Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Xavier Gervais on 02/08/2010 14:30:02

Title: How do we know there was nothing before the big bang?
Post by: Xavier Gervais on 02/08/2010 14:30:02

Xavier Gervais  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hello!

I'll start by saying you have a very interesting site (http://www.thenakedscientists.com) with great articles (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/articles/)!

My question is about astronomy, more specifically the Big Bang.

I understand the concept of the expanding universe, and how we came to this conclusion, but one thing that bugs me is: how do we know that there was a big bang that created everything in the first place? Could all the matter, antimatter, energy and dark energy of the universe be condensed in a big chunk before being sent in all directions? Do we have evidence that this did not happen? More specifically, how do we know there was "nothing" before "something" (i.e. that everything was created at the moment the universe started expanding rather than existing beforehand) ? I believe it's a question worth asking!

Cheers,

Xavier

What do you think?

Title: How do we know there was nothing before the big bang?
Post by: wolfekeeper on 02/08/2010 15:10:35

We don't have evidence either way.

Some people think the universe might oscillate though, if the laws of physics are right, then it will contract/crunch/explode/contract/crunch/ etc. etc. But the universe doesn't look like it will do that at the moment, it seems to be accelerating apart, so that's less likely.

Title: How do we know there was nothing before the big bang?
Post by: flr on 06/08/2010 17:23:28

Quote from: Xavier Gervais  on 02/08/2010 14:30:02

Xavier Gervais  asked the Naked Scientists:
.... how do we know there was "nothing" before "something" (i.e. that everything was created at the moment the universe started expanding rather than existing beforehand) ?

 If "something" can be created from "nothing" then, somehow, "something-ness"   is a preferred [more 'stable'?] state than "nothingness"?
 If so, why wouldn't 'always' be "something" and hence no beginning to be observed?

PS:
 I am trying to imagine "nothing" as the absence of any form of any kind of energy, while "something" may be the presence of some kind of energy locally although globally could sum up to nothing.
 

Title: How do we know there was nothing before the big bang?
Post by: syhprum on 06/08/2010 21:45:50

Here is a new no begining no end theory




http://arxiv.org/abs/1007.1750

Title: How do we know there was nothing before the big bang?
Post by: Absalom on 10/08/2010 03:32:06

I've also just found this site and I'm really enjoying reviewing several of these discussions.

I'm nor a scientist, but it seems to me we have a perspective issue when contemplating (or trying to) how things might have been before the big bang and beginning of time. Since we can't step outside of the universe/time and look in or around, I don't think we can make sense of the question. We have no context or intellectual framework in which to build an understanding.