The origin of the universe is the big bang theory. Big Bang
Everyone has heard of the Big Bang theory, which explains (at least for now) the origin of our Universe. However, in scientific circles there will always be those who want to challenge ideas - from this, by the way, great discoveries often arise.
However, Dicke realized that if this model were real, then there would not be two types of stars - Population I and Population II, young and old stars. And they were. This means that the Universe around us nevertheless developed from a hot and dense state. Even if it was not the only Big Bang in history.
Amazing, right? What if there were several of these explosions? Tens, hundreds? Science has yet to figure this out. Dicke invited his colleague Peebles to calculate the temperature required for the processes described and the probable temperature of the residual radiation today. Peebles' rough calculations showed that today the Universe should be filled with microwave radiation with a temperature of less than 10 K, and Roll and Wilkinson were already preparing to look for this radiation when the bell rang...
Lost in translation
However, here it is worth moving to another corner of the globe - to the USSR. The closest people to the discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation (and also did not complete the job!) were in the USSR. Having done a huge amount of work over the course of several months, a report on which was published in 1964, Soviet scientists seemed to have put together all the pieces of the puzzle, only one was missing. Yakov Borisovich Zeldovich, one of the colossi of Soviet science, carried out calculations similar to those carried out by the team of Gamow (a Soviet physicist living in the USA), and also came to the conclusion that the Universe must have begun with a hot Big Bang, which left background radiation with a temperature a few kelvins.
Yakov Borisovich Zeldovich, -
He even knew about Ed Ohm's article in the Bell System Technical Journal, which roughly calculated the temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation, but misinterpreted the author's conclusions. Why didn't Soviet researchers realize that Ohm had already discovered this radiation? Due to an error in translation. Ohm's paper stated that the sky temperature he measured was about 3 K. This meant that he had subtracted all possible sources of radio interference and that 3 K was the temperature of the remaining background.
However, by coincidence, the temperature of atmospheric radiation was also the same (3 K), for which Ohm also made a correction. Soviet specialists mistakenly decided that it was these 3 K that Ohm had left after all the previous adjustments, subtracted them too and were left with nothing.
Nowadays, such misunderstandings would be easily corrected through electronic correspondence, but in the early 1960s, communication between scientists in the Soviet Union and the United States was very difficult. This was the reason for such an offensive mistake.
The Nobel Prize that floated away
Let's go back to the day when the phone rang in Dicke's laboratory. It turns out that at the same time, astronomers Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson reported that they accidentally managed to detect faint radio noise coming from everything. Then they did not yet know that another team of scientists independently came up with the idea of the existence of such radiation and even began to build a detector to search for it. It was the team of Dicke and Peebles.
Even more surprising is that the cosmic microwave background, or, as it is also called, cosmic microwave background radiation, was described more than ten years earlier within the framework of the model of the emergence of the Universe as a result of the Big Bang by George Gamow and his colleagues. Neither one nor the other group of scientists knew about this.
Penzias and Wilson accidentally learned about the work of scientists under Dicke's leadership and decided to call them to discuss it. Dicke listened carefully to Penzias and made several comments. After hanging up, he turned to his colleagues and said: “Guys, we got ahead of ourselves.”
Nearly 15 years later, after many measurements made at a variety of wavelengths by many groups of astronomers confirmed that the radiation they discovered was indeed a relic echo of the Big Bang, having a temperature of 2.712 K, Penzias and Wilson shared the Nobel Prize for their invention. Although at first they did not even want to write an article about their discovery, because they considered it untenable and did not fit into the model of a stationary Universe that they adhered to!
It is said that Penzias and Wilson would have considered it sufficient to be mentioned as the fifth and sixth names on the list after Dicke, Peebles, Roll and Wilkinson. In this case, the Nobel Prize would apparently go to Dicke. But everything happened the way it happened.
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Big Bang. This is the name of the theory, or rather one of the theories, of the origin or, if you like, the creation of the Universe. The name is perhaps too frivolous for such a terrifying and awe-inspiring event. Especially frightening if you have ever asked yourself very difficult questions about the universe.
For example, if the Universe is all that is, then how did it begin? And what happened before that? If space is not infinite, then what is beyond it? And where should this something actually fit? How can we understand the word “infinite”?
