" Fascinating.."
A couple of references:
Oldest light shows universe grew fast, researchers say [inflationary cosmology gets a big boost]
Andrei Linde, "The Self-Reproducing Inflationary Universe" [PDF file]
As for the obligatory Lisa Randall pics, I trust they'll be forthcoming...
What might it be next year?
I'm old enough to remember when the "steady state" universe was the Big Thing(tm).
I'm not impressed.
Seems to me that our astronomers and cosmologists are committing the logical fallacy of BEGGING THE QUESTION.
From whence did the FIRST universe come from? Hmm?
Let's discuss first causes. Unfortunately, none of us really can--other than the theologians--because the Uncaused First Cause is (quite properly and necessarily) outside the realm of science.
That means that, because we live in a created universe, the Creator cannot be discerned via scientific methods, because He's outside of the universe, and we cannot detect Him by the elements and means available to use inside the universe. Sucks.
Sauron
Don't like the analogy. Bubbles burst.
I think a more interesting subject is the subject of seperate realities.
I wonder if the panel distinguishes the two?
Really interesting. I just about get my mind wrapped around one theory when they come up with another and I'm gullible. Well, I've lived long enough to have seen and experienced phenomena I can't explain. Thanks.
The basic premise was that black holes DO actually give off a very low level radiation in addition to sucking stuff in.
If a black hole were in such a state that it was giving off more than it took in, it would shrink in size.
Once it shrank down to a certain size, say a few atoms, it would "pop" out of this universe and create a universe all its own.
Being only a few atoms large, it would be an inherently unstable structure and wouldn't last very long, but it would be a universe of its own, according to the paper.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT!
Weird.
Sort of a science thread, but with a bit of bloodbath thrown in for good measure.
Stealing Energy from a Black HoleXMM-Newton observed the x-ray spectrum of iron gas whirling in the black hole's accretion disk. The researchers reveal that the energy output was too great to simply be the result of matter being crushed and falling into the black hole. They add that the observed light was stretched to extreme lengths by gravity. This observation indicates that the emitting gas must be exceptionally close to the black hole, where gravity's influence is greatest. According to theory, the supermassive black hole must be spinning to let material get that close before being swallowed.
by Vanessa ThomasUnveiling the Flat UniverseIn Einstein's general theory of relativity, space curves around massive objects. In a closed universe, there is enough mass and energy so that space as a whole curves until parallel lines will eventually meet. An open universe, which has much less mass and energy, curves in the opposite direction, and parallel lines seem to diverge. Hot and cold spots about 1° across mean that the microwaves in the background radiation would remain parallel almost all the way across the universe. There's just enough mass and energy to keep the universe flat. With flat, Euclidean geometry, parallel lines don't curve in either direction.
by Diana Steele
Who measures (sic!) its state? God? Or just anybody? This is a dumb affirmation seen by miles far away. So much with the modern physicists!
my favorite universe is the one where Spock has a beard.