Posted on 04/01/2006 7:13:30 PM PST by bondserv
More Hints at Early Origin of Stars, Galaxies 03/31/2006
Several articles this month showed further evidence for a growing realization in astronomy: stars and galaxies were already mature at the beginning of the universe (see, for instance, 09/21/2005 entry). Some recent examples:
A second area in astrophysics that can be construed as a cloud on the horizon is that recent observations in the years 2002-2003 suggest that not just suggest, recent observations tell astronomers that when the universe was less than 3 billion years old, there were already galactic clusters [03/12/2003]. Not only were there galaxies... but here we have, astronomers have discovered, a modest galactic cluster (I believe that it has something like 30 some-odd galaxies in it) that goes back to less than 3 billion years after the big bang. Thats much too much structure to have after only two and a half or 2.7 billion years of expansion. So that is another problem that astrophysics needs to come to grips with.Goldman compared these challenges to a couple of mysteries at the beginning of the 20th century that Lord Kelvin described as small clouds on the horizon (1) the inability to explain the blackbody radiation spectrum and (2) the lack of deviations of the speed of light through the ether as found by the Michelson-Morley experiment. These two small clouds became cloudbursts a few years later when they led directly to quantum theory and relativity theories that dramatically overhauled our conceptions of space, time and the universe.
Its not a small problem, either, because the extent of the structure that we can discover in the universe has implications for whether big bang and inflation are really capable of providing a model of the universe. So its a small it may seem like a small problem to non-specialists, but within astrophysics its a significant challenge.
And then theres the question of whether we are in fact reading the microwave background radiation correctly. [03/20/2006] Because all of this theory is empirically supported by interpreting extremely minute ripples in the microwave background radiation. And from those ripples, ripples in temperature, temperature inequalities on the order of ten thousandths of a degree Kelvin are thats the basis for trying to explain why there is as much structure as there is in the universe. If were misinterpreting the microwave background radiation data, then really we have a whole new picture of the universe that might emerge. So, thats one set of clouds that one can anticipate that over the next decade we will potentially be seeing significant modifications in our conceptualization of the universe and its origin, and maybe even of its fate.
Goldman suggested later in the lecture one possible new conception of the universe that might emerge in the years ahead: that the universe might be viewed as some kind of information structure. Sound like intelligent design? Sound like instant creation? He asked, and how will we understand that philosophically and physically? Easy: in the beginning was the Word. Consider creation: an idea ahead of its time.
The CMB is traveling in all directions simultaneously, so it diffuses pretty much equally across the entire universe (with important and measurable exceptions). It isn't coming from one point.
Welcome back, oscillating universe theory. Instruments coming online in the next 10 years will be able to see beyond the supposed Big Bang. What will they say when they see galaxies from before the Big Bang? This makes sense only if the universe does not collapse down to a point but in fact oscillates between maxima and minima over a long cycle. Some galaxies from the previous contraction are still with us. Thus, the universe may be much older than currently imagined.
So far the universe looks exactly the same no matter how far away you look, except that it gets red-shifted the farther you go due mainly to spacetime expansion effects. The oscillating universe with no Big Crunch may be consistent with the observations of spacetime expansion and stars/galaxies that appear to be older than the beginning of the expansion.
Funny what those ignorant bronze age goat herders can come up with. Things like:
Psalm 8:8 refers to *fish... passing THROUGH the paths of the sea*. Different from going ON currents. Fish swim IN the water; this implies that the currents are IN the water, different from currents on the surface of the water.
How would they know about the circulating system of the atmosphere? Eccles 1:6,
Or the water cycle? Job36:27,28 and Eccles 1:8.
Or that everything was being held together or that everything even NEEDED to be held together? Col 1:17
Where would they have gotten that concept? Nothing in our experience would indicate that stuff needed to be held together but here we have discovered gravity and strong and weak molecular forces.
That things which are seen are made from things which are not visible Heb 11:3
That the earth is unsupported (suspended) in space Job 26:7
How would they know that the universe is wearing down Isa 51:6 and Ps 102:26
Or that the earth was formless and void Gen 1:2
Amazing things these goat herders *dreamed up*.
God is not trying to *trick* anyone with the appearance of age. It could simply be a matter of mere practicality. In order for the earth to be useful to man, it would need to be in that condition. Much as if I wanted to provide my house for company to use. I would have it built to start with, finished, and furnished. I would even go as far as stocking the pantry and perhaps leaving leftovers in the fridge so they could just reheat dinner. There could be all the signs of having been lived in and yet that would be untrue. There certainly would have been someone there to do all the work but it wasn't *lived* in even though it would have appeared that way. But it would have all been for the convenience of my guests out of courtesy not decietfulness.
Creationists are doing no such thing, calling God a liar.
So exactly what matter have scientists created out of nothing? I thought that was a little beyond our current technology.
How does cosmic microwave background radiation make the earth useful to man?
Sure there is. Scientists who think they can understand the universe and how it came to be just by looking at it and running it in reverse.
Theoretically, though, wouldn't you be looking back in time the further away you look? If light travels at its set speed, the further away in space you look, the further back in time you go. How could stuff so far away still have the appearance of the same age as stuff nearby? If we are seeing the light from some billions of years ago that's just reaching the earth now, it should look like it did at the beginning.
Most likely they cannot subtract either.
i agree, if we all stared to spread away from the big bang at the same time, why would there be anything behind us to look at. Light and matter should be out just as far as us, there should be nothing else to look at. The center of the universe should be empty, blank, vacant. ??
About 10,000 years. Dictionary cre·ate (krç-ât') tr.v., -at·ed, -at·ing, -ates. To cause to exist; bring into being.
I know a Man in Judea was crucified, buried and rose again in 3 days. And that when I received the Good News that I was pardoned for my perverse behavior of: (a lot of drinking, a little drugging, a lot of fornicating, regularly lying, a little stealing, backbiting, cursing...) I became free to change.
Everyone that knew me thought I was a moral, ethical, conservative Roman Catholic young man. Girls parents wanted me to marry their daughters, bosses trusted me with their businesses, my parents let me drive their car whenever I wanted to.
I was the epitome of self-centeredness. Chasing knowledge as the god that would propel me ahead of those around me. Believing myself to be inherently superior to other races, even though I enjoyed a diversified group of friends.
Now I can clearly see how petty a person I was. Having been reborn spiritually, completely changed my perspective of reality. My lack of character was revealed to me like an open book. The more I studied the Word of God the more I realized I needed a lot of help. Before believing in Jesus Christ, my character growth was backwards. My behavior was becoming compoundingly worse.
And yet, I was able to deceive even those I let in close, because I was unable to be really close to anyone. Having reestablished fellowship with the Creator because of His sacrifice has opened a potential for intimacy that I see only in other believers. My wife and I continue to grow so much closer that we can't believe how close God has allowed us to be.
The Holiness and righteousness of God is imputed to us when we receive the forgiveness His sacrifice provides. We can experience a purity in our lives that comes only from a closeness with our perfect God.
The astronomers are having to face this fact because the evidence continues to reveal the truth. They are without excuse.
Ooooh, he said "information" somewhere in his lecture! Intelligent Design MUST be true!
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