The first few seconds of the Big Bang: What we know and what we don't

[Mation]

Here are some different theories.

Did a hyper-black hole spawn the Universe? - Nature

Big Bang was mirage from collapsing higher-dimensional star, theorists propose.

www.nature.com

Origin Of The Universe: 8 Different Theories - RankRed

No matter how convincing Big Bang Theory looks, it's not satisfactory to all. We've presented some of the most popular alternatives of the Big Bang, explaining the origin of the universe.

www.rankred.com

5 Controversial Theories of the Universe That Will Blow Your Mind - Learning Mind

Are there more controversial theories of the universe that provide a better understanding of how we got here? Let's see!

www.learning-mind.com

The hologram one in the third link makes as much sense as the others.

Oh dear. I've got an idea. One that started accidentally about 16 years ago, and that I've been thinking about (and trying to model) intermittently ever since.

Trouble is, it's terrifying and embarrassing to put it forward for scrutiny. So I've been trying to find ways to present it, for about the past decade, that don't involve me having to hide in a cupboard forever, or be evermore trailed by a procession of small children pointing and laughing at the sad, mad universe lady.

I've thought about writing it as a story, to provide emotional cover, but it's even less amenable to un-clunky narrative than Greg Egan's (hugely interesting, but dissimilar) ideas. I've tried bullet pointing it, but always want to be able to model a particular bit, to make sure I'm making reasonable points. And then run into Matlab or equivalent problems of access or limitations on my ability of how to realise what I want to show.

In its favour: it's very simple (as far as these things go); it's logically consistent; it doesn't violate any real world observations; could potentially explain some major as yet unexplained shit; makes some testable predictions, and, while it's mechanics only (rather than based on formal mathematical proofs), does work with a published (but contentious) theory that has all the maths but no mechanism.

On the down side: whilst I've tried to minimise assumptions beyond the premise and tried only to follow the logical conclusions that stem from the premise*, there are points where more assumptions creep in. I think they're reasonable, but I'm aware that I may very well be wrong to make them; there are some really handwavy bits, as my maths and physics knowledge isn't up to scratch. This is potentially also a positive, in terms of new ideas, but might also lead to some rubbish.

* And I'm aware that you can 'prove' anything if you start with the wrong premise.

Questions for you, dear urbs:

1. How hard will you laugh at me if I venture my ideas?

2. How likely are you to have given a reassuring answer to question 1, in order to hear the ideas?

Note that I've had a long and difficult week (read: currently doing my bit for drunkenness), and so am likely to regret this post

 

[weltweit]

Mation, cough with the idea then !!

 

[Aladdin]

Lets hear it Mation

 

[hash tag]

After a build up like that Mation you have to spill the beans now.

 

[moochedit]

Oh dear. I've got an idea. One that started accidentally about 16 years ago, and that I've been thinking about (and trying to model) intermittently ever since.

Trouble is, it's terrifying and embarrassing to put it forward for scrutiny. So I've been trying to find ways to present it, for about the past decade, that don't involve me having to hide in a cupboard forever, or be evermore trailed by a procession of small children pointing and laughing at the sad, mad universe lady.

I've thought about writing it as a story, to provide emotional cover, but it's even less amenable to un-clunky narrative than Greg Egan's (hugely interesting, but dissimilar) ideas. I've tried bullet pointing it, but always want to be able to model a particular bit, to make sure I'm making reasonable points. And then run into Matlab or equivalent problems of access or limitations on my ability of how to realise what I want to show.

In its favour: it's very simple (as far as these things go); it's logically consistent; it doesn't violate any real world observations; could potentially explain some major as yet unexplained shit; makes some testable predictions, and, while it's mechanics only (rather than based on formal mathematical proofs), does work with a published (but contentious) theory that has all the maths but no mechanism.

On the down side: whilst I've tried to minimise assumptions beyond the premise and tried only to follow the logical conclusions that stem from the premise*, there are points where more assumptions creep in. I think they're reasonable, but I'm aware that I may very well be wrong to make them; there are some really handwavy bits, as my maths and physics knowledge isn't up to scratch. This is potentially also a positive, in terms of new ideas, but might also lead to some rubbish.

* And I'm aware that you can 'prove' anything if you start with the wrong premise.

Questions for you, dear urbs:

1. How hard will you laugh at me if I venture my ideas?

2. How likely are you to have given a reassuring answer to question 1, in order to hear the ideas?

Note that I've had a long and difficult week (read: currently doing my bit for drunkenness), and so am likely to regret this post

You can't post that and then not tell us now!

 

[RubyToogood]

Are you in a small cafe in Rickmansworth?

 

[Humberto]

There was a void, out of which came everything. But we don't even know that much?

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

Answers to your questions.
1. I won't laugh, and even if I do you won't hear me.
2. You can always rely on me.

So, spill the cosmic beans.

 

[Mation]

I'll try to gather some courage and post something soon.

Not trying to keep anyone in suspense. This really is terrifying for me.

 

[hash tag]

More suspense than a Hitchcock thriller.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Can't these physicists just ask Sas what happened?

 

[mojo pixy]

Thinking about this stuff makes me really queasy and a bit scared.