These things are difficult to understand. Moreover, when you start to think about it, you get an eerie feeling of something majestic and terrible. But questions about the universe are one of the most important questions that humanity has asked itself throughout its history.
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What was the beginning of the existence of the Universe?
Most scientists are convinced that the existence of the Universe began with a tremendous big explosion of matter that occurred about 15 billion years ago. For many years, most scientists shared the hypothesis that the beginning of the Universe was laid by a grand explosion, which scientists jokingly dubbed the “Big Bang.” In their opinion, all matter and all space, which is now represented by billions and millions of galaxies and stars, 15 billion years ago fit into a tiny space no larger than a few words in this sentence.
How was the Universe formed?
Scientists believe that 15 billion years ago this small volume exploded into tiny particles smaller than atoms, giving rise to the existence of the Universe. Initially it was a nebula of small particles. Later, when these particles combined, atoms were formed. Star galaxies were formed from atoms. Since that Big Bang, the Universe has continued to expand, like an inflating balloon.
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Doubts about the Big Bang Theory
But over the past few years, scientists studying the structure of the Universe have made several unexpected discoveries. Some of them question the Big Bang theory. What can you do, our world does not always correspond to our convenient ideas about it.
Distribution of matter during an explosion
One problem is the way matter is distributed throughout the universe. When an object explodes, its contents scatter evenly in all directions. In other words, if matter was initially compressed into a small volume and then exploded, then the matter should have been evenly distributed throughout the space of the Universe.
The reality, however, is very different from the expected ideas. We live in a very unevenly filled Universe. When looking into space, individual clumps of matter appear at a distance from each other. Huge galaxies are scattered here and there throughout outer space. Between
The grandeur and diversity of the surrounding world can amaze any imagination. All objects and objects surrounding humans, other people, various types of plants and animals, particles that can only be seen with a microscope, as well as incomprehensible star clusters: they are all united by the concept of “the Universe”.
Theories of the origin of the Universe have been developed by man for a long time. Despite the absence of even a basic concept of religion or science, in the inquisitive minds of ancient people questions arose about the principles of the world order and about the position of man in the space that surrounds him. It is difficult to count how many theories of the origin of the Universe exist today; some of them are studied by leading world-famous scientists, others are downright fantastic.
Cosmology and its subject
Modern cosmology - the science of the structure and development of the Universe - considers the question of its origin as one of the most interesting and still insufficiently studied mysteries. The nature of the processes that contributed to the emergence of stars, galaxies, solar systems and planets, their development, the source of the appearance of the Universe, as well as its size and boundaries: all this is just a short list of issues studied by modern scientists.
The search for answers to the fundamental riddle about the formation of the world has led to the fact that today there are various theories of the origin, existence, and development of the Universe. The excitement of specialists looking for answers, building and testing hypotheses is justified, because a reliable theory of the birth of the Universe will reveal to all humanity the probability of the existence of life in other systems and planets.
Theories of the origin of the Universe have the nature of scientific concepts, individual hypotheses, religious teachings, philosophical ideas and myths. They are all conditionally divided into two main categories:
- Theories according to which the Universe was created by a creator. In other words, their essence is that the process of creating the Universe was a conscious and spiritual action, a manifestation of will
- Theories of the origin of the Universe, built on the basis of scientific factors. Their postulates categorically reject both the existence of a creator and the possibility of conscious creation of the world. Such hypotheses are often based on what is called the mediocrity principle. They suggest the possibility of life not only on our planet, but also on others.
Creationism - the theory of the creation of the world by the Creator
As the name suggests, creationism (creation) is a religious theory of the origin of the universe. This worldview is based on the concept of the creation of the universe, planet and man by God or the Creator.
The idea was dominant for a long time, until the end of the 19th century, when the process of accumulating knowledge in various fields of science (biology, astronomy, physics) accelerated, and evolutionary theory became widespread. Creationism has become a peculiar reaction of Christians who hold conservative views on the discoveries being made. The dominant idea at that time only strengthened the contradictions that existed between religious and other theories.
What is the difference between scientific and religious theories?
The main differences between theories of various categories lie primarily in the terms used by their adherents. Thus, in scientific hypotheses, instead of a creator, there is nature, and instead of creation, there is origin. Along with this, there are issues that are covered in similar ways by different theories or even completely duplicated.
