Origin Of The Universe: Different Theories
The search for the origin of the Universe has been ongoing since the first humans attempted to explain the mysteries of the night sky and the world they inhabit. Since those first attempts of explanation, there has been an ongoing battle of debate between different scientific theories, trying to determine the true origin of the Universe. In this article, we’ll explore the different theories – big bang and steady state, among others – and break down the facts and possibilities of each.
What Is The Big Bang Theory?
The Big Bang Theory stands for the most widely accepted explanation of the origin of the universe. It proposes that the universe has expanded from an extremely hot and dense state and continues to expand. It is the current explanation of the beginning of the universe accepted by the scientific community, which claims that the universe began about 13.8 billion years ago in what is known as an inflationary expansion.
The start of the universe consists of a singular point where all the matter and energy in the entire universe is concentrated into a tiny point that is unimaginably hot and dense. This singularity is then followed by a rapid expansion, where the universe went from being infinitely small and infinitely hot to what it is today. From this, the galaxies, stars, planets, and all the other matter and life that is present in our universe formed.
Evidence of the Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory is supported by a considerable amount of scientific evidence. It is mostly based on what is called cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB). This radiation is a remnant of the big bang and its discovery is a major support of the Big Bang Theory.
In 1965, Arno A. Penzias and Robert W. Wilson discovered the CMB while searching for radio signals from the interstellar space. They discovered a strong static radio noise that was fairly constant in all directions. It was later determined that this noise is uniform electromagnetic radiation throughout the universe that was not of an artificial origin.
Another type of evidence that supports the Big Bang Theory is the fossil record. The fossil record is evidence that certain species of lifeforms existed in the past, and their transition from one form to another over millions of years. This data is best explained by the Big Bang Theory as opposed to any other theory of the origin of the universe.
Limitations of the Big Bang Theory
One major limitation of the Big Bang Theory is the fact that it cannot explain the characteristics of an extremely dense point of the universe. There is no scientific explanation of what this super-dense point was composed of and where it came from.
Another major limitation of the Big Bang Theory is the fact that it cannot explain the exact manner in which the big bang occurred. Scientists are still unsure as to whether the big bang was instantaneous or gradual.
What Is the Steady State Theory?
The Steady State Theory is an alternative scientific explanation of the origin of the universe. It proposes that the universe has always existed in a state of equilibrium and has been undergoing a continuous expansion since its beginning. The main theological proponent of this theory was Fred Hoyle, who proposed it in 1948.
The idea behind the Steady State Theory is that matter is continuously being formed, or created, and that this matter is what is causing the expansion of the universe. As the universe expands, galaxies move farther away from each other. The theory states that matter is being created in the regions of space where galaxies appear to be moving away from each other.
Evidence of the Steady State Theory
The Steady State Theory was initially supported by the observations of Edwin Hubble in 1929 that showed that the universe is expanding. It argued that if the universe was expanding it would require a constant creation of matter in order to remain in a steady state, which is known as the perfect cosmological principle.
The Steady State Theory was also supported by the observation of what is now known as the “red shift”. This is the idea that galaxies, stars and other objects in space have a Doppler effect as they move away from the Earth, which causes their light to appear redder in color. This also suggests that the universe is expanding, which fits with the Steady State Theory.
Limitations of the Steady State Theory
The Steady State Theory does not explain the observations of the CMB. This is because the CMB observations suggest a moment at the beginning of the universe where all the matter and energy were concentrated and then expanded rapidly. This contradicts the Steady State Theory because it states that the universe is in a steady state.
Another limitation of the Steady State Theory is the fact that it does not account for the large scale structure of the universe. Observations of the universe have shown that stars, galaxies, and other large astronomical structures are clustered together in what is known as “clusters of galaxies”. This does not fit with the idea of a continuously expanding universe and therefore is a limitation of the Steady State Theory.
Although both the Big Bang Theory and the Steady State Theory provide interesting explanations of the origin of the universe, the Big Bang Theory is the currently accepted scientific explanation. It has sufficient evidence that supports its explanation and resolves many of the problems of the Steady State Theory. The Big Bang Theory proposes that the universe has expanded from an extremely hot and dense state and continues to expand, and that this expansion has allowed for the formation of the stars, galaxies, planets and other matter that is present in our universe today.