Thread: Big Bounce Theory

Hawking Pens Angry Letter about How the Universe Began

Stephen Hawking and 32 of his fellow scientists have written an angry letter responding to a recent Scientific American article about how the universe began. In it, they declare their “categorical disagreement” with several of the statements made, and explain why the theory of inflation is still one of the best models for the origin of the cosmos.

The article in question was published in February. Titled “Pop Goes the Universe,” physicists Anna Ijjas, Paul J. Steinhardt, Abraham Loeb examine the latest measurements from the European Space Agency relating to cosmic microwave background (CMB).

CMB is the oldest light in the universe—light emitted just after the Big Bang around 13.7 billion years ago. In 2013, a map of the CMB appeared to show how the universe inflated extremely fast, before settling down to become the universe we see today. This, many experts said, backed up models relating to inflation theories, where the universe expanded exponentially fast a fraction of a second after the Big Bang.

However, Ijjas, Steinhardt and Loeb disagreed with this interpretation. “If anything, the Planck data disfavoured the simplest inflation models and exacerbated long-standing foundational problems with the theory, providing new reasons to consider competing ideas about the origin and evolution of the universe,” they write.

The three physicists argue that since the 2013 map was produced, more precise data has been gathered. And this data, they say, adds more evidence to the argument that the Big Bang and inflation do not adequately explain how the universe started. “Yet even now the cosmology community has not taken a cold, honest look at the big bang inflationary theory or paid significant attention to critics who question whether inflation happened,” they say.

Instead, they claim the idea of a “big bounce” is a more likely scenario. In this theory, the universe works on a cyclical basis of expansion and contraction. At the moment, it is expanding. However, when it runs out of energy (or whatever happens to stop its expansion), it will start contracting. Eventually, it will get to the point where it is so small it starts expanding again.

They point to several flaws in inflation theory, including that we are yet to discover primordial gravitational waves—ripples in spacetime created by the Big Bang. Another problem is that inflation requires the existence of “inflationary energy,” for which there is no direct evidence.

“Given all these problems, the prospect that inflation did not occur deserves serious consideration,” they write. “Today we are fortunate to have sharp, fundamental questions imposed on us by observations. The fact that our leading ideas have not worked out is a historic opportunity for a theoretical breakthrough. Instead of closing the book on the early universe, we should recognize that cosmology is wide open.”

Hawkings is just famous for being famous.
Any half decent sci-fi writer has theories as good as him.

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

Stephen Hawking and 32 of his fellow scientists have written an angry letter responding to a recent Scientific American article about how the universe began.

yeah !! lets have a vote on it , like it's a Pop idol style talent show , then another on man made global warming.
The 33 have a right to be angry, have dare anyone have a different view to the orthodox....

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

Another problem is that inflation requires the existence of “inflationary energy,” for which there is no direct evidence.

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

dea of a “big bounce” is a more likely scenario. In this theory, the universe works on a cyclical basis of expansion and contraction.

Eventually, it will get to the point where it is so small it starts expanding again.

And that expansion too doesn't requires the existence of some inflationary type energy ...??

Sounds like just a series of big bangs, so not much new there from Scientific American article

God he can move fairly fast in that wheelchair when he's angry! ....

Originally Posted by blue

Hawkings is just famous for being famous. Any half decent sci-fi writer has theories as good as him.

He is one of the top theoretical physicists. None of his peers, including those who may disagree, will deny that.

Originally Posted by Takeovers

None of his peers, including those who may disagree, will deny that

you put their opinions up against that of TD poster blue then...risky...

The so-called bounce theory of contraction and expansion is not viable if one accepts space is infinite. In simple terms, the universe is expanding and eventually its component parts will distance themselves from each other to a degree that no interaction can and will take place and the entire everythingness of the infinite will simply stop and cease to do anything - complete and utter silent darkness. Nothing. Da Nada. Zilch. No energy will be transmitted, there will be no light, no more Black Holes creating new galaxies, no anything.

It'll be like fucking Haverfordwest on a November Sunday night.

Originally Posted by tomcat

you put their opinions up against that of TD poster blue then...risky...

Blue has about as much understanding of science as a pygmy does Shakespeare.

^not that there's anything wrong with being a pygmy, right blue?...

^Well, the Snubster is the official Teak Door pygmy cowboy. YeeHah!

Originally Posted by Seekingasylum

In simple terms, the universe is expanding and eventually its component parts will...

...burst apart tearing rips in the tightly stretched skin of spacetime....

...also known as the big banger theory...

I'm murder a pie right now.

Originally Posted by BaitongBoy

Big Bounce Theory

The Big'n'Bouncy Theory says that over the course of time all matter in the universe will succumb to the force of gravity so make hay while you may...!

^ That's the way, Looper...I prefer that to the Sausage Theory...But hey, we're all different...

She does look sad, but "inflatable," so it fits all expanding and bouncing theories...