Theories of the origin of the Universe, belonging to opposite categories, date its very appearance differently. For example, according to the most common hypothesis (the big bang theory), the Universe was formed about 13 billion years ago.
In contrast, the religious theory of the origin of the Universe gives completely different figures:
- According to Christian sources, the age of the Universe created by God at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ was 3483-6984 years.
- Hinduism suggests that our world is approximately 155 trillion years old.
Kant and his cosmological model
Until the 20th century, most scientists were of the opinion that the Universe was infinite. They characterized time and space with this quality. In addition, in their opinion, the Universe was static and homogeneous.
The idea of the boundlessness of the Universe in space was put forward by Isaac Newton. This assumption was developed by someone who developed a theory about the absence of time boundaries. Taking his theoretical assumptions further, Kant extended the infinity of the Universe to the number of possible biological products. This postulate meant that in the conditions of an ancient and vast world without end and beginning, there could be an innumerable number of possible options, as a result of which the appearance of any biological species could actually occur.
Based on the possible emergence of life forms, Darwin's theory was later developed. Observations of the starry sky and the results of calculations by astronomers confirmed Kant’s cosmological model.
Einstein's Reflections
At the beginning of the 20th century, Albert Einstein published his own model of the Universe. According to his theory of relativity, two opposite processes occur simultaneously in the Universe: expansion and contraction. However, he agreed with the opinion of most scientists about the stationary nature of the Universe, so he introduced the concept of cosmic repulsive force. Its effect is designed to balance the attraction of stars and stop the process of movement of all celestial bodies to maintain the static nature of the Universe.
The model of the Universe - according to Einstein - has a certain size, but there are no boundaries. This combination is feasible only when space is curved in the same way as it happens in a sphere.
The characteristics of the space of such a model are:
- Three-dimensionality.
- Closing yourself.
- Homogeneity (absence of center and edge), in which galaxies are evenly distributed.
A. A. Friedman: The Universe is expanding
The creator of the revolutionary expanding model of the Universe, A. A. Friedman (USSR), built his theory on the basis of equations characterizing the general theory of relativity. True, the generally accepted opinion in the scientific world of that time was that our world was static, so due attention was not paid to his work.
A few years later, astronomer Edwin Hubble made a discovery that confirmed Friedman's ideas. The distance of galaxies from the nearby Milky Way was discovered. At the same time, the fact that the speed of their movement remains proportional to the distance between them and our galaxy has become irrefutable.
This discovery explains the constant “scattering” of stars and galaxies in relation to each other, which leads to the conclusion about the expansion of the universe.
Ultimately, Friedman's conclusions were recognized by Einstein, who subsequently mentioned the merits of the Soviet scientist as the founder of the hypothesis about the expansion of the Universe.
It cannot be said that there are contradictions between this theory and the general theory of relativity, but during the expansion of the Universe there must have been an initial impulse that provoked the retreat of stars. By analogy with an explosion, the idea was called the “Big Bang”.
Stephen Hawking and the Anthropic Principle
The result of Stephen Hawking's calculations and discoveries was the anthropocentric theory of the origin of the Universe. Its creator claims that the existence of a planet so well prepared for human life cannot be accidental.
Stephen Hawking's theory of the origin of the Universe also provides for the gradual evaporation of black holes, their loss of energy and the emission of Hawking radiation.
As a result of the search for evidence, more than 40 characteristics were identified and tested, the observance of which is necessary for the development of civilization. American astrophysicist Hugh Ross assessed the likelihood of such an unintentional coincidence. The result was the number 10 -53.
Our Universe contains a trillion galaxies, each with 100 billion stars. According to calculations made by scientists, the total number of planets should be 10 20. This figure is 33 orders of magnitude less than previously calculated. Consequently, no planet in all the galaxies can combine conditions that would be suitable for the spontaneous emergence of life.
The Big Bang Theory: The Origin of the Universe from a Tiny Particle
Scientists who support the big bang theory share the hypothesis that the universe is a consequence of a grand explosion. The main postulate of the theory is the statement that before this event, all the elements of the current Universe were contained in a particle that had microscopic dimensions. Being inside it, the elements were characterized by a singular state in which indicators such as temperature, density and pressure could not be measured. They are endless. Matter and energy in this state are not affected by the laws of physics.
