Big Bang theory
The Big Bang Theory is the current dominant scientific theory explaining the creation of the Universe. It models the Universe as expanding from a very hot, dense state approximately 14 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. This radiation was subsequently discovered by Bell Labs and found to be close to that predicted by Gamow (Gamow predicted a background radiation level equivalent to a roughly 3 K black body object, and the observed level is that of a 2.725 K body).
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. 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]. Modern 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 matter, which has not yet been directly observed.
Creationist and Theistic Evolutionary Views
Young earth creationists hotly contest the Big Bang Theory. They trace lineages in the Bible to estimate the age of the Earth to be around 6,000 years.
Some Old Earth Creationists and Theistic Evolutionists argue that the Big Bang is in fact mentioned in the Bible. [8]
References
- ↑ Hubble, E. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Volume 15, Issue 3, pp. 168-173.
- ↑ Riess, A. G., et al. The Astronomical Journal, Volume 116, Issue 3, pp. 1009-1038.
- ↑ Perlmutter, S., et al. The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 517, Issue 2, pp. 565-586.
- ↑ Sloan Digital Sky Survey
- ↑ Tegmark, M., et al. Physical Review D, vol. 74, Issue 12.
- ↑ Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe
- ↑ See, for example, http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0603449
- ↑ [1]