The Big Bang: Inside a Singularity

In summary, the big bang occurred after a singularity evaporated, but we cannot know for certain what happened in the first Planck time due to inconsistencies between our two most successful theories. This means that the idea of a singularity may not be accurate and there is room for speculation about what actually occurred. The only requirement is that any speculation must be consistent with both quantum field theory and general relativity. Additionally, the direction of space-time curvature is relative to the observer and cannot be determined at this point.
  • #1
Imparcticle
573
4
The big bang occurred after a singularity evaporated, correct? All that there was in the universe was "in" the singularity. So there was no space for the singularity to have curved. :confused:
Also, when space time is curved, in what direction is it curved? or is that relative to the observer?
 
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  • #2
Taking just the first question: we *cannot* know, yet, even in principle, what happened in the first Planck time (~10-43 sec), because our two most successful theories (QFT and GR) are inconsistent in this regime. This means, among other things, that we do not know if there was a singularity, or something else entirely. It also means that you and me and everyone else is free to speculate as much as we like about what happened; the only 'constraints' are that at the end of this period, our speculative universe is consistent with both QFT and GR.
 

FAQ: The Big Bang: Inside a Singularity

1. What is the Big Bang theory?

The Big Bang theory is the scientific explanation for the origin of the universe. It proposes that approximately 13.8 billion years ago, all matter and energy in the universe was compressed into an incredibly dense and hot singularity, and then rapidly expanded and cooled to form the universe as we know it today.

2. What is a singularity?

A singularity is a point in space and time where the laws of physics break down and become unpredictable. In the context of the Big Bang, it refers to the extremely dense and hot state of the universe before it rapidly expanded.

3. How was the Big Bang theory discovered?

The Big Bang theory was first proposed in the early 20th century by scientists observing the redshift of light from distant galaxies. This led to the realization that the universe is expanding, and if you rewind the expansion backwards, it would lead to a singularity.

4. What evidence supports the Big Bang theory?

There is a vast amount of evidence that supports the Big Bang theory, including the cosmic microwave background radiation, the abundance of light elements in the universe, and the observed expansion of the universe. Additionally, the predictions made by the theory have been confirmed by various observations and experiments.

5. What happened immediately after the Big Bang?

Immediately after the Big Bang, the universe was filled with a hot, dense plasma of particles and energy. As the universe expanded and cooled, these particles began to combine and form atoms, which eventually led to the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets. The expansion and cooling of the universe also allowed for the formation of the fundamental forces and laws of physics as we know them today.

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