What happened 15 billion years ago is called instability that arose inside the particle. The scattered tiny elements laid the foundation for the world we know today.
In the beginning, the Universe was a nebula formed by tiny particles (smaller than an atom). Then, combining, they formed atoms that served as the basis of stellar galaxies. Answering questions about what happened before the explosion, as well as what caused it, are the most important tasks of this theory of the origin of the Universe.
The table schematically depicts the stages of formation of the universe after the big bang.
| State of the Universe | Time axis | Estimated temperature |
| Expansion (inflation) | From 10 -45 to 10 -37 seconds | More than 10 26 K |
| Quarks and electrons appear | 10 -6 s | More than 10 13 K |
| Protons and neutrons are produced | 10 -5 s | 10 12 K |
| Nuclei of helium, deuterium and lithium appear | From 10 -4 s to 3 min | From 10 11 to 10 9 K |
| Atoms formed | 400 thousand years | 4000 K |
| The gas cloud continues to expand | 15 Ma | 300 K |
| The first stars and galaxies are born | 1 billion years | 20 K |
| Star explosions trigger the formation of heavy nuclei | 3 billion years | 10 K |
| The process of star birth stops | 10-15 billion years | 3 K |
| The energy of all the stars is depleted | 10 14 years | 10 -2 K |
| Black holes are depleted and elementary particles are born | 10 40 years | -20 K |
| The evaporation of all black holes ends | 10 100 years | From 10 -60 to 10 -40 K |
As follows from the above data, the Universe continues to expand and cool.
The constant increase in the distance between galaxies is the main postulate: what makes the big bang theory different. The emergence of the Universe in this way can be confirmed by the evidence found. There are also reasons to refute it.
Problems of theory
Given that the big bang theory has not been proven in practice, it is not surprising that there are several questions that it cannot answer:
- Singularity. This word denotes the state of the Universe, compressed to one point. The problem with the big bang theory is the impossibility of describing the processes occurring in matter and space in such a state. The general law of relativity does not apply here, so it is impossible to create a mathematical description and equations for modeling.
The fundamental impossibility of obtaining an answer to the question about the initial state of the Universe discredits the theory from the very beginning. Its popular science expositions prefer to hush up or mention only in passing this complexity. However, for scientists working to provide a mathematical basis for the Big Bang theory, this difficulty is recognized as a major obstacle. - Astronomy. In this area, the big bang theory faces the fact that it cannot describe the process of the origin of galaxies. Based on current versions of the theories, it is possible to predict how a homogeneous cloud of gas appears. Moreover, its density by now should be about one atom per cubic meter. To get something more, you cannot do without adjusting the initial state of the Universe. The lack of information and practical experience in this area become serious obstacles to further modeling.
There is also a discrepancy between the calculated mass of our galaxy and the data obtained by studying the speed of its attraction to. Apparently, the weight of our galaxy is ten times greater than previously thought.
Cosmology and quantum physics
Today there are no cosmological theories that are not based on quantum mechanics. After all, it deals with the description of the behavior of atomic and The difference between quantum physics and classical (explained by Newton) is that the second observes and describes material objects, and the first assumes an exclusively mathematical description of the observation and measurement itself. For quantum physics, material values are not the subject of research; here the observer himself is part of the situation under study.
Based on these features, quantum mechanics has difficulty describing the Universe, because the observer is part of the Universe. However, speaking about the emergence of the universe, it is impossible to imagine outside observers. Attempts to develop a model without the participation of an outside observer were crowned with the quantum theory of the origin of the Universe by J. Wheeler.
Its essence is that at every moment of time the Universe is split and an infinite number of copies are formed. As a result, each of the parallel Universes can be observed, and observers can see all quantum alternatives. Moreover, the original and new worlds are real.
Inflation model
The main task that the theory of inflation is designed to solve is the search for answers to questions left unanswered by the big bang theory and expansion theory. Namely:
- For what reason is the Universe expanding?
- What is a big bang?
To this end, the inflationary theory of the origin of the Universe involves extrapolating the expansion to time zero, confining the entire mass of the Universe at one point and forming a cosmological singularity, which is often called the big bang.
