The idea that the universe erupted with a Big Bang explosion has been a big barrier in scientific attempts to understand the origin of our expanding universe, although the Big Bang long has been considered by physicists to be the best model. As described by Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, the origin of the Big Bang is a mathematically nonsensical state — a “singularity” of zero volume that nevertheless contained infinite density and infinitely large energy.
Now, however, Martin Bojowald and other physicists at Penn State are exploring territory unknown even to Einstein — the time before the Big Bang — using a mathematical time machine called Loop Quantum Gravity. This theory, which combines Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity with equations of quantum physics that did not exist in Einstein’s day, is the first mathematical description to systematically establish the existence of the Big Bounce and to deduce properties of the earlier universe from which our own may have sprung. For scientists, the Big Bounce opens a crack in the barrier that was the Big Bang.
As a fan of the late Fred Hoyle, I have to chuckle over folks finally coming full circle – acquiring the mathematics to understand what he comprehended through physics and philosophy.
Something never comes from nothing – and every experience in modern science finds the same.
Ah! – here’s the article I happened across first:
http://viewzone.com/milkyway.html
#26 – Ahhh… Am I hearing that familiar boo hoo-ing whine of “Oh we poor Christians are suffering from mean old persecutors” again?
Give that tired bullshit a rest.
Xians need to grow a pair.
No, Rectagon in #26 isn’t whining, merely pointing out the fundamental truth that atheism is a religion (and without faith it is nothing).
OK folks, here it is. It starts with God, and if you want to go full circle you need mathematics and science to get you there. GregA is right in that we’re not even scratching the surface. Feed NASA et al and keep digging.
#33 – Then lets start rewriting those dictionaries because up to this point atheism has not been a religion, and until we all agree that the definition of words is no longer important, it isn’t going to become one.
….and thus did it begin with nought but the Sphincter. Tiny it was, of a size less than the smallest particle. Behind the Sphincter was the Pressure in the multi-dimensional Colon. At a point in Time, the pressure became eminent and with a Big Bang, into the 3-dimensional Space did erupt the Universal Turd combined with the Hydrogen Fart. As they progressed, the Fart and Turd did expand and separate into the Galactic Swirls and nebulous clouds…..
Did He excuse Himself iGlobalWarmer?
If atheism is a religion, then abstaining from alcohol is a religion, not smoking is a religion, being a coward is a religion, being a hobo is a religion, being lobotomized is a religion, chastity is a religion, not having an iPhone is a religion…
I am a Fundamentalist Not having An iPhonist.
5 times every day I turn toward Cupertino and don’t make an iPhone call.
Studying the “time before the Big Bang”? There was no time before the big bang. The BB was the origin of energy, matter and time so asking what happened before time began is a redundant question. It’s like asking how many apples were there before apples?
#30, TJGeezer, “I read recently that our solar system is actually a member of a small galaxy (local cluster in the direction of Sagittarius?) ”
The Solar System is a tiny dot in the Milky Way Galaxy, about 2/3 from the galactic center. The Milky Way is a member of the Local Group which includes the SMC, LMC and Andromeda and many other dwarf galaxies, some just discovered in the last 12 months. Here is a superb site for pix of our home galaxy:
http://home.arcor-online.de/axel.mellinger/
#37, … but abstaining from my wife’s home made peanut better cookies is just torture.
Good post.
Atheism is a religion?
[edit: html failed, pls use tinyurl]
Xhristians are always being “persecuted” by reality. It gets in the way of the entrance to their mental cave.
Sorry about the html. Stupid Internet. lol
Anyway,
http://tinyurl.com/3ywr47
Point is that science is willing to change it’s mind when evidence is produced. Faith NEVER changes it’s mind, regardless of all the evidence.
It just bugs me to see all the xtians living it up and enjoying the fruits of scientific discovery while denouncing it’s advances.
#49 – BubbaRay – The Solar System is a tiny dot in the Milky Way Galaxy… – That’s what I’d always understood. What intrigued me about the citations I listed is their assertion that, yes, there we are, about 2/3 of the way out one of the spiral arms, but we’re just travelin’ through. Or we just got sucked into the Milky Way from a dying dwarf galaxy. The U Va researcher said that accounts for why we aren’t aligned as migth be expected with the Milky Way galaxy but rather at an angle. And it’s supposedly based on new infrared mapping data.
Not saying it’s true. No doubt the regulation take on it will remain the Milky Way as home, not predator galaxy. But it’s an interesting idea.
That’s a great link – the whole damn sky make a helluva panorama. Thanks.
Meant #40 not 49 – finners slipped
#45, TJGeezer, interesting stuff. Our Milky Way and Andromeda are headed for a collision as well, cheese I’m glad I won’t be around for that.
From space.com (with nice pix plus a cool animation):
http://tinyurl.com/6a5vx
#47 – Our Milky Way and Andromeda are headed for a collision as well
HOLY SHIT!!! MA! GET THE KIDS AND GET INTO THE CELLAR!