4 ms·

Erm, the big bang theory is still the best theory for the history of the universe.

by Ono-Sendai 12y ago

dhimes 12y ago
No- it was replace by the inflationary theory long ago. They are different. You've kind of proved my point.
- Ono-Sendai 12y ago
  As I understand it, inflation usually applies shortly after the big bang.
  - dhimes 12y ago
    My point is that the Big Bang Theory preceded the Inflationary Theory by decades. Inflation came along to explain things that the original theory did not. We now still, however, refer to the big bang- as I am suggesting will happen with Black Holes even if the original Black Hole theories are replaced by something else. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8372341 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8372341
    - lutusp 12y ago
      > Inflation came along to explain things that the original theory did not. Again, inflation does not replace the Big Bang theory, it complements it. Big Bang and inflation are both parts of our current understanding of the early universe.
      - dhimes 12y ago
        In the sense that Newton's laws are recovered from Special Relativity as c->infinity, yes. The Big Bang theory was more than just the idea that there was a "big bang" at the start of space-time. It was its own theory. And in the current theories, the 'big bang' at the start remains. But much else has changed. Since we've carried the thread so long, I'll relate something marginally off topic that you might find kinda cool. At the time (I was in grad school then), it was a big deal to make the from Big Bang to Inflation, for political reasons. The "Big Bang" theory, in order to explain the smoothness of the observed universe, required a very special Creation event. Natural law wouldn't do it. This was a comfortable place because 80-90% of Americans believe in a Creator, and science was saying it was necessary. So Church leaders and science got along (except for the batshit folks). When Inflation gained acceptance, this need for a Creator to explain the smoothness went away, and there was genuine concern in the field about the ability to continue to get funding from these Americans. So, really, I suspect that the 'really dark dense thing' will remain, and be called a 'black hole,' even if our understanding of 'Black Holes' significantly changes.
- lutusp 12y ago
  No- it [the Big Bang theory] was replace by the inflationary theory long ago. This is false -- inflationary theory complements Big Bang theory, it does not replace it, as you claim. Big Bang and inflation are both parts of our current understanding of the early universe.

Erm, the big bang theory is still the best theory for the history of the universe.

dhimes 12y ago

No- it was replace by the inflationary theory long ago. They are different. You've kind of proved my point.

Ono-Sendai 12y ago
As I understand it, inflation usually applies shortly after the big bang.
- dhimes 12y ago
  My point is that the Big Bang Theory preceded the Inflationary Theory by decades. Inflation came along to explain things that the original theory did not. We now still, however, refer to the big bang- as I am suggesting will happen with Black Holes even if the original Black Hole theories are replaced by something else. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8372341 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8372341
  - lutusp 12y ago
    > Inflation came along to explain things that the original theory did not. Again, inflation does not replace the Big Bang theory, it complements it. Big Bang and inflation are both parts of our current understanding of the early universe.
    - dhimes 12y ago
      In the sense that Newton's laws are recovered from Special Relativity as c->infinity, yes. The Big Bang theory was more than just the idea that there was a "big bang" at the start of space-time. It was its own theory. And in the current theories, the 'big bang' at the start remains. But much else has changed. Since we've carried the thread so long, I'll relate something marginally off topic that you might find kinda cool. At the time (I was in grad school then), it was a big deal to make the from Big Bang to Inflation, for political reasons. The "Big Bang" theory, in order to explain the smoothness of the observed universe, required a very special Creation event. Natural law wouldn't do it. This was a comfortable place because 80-90% of Americans believe in a Creator, and science was saying it was necessary. So Church leaders and science got along (except for the batshit folks). When Inflation gained acceptance, this need for a Creator to explain the smoothness went away, and there was genuine concern in the field about the ability to continue to get funding from these Americans. So, really, I suspect that the 'really dark dense thing' will remain, and be called a 'black hole,' even if our understanding of 'Black Holes' significantly changes.
lutusp 12y ago
No- it [the Big Bang theory] was replace by the inflationary theory long ago. This is false -- inflationary theory complements Big Bang theory, it does not replace it, as you claim. Big Bang and inflation are both parts of our current understanding of the early universe.