Proof of Big Bang Seen by Space Probe, Scientists Say

National Geographic ^ | 3/17/2006 | Davide Castelvecchi

[Red Badger]

New NASA space-probe observations of the oldest light in the cosmos are the most direct evidence yet that the universe expanded extremely quickly immediately after the big bang, physicists say.

Charles Bennett of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, led the team overseeing NASA's Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP). He and colleagues announced the new results Thursday in a teleconference.

Picture: Map of the early universe, just after the big bang

Previous experiments—including WMAP results released in 2003—had provided strong evidence for the rapid-expansion theory, called inflation, that was first proposed by physicist Alan Guth in 1980.

In the trillion-trillionth of a second after the big bang, the universe expanded from the size of a gumball to astronomical proportions, according to the inflation theory. The universe then settled into a more leisurely pace of expansion over the past 13.7 billion years or so.

Smoking Gun

WMAP now has the most convincing evidence yet for inflation: a reading of the light released just after the big bang. This cosmic afterglow, known as microwave background, is made of a similar type of radiation to that which carries signals to a TV antenna.

The afterglow is as valuable to a cosmologist as the earliest fossils are to a paleontologist. It is the oldest radiation ever detected, still traveling almost 14 billion years after it was emitted.

The microwaves bathe the entire universe in a perpetual buzz, reaching Earth from all directions. The buzz is virtually uniform, but not quite.

Tiny variations at different points in space allow scientists to draw maps of the early universe, as the WMAP team has done with unprecedented detail.

These cosmic baby pictures show us a time when the universe was a smooth, fiery broth, when stars and galaxies had yet to form under the pull of gravity (photo: another view of the early universe).

Finer Points

The team said cosmologists will now be able to delve into the finer details of how inflation happened.

[justinellis329]

You can find the cosmic microwave background yourself with an antenna and some trig to cancel out the effects of the atmosphere; this isn't exactly occult knowledge. The CMB was actually discovered accidentally by two people at Bell Labs working on something completely different, then only gradually incorporated into astrophysics.

[trebb]

Heisenberg's principle says that with the smaller area you're looking at, the uncertainty over either the amount of mass you have or over that mass' velocity has to go up. So the possibility is that with enough time, it's possible for an amount of mass the size of the universe to just appear into existence.

Did he say who was doing the looking?

[RightWhale]

There are several threads on this topic. None have posts with so much avoidance of detail of the theory.

[RSmithOpt]

Nope. I'm just implying that no one today knows the actual answer cause none of us were present at the time. It's what you choose to believe. I do know that a lot of scientists cannot mathematically explain the reality of The Creator, therefore, the scientists manipulate their hypothesis and wordings to offer an explanation they are more comfortable with other than God is real and His ways are not understood by man.

I've already seen the tremendous weakness in the Big Bang theory based upon earthly logic and philosophy.

Sometimes man is better off just to accept the unexplainable.

[GSlob]

This inflation report best be sent to Ben Bernanke. Hopefully he'll make some sense out of it.

[justinellis329]

I'm confused -- the existence of God poses a specifically mathematical problem to the Big Bang theory?

[BearArms]

One can believe that there is a Creator and that it was the cause of the Big Bang. That position does not really clash with science. However, believing in the biblical God while believing in the Big Bang at the same time does involve a great deal of logical problems.

[Uri’el-2012]

The Controversy Continues: Speed of Light Slowing Down?

b'shem Y'shua

[pankot]

I have afterglow after a "Big Bang".

[vpintheak]

Proof of Big Bang Seen by Space Probe, Scientists Say

Wait just a minute here, I have been told by quite a few athiests, and FReeper athiests the scientists don't prove anything. What's the deal?

[RSmithOpt]

I apologize for the confusion. I'm just saying that the Big Bang Theory at its best tries to quantify "creation" in terms that mankind attempts to explain, that's all. It's theory at best.

Any discussion of the Big Bang theory would be incomplete without asking the question, what about God? This is because cosmogony (the study of the origin of the universe) is an area where science and theology meet. Creation was a supernatural event. That is, it took place outside of the natural realm. This fact begs the question: is there anything else which exists outside of the natural realm? Specifically, is there a master Architect out there? We know that this universe had a beginning. Was God the "First Cause"? I won't attempt to force my beliefs on that question to anyone. I just ask the question and state what science has offered (in my limited knowledge) as to what could have happened. I simply accept The Scripture's explanation without a need to quantify the time-line, the physics, and God's methods.

