Big Bang Booming - Back to the Future
Theoretical cosmologists spend much of their time perfecting
what is now known as the ‘Big Bang’ theory. This concept
originates from ideas percolating in the minds of scientists,
theologians and astronomers down through the ages. However, much
of what they consider as proof for the ‘Big Bang’ is dependent
upon uncontrolled experimentation that is molded to meet their
expectations.
Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. This
ancient description of the creation of the universe found in the
Book of Genesis may be accurate after all. The big bang theory
describes the beginning of the universe as having been
precipitated from an infinitesimally small point. In this small
volume, all matter and energy was concentrated until its
contents exploded in either a smooth expansion or an incredibly
violent energetic explosion that formed the planets, stars and
galaxies. Originally this theory had competition from what is
called the ’steady state’ theory whereby the universe is forever
expanding and new matter and energy is created spontaneously
within the space left by the receding galaxies. However,
empirical observations have directed astronomers and scientists
into the acceptance of the big bang model. But how did we get to
this point in our understanding?
In the early part of the twentieth century the American
astronomer Vesto Slipher and the German Carl Wirtz made some
important astronomical discoveries. Using spectral analysis,
Slipher deciphered the mixtures of gases contained in planetary
atmospheres as well as nebulae. What distinguishes his findings
is the discovery that most if not all galaxies outside of our
own demonstrate what is called a ‘Red Shift.’ This shift is
simply a change in the wavelength of the light emitted by those
objects under investigation towards a longer wavelength. Wirtz
similarly catalogued many red shifts of the nebulae which he
chose to study. But it was still to early for them to realize
the full potential meaning of their observations. That would
wait until Einstein’s General Relativity would be interpreted by
other scientists through further mathematical analysis.
His contemporaries demonstrated to Einstein that his new Theory
of General Relativity published in 1916 was not compatible with
a ’static’ universe of space time. The theory predicted an
expanding or collapsing universe but not a fixed cosmos. Because
he personally believed the universe to be an invariable space
time continuum, Einstein engaged in a degree of scientific
legerdemain. To correct what he perceived to be as ‘flaws’ in
his theory he added the contrivance of a cosmological constant
known as lambda to force the static universe into reality.
Einstein’s view of perfection in an unchanging space time
continuum had led him down a blind alley as much as Aristotle’s
concept of perfection had brought that great philosopher into
the error of believing in a static Earth at the center of the
universe.
But even with the addition of the cosmological constant lambda,
the universe was still found to be unstable and this whole
affair would later be viewed by Einstein as his “greatest
blunder.” His cosmological acrobatics behind him, Einstein
yielded the stage to others for a clearer understanding of his
own theory. It fell to Alexander Alexandrovich Friedmann to
consider the consequences of General Relativity without the
constant lambda interfering with his study of these
relationships. In doing so, the Russian mathematician and
cosmologist derived the solution which predicts an ever
expanding cosmological structure (1922), a prediction which was
disagreeable with Einstein’s concept of universal perfection. A
couple of years later, Friedmann published his findings in
“About the Possibility of a World with Constant Negative
Curvature of Space.” But the entire hypothetical construct still
lacked a complete verbalization mathematically and theoretically.
Enter the Reverend Father Georges Lemaitre, a Catholic priest
from Belgium. Rev. Fr. Lemaitre provided the equations necessary
to formulate the basis of Big Bang theory in his work entitled
“Hypothesis of the Primeval Atom.” He postulated that the
universe began as a primordial atom of infinitesimal volume and
enormous mass energy as well as space and time and everything
else comprising the future universe. At some point the universe
began with the explosion of this super atom. Lemaitre published
his theoretical ideas between the years 1927 and 1933 and
speculated that the movement of the nebulae demonstrated the
validity of the explosion of his cosmic super atom.
Unfortunately, he also wrongly believed that cosmic rays might
be an after effect of the super atom’s big bang. These are now
known to be generated not from a universal conflagration but
from galactic sources unrelated to the big bang.
However, the new theory still lacked a major source of
observational support. This would be provided by Edwin Hubble’s
observations of the redshift of galaxies. Taking up where
Slipher and Wirtz left off, Hubble employed a novel technique to
discern the properties of the galactic movements. By choosing to
observe stars that are known as Cepheid Variables he could more
accurately make measurements. Cepheids are a type of star that
brighten and darken and lighten back up in regular periods of
time that are well known. Cepheids that have identical cycle
times of brightening darkening and brightening again also have
identical or nearly identical luminosity. Thus, if one compares
the length of the cycle to the amount of light apparent to the
observer it is possible to accurately prepare an estimate of the
distance to the cepheid.
In this manner, Hubble had found that the nebulae or galaxies
exhibited a galactic red shift; in other words, that galaxies
were receding away from ours at a speed which is correlated
directly with the distance between our vantage point and the
galaxy being studied. The further away the galaxies were the
faster they appeared to be going in moving away from us. The
results of these investigations is now known as Hubble’s Law.
Essentially, this law states that universe is in an ever
expanding mode whereby the intergalactic distances continue to
grow without bound into infinity. Hubble’s Law depends upon the
shifting of the wavelength of light and after having been
delineated in 1929 has been subsequently proven over and over
again. Further, Hubble’s constant has been recalculated to a
more ‘perfect’ value and retains a great probability of being
‘recomputed’ in the future based upon new observations.
Thus, it should be clear to the reader that our scientists have
a fateful habit of introducing their preconceived notions of
beauty into their models. From Aristotle’s static Earth to
Einstein’s greatest blunder, the constant which forces a static
universe, we proceed only from the wisdom of our weak minds. The
more things change the more things stay the same. Man’s hubris
knows no limits in our attempts to understand things without the
wisdom to comprehend its underlying meaning. Humble we are not.
We are making the same mistakes we always have. Back to the
future. To be continued…