The irrelevance of the general theory of relativity, which cannot be applied at this moment, becomes obvious. As a result, only theoretical methods, calculations and deductions can be applied to develop a more general theory (or "new physics") and solve the problem of cosmological singularity.
New alternative theories
Despite the success of the cosmic inflation model, there are scientists who oppose it, calling it untenable. Their main argument is criticism of the solutions proposed by the theory. Opponents argue that the solutions obtained leave some details missing, that is, instead of solving the problem of initial values, the theory only skillfully drapes them.
An alternative is several exotic theories, the idea of which is based on the formation of initial values before the big bang. New theories of the origin of the Universe can be briefly described as follows:
- String theory. Its adherents propose, in addition to the usual four dimensions of space and time, to introduce additional dimensions. They could play a role in the early stages of the Universe, and at the moment be in a compactified state. Answering the question about the reason for their compactification, scientists offer an answer that says that the property of superstrings is T-duality. Therefore, the strings are “wound” into additional dimensions and their size is limited.
- Brane theory. It is also called M-theory. In accordance with its postulates, at the beginning of the process of formation of the Universe, there is a cold, static five-dimensional space-time. Four of them (spatial) have restrictions, or walls - three-branes. Our space acts as one of the walls, and the second is hidden. The third three-brane is located in four-dimensional space and is bounded by two boundary branes. The theory envisions a third brane colliding with ours and releasing large amounts of energy. It is these conditions that become favorable for the appearance of a big bang.
- Cyclic theories deny the uniqueness of the big bang, arguing that the universe moves from one state to another. The problem with such theories is the increase in entropy, according to the second law of thermodynamics. Consequently, the duration of the previous cycles was shorter, and the temperature of the substance was significantly higher than during the big explosion. The likelihood of this happening is extremely low.
No matter how many theories there are about the origin of the universe, only two have stood the test of time and overcome the problem of ever-increasing entropy. They were developed by scientists Steinhardt-Turok and Baum-Frampton.
These relatively new theories of the origin of the Universe were put forward in the 80s of the last century. They have many followers who develop models based on it, search for evidence of reliability and work to eliminate contradictions.
String theory
One of the most popular among the theories of the origin of the Universe - Before moving on to a description of its idea, it is necessary to understand the concepts of one of its closest competitors, the standard model. It assumes that matter and interactions can be described as a certain set of particles, divided into several groups:
- Quarks.
- Leptons.
- Bosons.
These particles are, in fact, the building blocks of the universe, since they are so small that they cannot be divided into components.
A distinctive feature of string theory is the assertion that such bricks are not particles, but ultramicroscopic strings that vibrate. At the same time, oscillating at different frequencies, the strings become analogues of various particles described in the standard model.
To understand the theory, you should realize that strings are not any matter, they are energy. Therefore, string theory concludes that all elements of the universe are made of energy.
A good analogy would be fire. When looking at it, one gets the impression of its materiality, but it cannot be touched.
Cosmology for schoolchildren
Theories of the origin of the Universe are briefly studied in schools during astronomy lessons. Students are described the basic theories about how our world was formed, what is happening to it now and how it will develop in the future.
The purpose of the lessons is to familiarize children with the nature of the formation of elementary particles, chemical elements and celestial bodies. Theories of the origin of the Universe for children are reduced to a presentation of the Big Bang theory. Teachers use visual material: slides, tables, posters, illustrations. Their main task is to awaken children's interest in the world that surrounds them.
The Big Bang belongs to the category of theories that attempt to fully trace the history of the birth of the Universe, to determine the initial, current and final processes in its life.
Was there something before the Universe came into being? This fundamental, almost metaphysical question is asked by scientists to this day. The emergence and evolution of the universe has always been and remains the subject of heated debate, incredible hypotheses and mutually exclusive theories. The main versions of the origin of everything that surrounds us, according to the church interpretation, assumed divine intervention, and the scientific world supported Aristotle’s hypothesis about the static nature of the universe. The latter model was adhered to by Newton, who defended the boundlessness and constancy of the Universe, and by Kant, who developed this theory in his works. In 1929, American astronomer and cosmologist Edwin Hubble radically changed scientists' views of the world.
He not only discovered the presence of numerous galaxies, but also the expansion of the Universe - a continuous isotropic increase in the size of outer space that began at the moment of the Big Bang.