[Brilliant]

They assume it was made in the aftermath of the Big Bang. And they have a fix on approximately how long ago that happened, so they have their estimate of how old it is.

They were also heartened by the fact that this phenomenon of microwave background radiation was predicted before it was discovered, and when they found it, they naturally assumed that it exists for the reasons that it was predicted.

[Mark Felton]

"Let's just say, look, theoretical physicists we lie a lot." -- Dr. Sylvester J. Gates, theoretical physicist, inventor of supersymmetry theory, when asked about evidence for the theory that the speed of light is variable. March 7, 2006, Univ. of Houston seminar

I was there and recorded it. Dr. Gates said that "they don't mean to lie", but because of the complexity of the universe their theories are bound to be wrong, but their job is to create the theories anyway, with or without solid foundation and then try to shoot them down, often succeeding.

He said science is not about the discovery of truth but about rolling back false knowledge.

Unlike scienctific theories which start off as falsehoods to be proven true, the Bible starts off with the truth and has remained consistent and unerring. It has never been proven false. In fact the latest science (string theory, multidimensions, a singular Big bang) all are coming closer to the Biblical reality not further.

The more science progresses the more profound the Bible becomes.

"All human discoveries seem to be made only for the purpose of confirming more and more strongly the truths come on high and contained in the sacred writings." -- John Herschel, Astronomer. The son of William Herschel, he discovered over 500 nebulae. --

"There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than any in profane history." ... "This beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being...." -- Sir Isaac Newton, Discoverer of Law of Gravity, inventor of calculus and orbital mechanics

"The undevout astronomer must be mad." -- William Herschel, Astronomer, Discoverer of the Planet Uranus --

"The equations of physics have in them incredible simplicity, elegance and beauty. That in itself is sufficient to prove to me there must be a God...." -- Paul Davies, Physical Scientist. --

Only fools would dare use science to denigrate the reality of God. The truth is the opposite. Science affirms God, not the other way around. God tells us over and over and over to pursue science, pursue knowledge and gain understanding.

Christianity is responsible for the great advancements we've had in science over the past few hundred years. The desire to pursue science with a free mind comes from the Bible and explainms why Christian Civilization has come to lead the world in science and technology.

"Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
-- Proverbs 4:5-7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. -- Proverbs 1:7

[Ohioan from Florida]

According to Genesis, the Earth was created before the sun and the stars.

I think you may confusing "earth" and "Earth".

As well, it is clear in Genesis 1:3 that God called the light "day" and the darkness "night" and thus was the first day. In our world today we regard a "day" as one revolution around the Sun, which, as you point out, hadn't been created yet.

I think what the Bible is describing and what the Big Bang is describing is the same event, the beginning of time, as best as we humans can understand the concept. IMHO, this (Genesis) is God the Wise trying to explain to us puny little humans how to understand the beginning of the world around us.

[Ohioan from Florida]

Your post is a better explanation than mine. I should have continued reading down the thread.

[RSmithOpt]

Thank you for your post...even Darwin retracted his theory on evolution.

I guess that when a nonbeliever (atheists, agnostic) tries to argue the how of *Creation* and of God, he's never 'ran the numbers' as quick as Newton was able to and came to the answer: probability = 1 (God does exists). Initially, this is the angle I was coming from in my previous posts.

[Ohioan from Florida]

Awesome post!! I would only say that I disagree slightly with Dr.Gates. I believe that science is about the discovery of truth BECAUSE it rolls back false knowledge. They are both good definitions for what science is about.

[RSmithOpt]

Thank you too for your previous post......I always enjoy others' opinions and comments whether in agreement or not.

Funny thing, once I got old enough to start learning some things......time just started flying by, then a little later on, I realized I didn't study enough of some things (i.e. The King James version). Now, I'm in 'summer school' making up the work. LOL!!

[AmericanRepublican]

I knew this would turn into Science vs. Religion.

It's just a hopeless argument, albiet, I go with Science everytime.

[redhead]

"Don't you know ... that question is outside the scope of scientific investigation."

But...But...