Difference between revisions of "Big Bang theory"

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(→‎Creationist and Theistic Evolutionary Views: begging the question that "someone" "set off" the Big Bang)
(Clearing up a minor miconception of the 'Big Bang' theory and what it says.)
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[[Image:Universe expansion.png|right|thumb|250px|According to the Big Bang theory, the universe emerged from an extremely dense and hot state called the ''original singularity''.]]  
 
[[Image:Universe expansion.png|right|thumb|250px|According to the Big Bang theory, the universe emerged from an extremely dense and hot state called the ''original singularity''.]]  
 
[[Image:End of universe.jpg|right|thumb|250px|According to the Big Bang theory, the 3 possible geometry of the universe depends on value of the ''[[cosmological constant]]''.]]
 
[[Image:End of universe.jpg|right|thumb|250px|According to the Big Bang theory, the 3 possible geometry of the universe depends on value of the ''[[cosmological constant]]''.]]
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The '''Big Bang Theory''' is the current dominant scientific hypothesis explaining the creation of the Universe.  Big bang theories are actually a ''class'' of scientific models that describe the Universe as expanding from a very hot, dense state approximately 13.7 billion years ago. It was first proposed by [[Georges-Henri Lemaitre]] and evidence for the expansion was observed by [[Edwin Hubble]]<ref>Hubble, E. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Volume 15, Issue 3, pp. 168-173.</ref>. Later [[George Gamow]] predicted that the Big Bang would leave an observable microwave background radiation (or CMBR). This radiation was subsequently discovered by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson at [[Bell Labs]] and found to be close to that predicted by Gamow (Gamow predicted a background radiation level equivalent to a roughly 3K black body object, and the observed level is that of a 2.725K body). Pensiaz and Wilson were awarded a Nobel Prize in 1978 for their work.
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The '''Big Bang Theory''' is the current dominant scientific hypothesis explaining the acceleration of matter throughout the Universe.  Big bang theories are actually a ''class'' of scientific models that describe the Universe as expanding from a very hot, dense state approximately 13.7 billion years ago. It was first proposed by [[Georges-Henri Lemaitre]] and evidence for the expansion was observed by [[Edwin Hubble]]<ref>Hubble, E. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Volume 15, Issue 3, pp. 168-173.</ref>. Later [[George Gamow]] predicted that the Big Bang would leave an observable microwave background radiation (or CMBR). This radiation was subsequently discovered by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson at [[Bell Labs]] and found to be close to that predicted by Gamow (Gamow predicted a background radiation level equivalent to a roughly 3K black body object, and the observed level is that of a 2.725K body). Pensiaz and Wilson were awarded a Nobel Prize in 1978 for their work.
  
 
The term "Big Bang" implies an explosion of matter into pre-existing space, but the theory actually indicates that space is dynamic and more space is constantly created in the interstices between particles as the density of the universe falls.  Big Bang theorists state that the Hubble [[redshift]] is a consequence of this stretching of the fabric of space.
 
The term "Big Bang" implies an explosion of matter into pre-existing space, but the theory actually indicates that space is dynamic and more space is constantly created in the interstices between particles as the density of the universe falls.  Big Bang theorists state that the Hubble [[redshift]] is a consequence of this stretching of the fabric of space.
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Some Old Earth Creationists and Theistic Evolutionists argue that the Big Bang is in fact mentioned in the Bible. <ref>[http://www.reasons.org/resources/fff/2000issue03/index.shtml#big_bang_the_bible_taught_it_first http://www.reasons.org/resources/fff/2000issue03/index.shtml#big_bang_the_bible_taught_it_first]</ref> Some Christian apologists who believe in an old earth, such as [[William Craig]] use the Big Bang as an apologetic, arguing that it proves that the universe had a beginning. <ref>Strobel, Lee. ''The Case for a Creator''. Zondervan, 2004. </ref>
 
Some Old Earth Creationists and Theistic Evolutionists argue that the Big Bang is in fact mentioned in the Bible. <ref>[http://www.reasons.org/resources/fff/2000issue03/index.shtml#big_bang_the_bible_taught_it_first http://www.reasons.org/resources/fff/2000issue03/index.shtml#big_bang_the_bible_taught_it_first]</ref> Some Christian apologists who believe in an old earth, such as [[William Craig]] use the Big Bang as an apologetic, arguing that it proves that the universe had a beginning. <ref>Strobel, Lee. ''The Case for a Creator''. Zondervan, 2004. </ref>
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== Common Misconceptions ==
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It is a commonly held misconception that the 'Big Bang' theory discusses how, why, or what started the universe. The theory states nothing more than that all matter is expanding outwards from some moment where it was all tightly bundled, and then rushed outwards as space expanded and light formed, followed by matter of all kinds. The origins of the universe are currently under debate under the constroversial 'M-Theory'.
  