To whom do we owe the discovery of the Big Bang?
Albert Einstein's work on the theory of relativity and his gravitational equations allowed de Sitter to create a cosmological model of the Universe. Further research was tied to this model. In 1923, Weyl suggested that matter placed in outer space should expand. The work of the outstanding mathematician and physicist A. A. Friedman is of great importance in the development of this theory. Back in 1922, he allowed the expansion of the Universe and made reasonable conclusions that the beginning of all matter was at one infinitely dense point, and the development of everything was given by the Big Bang. In 1929, Hubble published his papers explaining the subordination of radial velocity to distance; this work later became known as “Hubble’s law.”
G. A. Gamow, relying on Friedman’s theory of the Big Bang, developed the idea of a high temperature of the initial substance. He also suggested the presence of cosmic radiation, which did not disappear with the expansion and cooling of the world. The scientist performed preliminary calculations of the possible temperature of residual radiation. The value he assumed was in the range of 1-10 K. By 1950, Gamow made more accurate calculations and announced a result of 3 K. In 1964, radio astronomers from America, while improving the antenna, by eliminating all possible signals, determined the parameters of cosmic radiation. Its temperature turned out to be equal to 3 K. This information became the most important confirmation of Gamow’s work and the existence of cosmic microwave background radiation. Subsequent measurements of the cosmic background, carried out in outer space, finally proved the accuracy of the scientist’s calculations. You can get acquainted with the map of cosmic microwave background radiation at.
Modern ideas about the Big Bang theory: how did it happen?
One of the models that comprehensively explains the emergence and development processes of the Universe known to us is the Big Bang theory. According to the widely accepted version today, there was originally a cosmological singularity - a state of infinite density and temperature. Physicists have developed a theoretical justification for the birth of the Universe from a point that had an extreme degree of density and temperature. After the Big Bang occurred, the space and matter of the Cosmos began an ongoing process of expansion and stable cooling. According to recent studies, the beginning of the universe was laid at least 13.7 billion years ago.
Starting periods in the formation of the Universe
The first moment, the reconstruction of which is allowed by physical theories, is the Planck epoch, the formation of which became possible 10-43 seconds after the Big Bang. The temperature of the matter reached 10*32 K, and its density was 10*93 g/cm3. During this period, gravity gained independence, separating itself from the fundamental interactions. The continuous expansion and decrease in temperature caused a phase transition of elementary particles.
The next period, characterized by the exponential expansion of the Universe, came after another 10-35 seconds. It was called "Cosmic inflation". An abrupt expansion occurred, many times greater than usual. This period provided an answer to the question, why is the temperature at different points in the Universe the same? After the Big Bang, the matter did not immediately scatter throughout the Universe; for another 10-35 seconds it was quite compact and a thermal equilibrium was established in it, which was not disturbed by inflationary expansion. The period provided the basic material - quark-gluon plasma, used to form protons and neutrons. This process took place after a further decrease in temperature and is called “baryogenesis.” The origin of matter was accompanied by the simultaneous emergence of antimatter. The two antagonistic substances annihilated, becoming radiation, but the number of ordinary particles prevailed, which allowed the creation of the Universe.
The next phase transition, which occurred after the temperature decreased, led to the emergence of the elementary particles known to us. The era of “nucleosynthesis” that came after this was marked by the combination of protons into light isotopes. The first nuclei formed had a short lifespan; they disintegrated during inevitable collisions with other particles. More stable elements arose within three minutes after the creation of the world.
The next significant milestone was the dominance of gravity over other available forces. 380 thousand years after the Big Bang, the hydrogen atom appeared. The increase in the influence of gravity marked the end of the initial period of the formation of the Universe and started the process of the emergence of the first stellar systems.
Even after almost 14 billion years, cosmic microwave background radiation still remains in space. Its existence in combination with the red shift is cited as an argument to confirm the validity of the Big Bang theory.
Cosmological singularity
If, using the general theory of relativity and the fact of the continuous expansion of the Universe, we return to the beginning of time, then the size of the universe will be equal to zero. The initial moment or science cannot describe it accurately enough using physical knowledge. The equations used are not suitable for such a small object. A symbiosis is needed that can combine quantum mechanics and the general theory of relativity, but, unfortunately, it has not yet been created.
