I was very interested in cosmology a long time ago. I even followed the debate between the Big Bang and Fred Hoyle’s Steady State Theory (and panspermia).
When they got to Dark Matter, Dark energy, String Theory, M theory, they lost me. It seems that it’s getting more and more speculative, and also crazier. I tuned in on a T.V. show and a celebrity physicist was talking about infinite universes just as if their existence was an established fact.
What is going on? Maybe it’s all warranted, but I have my doubts.
I think there has been quiet acceptance of the anthropic principle, that the universe is fine-tuned both for our existence and our ability to discover the universe. At this point the argument for intelligent design and even God becomes compelling. The contrary argument is that we won the cosmic lottery, someone had to do it. The lucky us theory seems little less improbable if there are more trials, more universes, universes outside of our universe, etc.
One might be surprised, even astounded, by what efforts academics and others will go to in order to protect a left-wing ideology. It’s easier if the field in question is largely speculative. Speculative fields include cosmology, climate theory, environmentalism, and the origin and diversification of life.
The supposed adults and rational human beings have not escaped the insanity.