Another ‘settled science’ topic is not so settled after all – Big Bang theory questioned

wattsupwiththat.com ^ | February 10, 2015 | Anthony Watts

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

We’ve all heard of the claim of “settled science” when it comes to global warming/climate change, and we’ve all heard of the “Big Bang Theory”, and I’m not just talking about the popular TV show. The scientific theory goes all the way back to 1927.

This is an artist’s concept of the metric expansion of space, where space (including hypothetical non-observable portions of the universe) is represented at each time by the circular sections. Note on the left the dramatic expansion (not to scale) occurring in the inflationary epoch, and at the center the expansion acceleration. The scheme is decorated with WMAP images on the left and with the representation of stars at the appropriate level of development. Credit: NASA

The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological model for the birth of the universe. It states that at some moment all of space was contained in a single point from which the Universe has been expanding ever since. Modern measurements place this moment at approximately 13.8 billion years ago, which is thus considered the age of the universe. After the initial expansion, the Universe cooled sufficiently to allow the formation of subatomic particles, and later simple atoms. Giant clouds of these primordial elements later coalesced through gravity to form stars and galaxies. The Big Bang theory does not provide any explanation for the initial conditions of the Universe; rather, it describes and explains the general evolution of the Universe going forward from that point on. (Source: Wikipedia)

Now, it seems there’s a challenge to this ‘settled’ science, and a new quantum equation predicts the universe has no beginning.

(Phys.org) —The universe may have existed forever, according to a new model that applies quantum correction terms to complement Einstein’s theory of general relativity. The model may also account for dark matter and dark energy, resolving multiple problems at once.

The widely accepted age of the universe, as estimated by general relativity, is 13.8 billion years. In the beginning, everything in existence is thought to have occupied a single infinitely dense point, or singularity. Only after this point began to expand in a “Big Bang” did the universe officially begin.

Although the Big Bang singularity arises directly and unavoidably from the mathematics of general relativity, some scientists see it as problematic because the math can explain only what happened immediately after—not at or before—the singularity.

“The Big Bang singularity is the most serious problem of general relativity because the laws of physics appear to break down there,” Ahmed Farag Ali at Benha University and the Zewail City of Science and Technology, both in Egypt, told Phys.org.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2015-02-big-quantum-equation-universe.html#jCp

h/t to Rick McKee

[lormand]

I have always had a problem with the idea that time has a beginning.

[onedoug]

Planck scale dynamics. Very interesting.

Thanks for posting.

[Lazamataz]

One thing that unsettles physicists....

...what if all the constants (Plank, gravitation, c, Bohr’s radius, and so on) are NOT constant throughout time?

Physics and chemistry would break down, and we could never know how things behaved.

[Lazamataz]

Problem there is that Genesis said the Earth came before light (stars), so we know that can’t be true.

Different kinda Bible you got there.

I always read that God's first act was "Let there be light."

[GunRunner]

More likely that the guy(s) who wrote Genesis didn’t know that heavier elements come from stars, hence stars before planets.

[GunRunner]

You should read the Bible again. First line of the whole book is “in the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.” Light came after.

[muir_redwoods]

Theory is the highest level of “proof” in science. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity corrected Newton’s Laws of Motion. The device you’re using to read this is a result of the application of circuit theory.

You may want to better understand the difference between Theory and Hypothesis.

[Lake Living]

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deut. 29:29

There’s a point to the Biblical revelation that goes beyond tickling our intellectual curiosity - it’s to hear, respond in faith and save your soul.
That same revelation tells us that the Jews will return to Israel and be back in their land before the time of the End of the Age and be surrounded by her enemies. Prophecy is being fulfilled right before our eyes but people don’t even see it. We better start worrying about the Big Bang that’s coming at the end not the beginning.

[Paradox]

What surprised me the most, was the names of the individuals who submitted this.

[jjotto]

We’ve reached a previously unimaginable point where science could be just another method to enhance the prestige of Islam, so I wouldn’t be placing any bets on these Egyptians being correct.

[Lazamataz]

First line of the whole book is “in the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth.”

Dude, you are so confused. My Bible goes: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth, but before that, God created Light."

My Bible is better than yours.

[GunRunner]

Then what did he create in Gen. 1:3? Light beer?

[MosesKnows]

The “big bang” is not an adequate explanation for the origin of the Universe.

It is more adequate than any other explanation.

The "Big Bang Theory" will stand until a more "adequate" theory disproves it. So far, nothing.

[MHGinTN]

I’m curious how you could have sufficient knowledge to make that declaration?

[stephenjohnbanker]

” Its clear that science is not yet sophisticated enough to actually understand how existant/non existant time, space, form and energy as well as love interact to form this cosmos.”

Heck no, but nothing stops them these days : )

[Zionist Conspirator]

Watch it; you’ll make the Catholics mad. As they never tire of reminding us, the “big bang” was their idea.

[Lazamataz]

Bud Lite.

And He saw that it was good.

But not as good as Guinness.

[TigersEye]

A sea turtle ye says? Just a swimmin' through space?
And what is it them elephants eat just a standin' there for all time on the turtle's back?

[WhoisAlanGreenspan?]

bump

[philoginist]

“You may want to better understand the difference between Theory and Hypothesis.”

Nice to know someone knows the difference. Most so-called scientists today are constantly calling their hypotheses theories. It’s maddening.