Recent discoveries in astronomy and relativistic astrophysics as well as experiments on particle and nuclear physics have blurred the traditional boundaries of physics. It is believed that at the birth of the Universe, a whirlwind of matter and antimatter, of quarks and exotic leptons, briefly appeared and merged into a sea of energy. The new phenomena and new states of matter in the Universe revealed the deep connection between quarks and the Cosmos. Motivated by these themes, this book discusses different topics: gravitational waves, dark matter, dark energy, exotic contents of compact stars, high-energy and gamma-ray astrophysics, heavy ion collisions and the formation of the quark-gluon plasma in the early Universe. The book presents some of the latest researches on these fascinating themes and is useful for experts and students in the field.

Walter Greiner (1935-2016) was a German physicist of the Goethe University, Frankfurt, well-known for his many contributions in scientific research and developments, in particular the field of nuclear physics. He was a well-respected science leader and a teacher who had supervised batches of young collaborators and students, many of whom are now leaders in both academics and industry worldwide. Greiner had a wide interest of science which covered atomic physics, heavy-ion physics, and nuclear astrophysics. Greiner co-founded GSI, the Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, and the multi-disciplinary research center, FIAS (Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies). Besides numerous professorship with universities worldwide, including the University of Maryland, Greiner received many prestigious prizes in honor of his outstanding contributions, among others are the Otto Hahn Prize and the Max Born Prize.This memorial volume is a special tribute by Greiner's former colleagues, students, and friends honoring his contributions and passion in science. The volume begins with a writing by Greiner about his early days in science. The subsequent articles, comprising personal and scientific reminiscences of Walter Greiner, serve as timely reviews on various topics of current interest.