what is the big bang and how do i understand it?

cavediver:

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If we try to mimic the observed acceleration, then yes, the output is no longer closed up into a sphere and is indeed more of a horn shape.

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If the sphere can be read as a closed universe, Big Bang/Big Crunch, does the horn suggest infinite expansion?My understanding (woefully limited as it is) is that a very small percentage of our universe is "ordinary" matter and energy, considerably more of it "dark" matter, and an even greater portion dark energy, the latter accounting for the accelerating expansion.Is there still a defensible model for a closed or cyclic universe?This message has been edited by Omnivorous, 08-07-2005 08:30 PM

cavediver writes:

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Cyclic? This model is a bit of red-herring, and really comes from a less than ideal understanding of time. I'm so busy at the mo I can't really do justice to posts, but DominionSeraph started to touch on this issue. That's not to say that it can't be cyclical, but it's not an output of the model... it's just a fanciful idea.

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Fanciful ideas are what I'm here to rid myself of...I'll keep reading.Also, thanks, Chiroptera, for the google "big rip" tip. Fascinating.

I used to experience that lost text nightmare regularly. Now I pause every paragraph or two (once I run long) to highlight and copy.One feels quite smug with text on the clipboard when the editor freezes.Of course, the PC could freeze. I shoot those.