The evolution of the Universe: what awaits it in the future?
Scientists are considering two possible scenarios: the expansion of the Universe will never end, or it will reach a critical point and the reverse process will begin - compression. This fundamental choice depends on the average density of the substance in its composition. If the calculated value is less than the critical value, the forecast is favorable; if it is more, then the world will return to a singular state. Scientists currently do not know the exact value of the described parameter, so the question of the future of the Universe is up in the air.
Religion's relationship to the Big Bang theory
The main religions of humanity: Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Islam, in their own way support this model of the creation of the world. Liberal representatives of these religious denominations agree with the theory of the origin of the universe as a result of some inexplicable intervention, defined as the Big Bang.
The name of the theory, familiar to the whole world - “Big Bang” - was unwittingly given by the opponent of the version of the expansion of the Universe by Hoyle. He considered such an idea "totally unsatisfactory." After the publication of his thematic lectures, the interesting term was immediately picked up by the public.
The reasons that caused the Big Bang are not known with certainty. According to one of the many versions, belonging to A. Yu. Glushko, the original substance compressed into a point was a black hyper-hole, and the cause of the explosion was the contact of two such objects consisting of particles and antiparticles. During annihilation, matter partially survived and gave rise to our Universe.
Engineers Penzias and Wilson, who discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation, received the Nobel Prize in Physics.
The temperature of the cosmic microwave background radiation was initially very high. After several million years, this parameter turned out to be within the limits that ensure the origin of life. But by this period only a small number of planets had formed.
Astronomical observations and research help to find answers to the most important questions for humanity: “How did everything appear, and what awaits us in the future?” Despite the fact that not all problems have been solved, and the root cause of the emergence of the Universe does not have a strict and harmonious explanation, the Big Bang theory has gained a sufficient amount of confirmation that makes it the main and acceptable model of the emergence of the universe.
The answer to the question “What is the Big Bang?” can be obtained during a long discussion, since it takes a lot of time. I will try to explain this theory briefly and to the point. So, the Big Bang theory postulates that our Universe suddenly came into being approximately 13.7 billion years ago (everything came from nothing). And what happened then still affects how and in what ways everything in the Universe interacts with each other. Let's consider the key points of the theory.
What happened before the Big Bang?
The Big Bang theory includes a very interesting concept - singularity. I bet this makes you wonder: what is a singularity? Astronomers, physicists and other scientists are also asking this question. Singularities are believed to exist in the cores of black holes. A black hole is an area of intense gravitational pressure. This pressure, according to the theory, is so intense that the substance is compressed until it has an infinite density. This infinite density is called singularity. Our Universe is supposed to have started out as one of these infinitely small, infinitely hot, infinitely dense singularities. However, we have not yet come to the Big Bang itself. The Big Bang is the moment at which this singularity suddenly "exploded" and began to expand and created our Universe.
The Big Bang theory would seem to imply that time and space existed before our universe came into being. However, Stephen Hawking, George Ellis and Roger Penrose (and others) developed a theory in the late 1960s that attempted to explain that time and space did not exist before the expansion of the singularity. In other words, neither time nor space existed until the universe existed.
What happened after the Big Bang?
The moment of the Big Bang is the moment of the beginning of time. After the Big Bang, but long before the first second (10 -43 seconds), space experiences ultra-fast inflationary expansion, expanding 1050 times in a fraction of a second.
Then the expansion slows down, but the first second has not yet arrived (only 10 -32 seconds left). At this moment, the Universe is a boiling “broth” (with a temperature of 10 27 ° C) of electrons, quarks and other elementary particles.
The rapid cooling of space (up to 10 13 °C) allows quarks to combine into protons and neutrons. However, the first second has not yet arrived (there are still only 10 -6 seconds).
At 3 minutes, too hot to combine into atoms, the charged electrons and protons prevent the emission of light. The universe is a super-hot fog (10 8 °C).
After 300,000 years, the Universe cools to 10,000 °C, electrons with protons and neutrons form atoms, mainly hydrogen and helium.
1 billion years after the Big Bang, when the temperature of the Universe reached -200 °C, hydrogen and helium form giant “clouds” that will later become galaxies. The first stars appear.