Same here.

But don't worry, it's all basically just guesswork, full of we don't knows and theoreticallys and we haven't yet worked out hows. Scientifically informed and fascinating, but still basically guesswork.

And a very, very long time ago. We're like bacteria in a gut, wondering where we are, how it came to exist and if it's all there is. And while millions of us are dying of hunger and easily-preventable diseases thoughts about how it all began are just a distraction.

But wait, it gets better.

What really makes me scared and queasy is this: no matter what we do, no matter how much we progress and how far we go, no matter what we invent, develop, understand and conceive, no matter who we meet, save or where we travel .. one day it all ends. Life across the entire cosmos dies in the cold and dark of entropy .. or the massive heat and pressure of a Big Crunch.

Either way, or whatever else, I think this is the real reason we like GodDidIt. Not because of the mysteries in how it all began, but because of the inevitability of it all ending.

I'm glad it's sunny today.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Spill the beans Mation - we're on tenterhooks now.

 

[MickiQ]

The last time saw her (and frankly we try to avoid it as much as possible) Mrs Q's aunt assured us that the Big Bang and Evolution are all ploys by the Devil to test our faith

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

Same here.

But don't worry, it's all basically just guesswork, full of we don't knows and theoreticallys and we haven't yet worked out hows. Scientifically informed and fascinating, but still basically guesswork.

And a very, very long time ago. We're like bacteria in a gut, wondering where we are, how it came to exist and if it's all there is. And while millions of us are dying of hunger and easily-preventable diseases thoughts about how it all began are just a distraction.

But wait, it gets better.

What really makes me scared and queasy is this: no matter what we do, no matter how much we progress and how far we go, no matter what we invent, develop, understand and conceive, no matter who we meet, save or where we travel .. one day it all ends. Life across the entire cosmos dies in the cold and dark of entropy .. or the massive heat and pressure of a Big Crunch.

Either way, or whatever else, I think this is the real reason we like GodDidIt. Not because of the mysteries in how it all began, but because of the inevitability of it all ending.

I don't see why anyone should get too bothered about the end of life everywhere in the universe. So what? It may never happen anyway, and we're all going to be dead long, long, long before any of that. What's so special about life, anyway? Take our good selves, for example. We are the end product of billions of years of survival of the fittest, during which zillions (roughly) of organisms have lived and died in pain. Now that we're here we should enjoy it, but is it really all that great, looked at in the round?

 

[mojo pixy]

I don't see why anyone should get too bothered about the end of life everywhere in the universe. So what? It may never happen anyway, and we're all going to be dead long, long, long before any of that. What's so special about life, anyway? Take our good selves, for example. We are the end product of billions of years of survival of the fittest, during which zillions (roughly) of organisms have lived and died in pain. Now that we're here we should enjoy it, but is it really all that great, looked at in the round?

Well quite. Kindness and empathy is all that really separates us from the pain, cold, loneliness and ignorance of existence in this vast, incomprehensibly futile thing we call The Universe.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

Well quite. Kindness and empathy is all that really separates us from the pain, cold, loneliness and ignorance of existence in this vast, incomprehensibly futile thing we call The Universe.

Sob!

 

[High Voltage]

 

[Orang Utan]

Mation has invented the flux capacitor

 

[MickiQ]

Given how short a time we've actually been seriously studying the Universe for, the idea we've already figured it all out is pretty arrogant.
We keep saying our current state of knowledge when it would be much more accurate to say current state of ignorance.

 

[Aladdin]

Mation...
Really would like you to post your theory...or even PM it?

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Mation...
Really would like you to post your theory...or even PM it?

I reckon her theory is that the Clangers created the universe and are our benevolent overseers

 

[WouldBe]

Can't these physicists just ask Sas what happened?

Are you saying Sas is God?

 

[NoXion]

Asking what came before the Big Bang might well be like asking what's north of the north pole. A malformed question based on mistaken assumptions about the nature of spacetime.

 

[Orang Utan]

Asking what came before the Big Bang might well be like asking what's north of the north pole. A malformed question based on mistaken assumptions about the nature of spacetime.

You don’t know either then.

 

[Kevbad the Bad]

I reckon her theory is that the Clangers created the universe and are our benevolent overseers

But what came before the Clangers?

 

[NoXion]

You don’t know either then.

Our models break down when we look back that far. A number of physicists have made hypothesised some potential solutions, but without a model of quantum gravity we cannot be certain. But what is known for certain is that our intuitions won't help us at all, much like how human intuition founders when it bumps up against relativity or quantum mechanics.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

But what came before the Clangers?

The Soup Dragon, obviously

 

[Orang Utan]

Our models break down when we look back that far. A number of physicists have made hypothesised some potential solutions, but without a model of quantum gravity we cannot be certain. But what is known for certain is that our intuitions won't help us at all, much like how human intuition founders when it bumps up against relativity or quantum mechanics.

But what about before that?

 

[NoXion]

But what about before that?

As I just said, our models break down. It might turn to be the case that there was no "before". Like asking "what's beyond the edge of the Earth", when as it turns out, there is no edge.