization.