OK. Some evidence for the big bang. Recent measurements by the Degree Angular Scale Interferometer (Dasi) at the Amundsen-Scott base at the South Pole have observed that the Cosmic Microwave Background (mentioned above as Big Bang evidence) is polarised in exactly the way predicted by the theory:
quote:
"The prediction is bang on," says Dr Carlstrom. "We think we know the Universe, but if the polarisation was not there at the predicted level we were back to the drawing board."
However, the new observations are pointing to an ever-more puzzling Universe: a Universe whose birth was dominated by mysterious dark matter and dark energy.
"We're stuck with a preposterous Universe," he says.
The observations confirm the inflation theory of the early evolution of the Universe, which describes an explosive spurt of expansion when the Universe was young.
"We can go from checking inflation to actually testing it," Dr Carlstrom adds.
Note: "inflation theory" is, in effect the Big Bang theory.
Now, the implications. By "running back" theories about the origins of the univers, in particular Relativity, you hit a singularity - the Big Bang, at which point the universe had zero size and infinite density. At this point the laws of nature all break down. In effect at or "before" this point space and time did not exist (that's why before is in quotes: it is not sensible to talk about something before time existed).
The Big Bang is not an explosion
in space and time, but and explosion
of space and time.
™ Version 4.2