Cyclic Universe theory reappears...again.

kinhull
kinhull
Joined: 20 Feb 05
Posts: 132
Credit: 154,449
RAC: 0
Topic 191184

Universe 'child of previous one'

Quote:

A joint UK-US team has put forward an alternative theory of cosmic evolution.

It proposes that the Universe undergoes cycles of "Big Bangs" and "Big Crunches", meaning our Universe is merely a "child of the previous one".

It challenges the conventional view of the cosmos, which observations show to be 12-14 billion years old.

The new ideas, reported in the journal Science, may explain why the expansion of the Universe is accelerating, the researchers say.

"At present the conventional view is that all of space, time, matter and energy began at a single point, which then expanded and cooled, leaving the Universe as it is today," said Professor Paul Steinhardt of Princeton University, New Jersey.

"However, this new theory suggests that there's a continuous cycle of universes, with each a repeat of the last, but not an exact replica.

"It can be thought of as a child of the previous universe."

Cosmological constant

The new idea builds on previous work by the same team, and is set to challenge the current model.

Back in the 1920s, when Einstein was developing his general theory of relativity, he introduced a constant, known as the cosmological constant, to explain his idea of a static Universe.

Einstein's equations predicted a Universe collapsing under its own gravitational force, whereas observation showed it clearly was not contracting.

The cosmological constant represented an inherent pressure or force associated with free space, which would be resisting the gravity-drive contraction.

The concept was later abandoned when observations showed the Universe to be expanding - causing Einstein to label the cosmological constant as "the greatest blunder of my career".

In 1998, a form of the constant was re-habilitated when it was found that the Universe's expansion was actually speeding up.

Unanswered questions

Although the re-introduction of the constant enabled calculations to match theory, it also raised the question that there was something in physics that was "missing".


Things that are happening now will help to create another universe in the future
Prof Neil Turok
Professor Neil Turok, of Cambridge University, told the BBC News website: "When the value of the cosmological constant was calculated, it was found to be much smaller than expected.

"The explanation as to why this constant is so small has become one of the biggest problems in physics.

"At present, the only explanation for this is that things just have to be that way." This theory leaves many questions unanswered, but now Professors Steinhardt and Turok have developed a new theory to explain why the cosmological constant is so small.

They suggest that time actually began before the Big Bang, meaning there was a pre-existing universe.

This would also mean that the current Universe is much older than presently accepted.

Dark matter

"At present there may be an alternative 'dark matter' universe that exists at the same time as ours, but we could never reach it," explained Professor Turok.

"The best way to think of this is to think of a pane of double glazing with a fly on it. The fly is unable to cross over from one side to another, just like we are unable to get from one universe to another.

"These two universes are drawn together by the force of gravity and will eventually collide.

"This means that things that are happening now will help to create another universe in the future."

Just when you've finally accepted what the scientists say (regards the Big Bang), they go and change it all...

Chipper Q
Chipper Q
Joined: 20 Feb 05
Posts: 1,540
Credit: 708,571
RAC: 0

Cyclic Universe theory reappears...again.

That's very interesting, but I'm not sure if all of it has been changed, yet... I watched a lecture the other night having to do with how these conclusions are being arrived at from observations of the astronomer's standard candle, a Type Ia Supernova...
Dark Energy and the History of Cosmic Expansion, Presenter: Adam Riess (Space Telescope Science Institute)

Andreas
Andreas
Joined: 19 Oct 05
Posts: 754
Credit: 40,122,799
RAC: 28,111

Abhay Ashtekar, head of the

Abhay Ashtekar, head of the Institute for Gravitational Physics and Geometry, at Penn State University, and collegues have used loop quantum gravity to investigate pre-Big Bang physics. They also came to the cyclical universe model.

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Model_Suggests_Pre_Big_Bang_Physics.html

Click my stat image to go to the BOINC Synergy Team site!

Knightrider
Knightrider
Joined: 27 Aug 05
Posts: 9
Credit: 851,275
RAC: 0

RE: RE: It proposes that

Quote:

Quote:


It proposes that the Universe undergoes cycles of "Big Bangs" and "Big Crunches", meaning our Universe is merely a "child of the previous one".

Unanswered questions

They suggest that time actually began before the Big Bang, meaning there was a pre-existing universe.

This would also mean that the current Universe is much older than presently accepted.

Dark matter

"At present there may be an alternative 'dark matter' universe that exists at the same time as ours, but we could never reach it," explained Professor Turok.

"The best way to think of this is to think of a pane of double glazing with a fly on it. The fly is unable to cross over from one side to another, just like we are unable to get from one universe to another.

"These two universes are drawn together by the force of gravity and will eventually collide.

"This means that things that are happening now will help to create another universe in the future."

Knightriders Speculation

It could be of course, that the 'Big Bang' occured in another 'Universe'. That is, the whole of our universe exists within, and therefore, is part of another, larger, Universe. Our Universe, its creation and existence, being part of this larger Universes existence. This idea also allows the idea that, other Universe's like ours could also exist within this larger Universe.

K.

Knightrider
Knightrider
Joined: 27 Aug 05
Posts: 9
Credit: 851,275
RAC: 0

RE: Knightriders

Message 30465 in response to message 30464

Quote:

Knightriders Speculation

It could be of course, that the 'Big Bang' occured in another 'Universe'. That is, the whole of our universe exists within, and therefore, is part of another, larger, Universe. Our Universe, its creation and existence, being part of this larger Universes existence. This idea also allows the idea that, other Universe's like ours could also exist within this larger Universe.

I Thought it was good idea?

K.

Chipper Q
Chipper Q
Joined: 20 Feb 05
Posts: 1,540
Credit: 708,571
RAC: 0

RE: RE: Knightriders

Message 30466 in response to message 30465

Quote:
Quote:

Knightriders Speculation

It could be of course, that the 'Big Bang' occured in another 'Universe'. That is, the whole of our universe exists within, and therefore, is part of another, larger, Universe. Our Universe, its creation and existence, being part of this larger Universes existence. This idea also allows the idea that, other Universe's like ours could also exist within this larger Universe.

I Thought it was good idea?

K.


Knightrider, it's a fine idea; see Multiverse (science) Wikipedia page; got any ideas on how to test if it's the right idea? :)

Knightrider
Knightrider
Joined: 27 Aug 05
Posts: 9
Credit: 851,275
RAC: 0

Hey Ho, Late again. K.

Hey Ho, Late again.

K.

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.