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 05:31, June 18, 2007

According to the Big Bang theory, the universe emerged from an extremely dense and hot state called the original singularity.
According to the Big Bang theory, the 3 possible geometry of the universe depends on value of the cosmological constant.

The Big Bang Theory is the current dominant scientific hypothesis explaining the acceleration of matter throughout the Universe. Big bang theories are actually a class of scientific models that describe the Universe as expanding from a very hot, dense state approximately 13.7 billion years ago. It was first proposed by Georges-Henri Lemaitre and evidence for the expansion was observed by Edwin Hubble[1]. Later George Gamow predicted that the Big Bang would leave an observable microwave background radiation (or CMBR). This radiation was subsequently discovered by Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson at Bell Labs and found to be close to that predicted by Gamow (Gamow predicted a background radiation level equivalent to a roughly 3K black body object, and the observed level is that of a 2.725K body). Pensiaz and Wilson were awarded a Nobel Prize in 1978 for their work.

The term "Big Bang" implies an explosion of matter into pre-existing space, but the theory actually indicates that space is dynamic and more space is constantly created in the interstices between particles as the density of the universe falls. Big Bang theorists state that the Hubble redshift is a consequence of this stretching of the fabric of space.

Observations of distant supernovae indicate that the Universe is actually undergoing accelerated expansion[2][3] and galaxy surveys[4][5] and recent observations of the microwave background[6][7] have corroborated these claims. Conventional wisdom is that the acceleration is caused by some sort of dark energy, which has not yet been directly observed.

Big Bang Theory Dissent Letter

The Big Bang Theory has had many dissenters including the British astronomer Sir Fred Hoyle, the Nobel Prize winner Hannes Alfven, and astronomers Geoffrey Burbidge and Halton Arp. [8] It was Hoyle who coined the term, although he used it disparagingly.

In 2004, a ‘Open Letter to the Scientific Community’ disputing the big bang theory was signed by 33 scientists and has been published on the internet and in the science journal New Scientist. [9] The dissent letter has subsequently been signed by hundreds of individuals around the world. [10] Professional cosmologists are actively creating models (some of which contradict the Bing Bang scenario) and collecting data that probe the specific nature of the earliest observable aspects of the Universe.

Creationist and Theistic Evolutionary Views

Most Atheists believe in the Big Bang theory. There is active research and speculation into what caused the Big Bang, but atheists agree it was not a deity.

Many scientists who believe in the Big Bang Theory are Evolutionists, though not all are. One can believe that God both created the Universe AND laid out the plan for all life in the Big Bang, as opposed to the idea that life evolved randomly after the Big Bang.

Young earth creationist scientists contest the Big Bang Theory stating that it is scientifically unsound [11] [12][13][14][15], though few creationist criticisms are found in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Some Old Earth Creationists and Theistic Evolutionists argue that the Big Bang is in fact mentioned in the Bible. [16] Some Christian apologists who believe in an old earth, such as William Craig use the Big Bang as an apologetic, arguing that it proves that the universe had a beginning. [17]

Common Misconceptions

It is a commonly held misconception that the 'Big Bang' theory discusses how, why, or what started the universe. The theory states nothing more than that all matter is expanding outwards from some moment where it was all tightly bundled, and then rushed outwards as space expanded and light formed, followed by matter of all kinds. The origins of the universe are currently under debate under the constroversial 'M-Theory'.

References

  1. ↑ Hubble, E. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Volume 15, Issue 3, pp. 168-173.
  2. ↑ Riess, A. G., et al. The Astronomical Journal, Volume 116, Issue 3, pp. 1009-1038.
  3. ↑ Perlmutter, S., et al. The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 517, Issue 2, pp. 565-586.
  4. ↑ Sloan Digital Sky Survey
  5. ↑ Tegmark, M., et al. Physical Review D, vol. 74, Issue 12.
  6. ↑ Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe
  7. ↑ See, for example, http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0603449
  8. ↑ http://www.icr.org/article/343/
  9. ↑ http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs2004/0601skepticism.asp
  10. ↑ http://www.cosmologystatement.org/
  11. ↑ Thompson, Bert, Harrub, Brad, and May, Branyon The Big Bang Theory—A Scientific Critique Apologetics Press, May 2003 - 23[5]:32-34,36-47.
  12. ↑ Brown, Walt, 2001, Big Bang?
  13. ↑ http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/309
  14. ↑ http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2047
  15. ↑ http://www.icr.org/article/343/
  16. ↑ http://www.reasons.org/resources/fff/2000issue03/index.shtml#big_bang_the_bible_taught_it_first
  17. ↑ Strobel, Lee. The Case for a Creator. Zondervan, 2004.
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