John Barrow conducted research in cosmology, gravitation, and the large-scale structure of the Universe. His work furthered our understanding of the Universe’s deviations from perfect homogeneity and isotropy. He devised new ways to evaluate the amplitudes and patterns of possible cosmological anisotropies and inhomogeneities, and identified the conditions for cosmological chaos to occur.

He investigated many applications of particle physics to the early Universe, especially the study of nucleosynthesis, the matter–antimatter asymmetry of the Universe, and ‘inflation’. He was also an effective populariser of science through his many books, newspaper articles, lectures, and radio broadcasts.

Professor John Barrow FRS died on 26 September 2020.