Big bang
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
The main evolutionary theory on the origin of the universe is called the Big Bang. The theory posits that all of the matter in the universe started as a point of infinite density and temperature known as a singularity. It is believed that approximately 13.7 billion years ago this singularity experienced a rapid inflation of matter that eventually evolved into stars, galaxies, and planets. The Big Bang was not an explosion in the conventional sense of the term, but an expansion of space and time. However, like an explosion, it was highly energetic and chaotic.
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Evolutionary Assumptions
The big bang theory has two basic assumptions.
- The Copernican Principle.
- An unbounded universe.
The Copernican Principle
The Copernican Principle is inappropriately named for Nicolas Copernicus as he really had nothing to do with it. Copernicus put forward the model that the Sun, not the Earth is the center of the Solar System. He first published his heliocentric model in 1512, but his work neither proved nor implied anything about our position on a cosmic scale. The so-called Copernican Principle is the assumption that there is nothing special about the Earth's location in the universe. In other words the overall structure of the universe would look the same from any point in the universe as it does from Earth.
However it may seem there is no scientific evidence for this since we have never seen the universe from any distance from Earth that would allow it to be tested. What is known is that this line of thinking falls along origins science rather than operational science. Such an assumption is necessary to an evolutionary cosmology since the odds of the universe, let alone any type of life being at a special location by chance would be astronomically small. The Earth being in a special place would suggest special creation and intelligent design to facilitate life.
While there is no scientific evidence for the so called Copernican Principle, there is scientific evidence against it. The direct observation of galactic red shift is so uniform around us that it naturally suggests that we are very near the center of the universe. This is not only a special location but the most special location possible.
To save the so called Copernican Principle it became necessary to postulate an unbounded expanding universe with matter evenly distributed on a large scale so that there is no center. The best illustration of this is with the expansion of a balloon as seen from its surface. Based on this model any place in the universe would seem to be in the center of the expansion. Like the Copernican Principle there is no scientific evidence for the assumption of an unbounded universe, so it too is purely unseen assumption.
An Unbounded Universe
In the unbounded universe of the big bang there is no edge and as such no center. In a bounded universe there is an edge and there is a definite center. As it turns out, there is evidence for such a center and that the Earth is near it.
There is a quantization of galactic redshift. Based on this phenomenon, galaxies form concentric shells with an average spacing of about 2 million light years. Furthermore, if we were more than 2 million light years from the center we would not see the pattern. In fact observations show us to be within 100,000 light years from the center and when compared to the context of the entire universe that is astronomically precise.
Evidence
Cosmic Background Radiation
- Main Article: Cosmic background radiation
Cosmic Background Radiation is a steady microwave radiation from space. It is found in every direction and is roughly equal to 2.73K black body radiation. It is claimed to be residual radiation from the Big Bang. This background radiation was predicted by Big Bang Cosmology and finding it was hailed as proof of the theory.
If the Big Bang standard is to be kept background microwave radiation came to Earth from the furthest edges of the universe. Then, following that logic the X-ray emitting clusters of galaxies nearest our own galaxy, called the Milky Way, should all cast shadows. However recent observations have been done concluding that there is a lack of shadows in places where there should be. [1]
Redshift
- Main Article: Redshift
Spectral lines come in two types, emission lines that are light on dark, and absorption lines that are dark on light. When the frequencies do not line up right the spectra is shifted, with red towards the longer end and blue towards the shorter end. When Edwin Hubble discovered galactic redshift he interpreted it as a Doppler shift. This change in frequency is caused by motion. A redshift indicates that the source is moving away from the observer and a blue shift indicates that the source is moving towards the observer. George Lemaitre's idea, that it is caused by the wavelength of light's being stretched in transit by a continual expansion of space, has become the prominent interpretation of galactic redshift. Galactic red shift does suggest expanding space-time which fits the theory of the Big Bang but it fits Dr. Russell Humphreys’ White hole cosmology as well.
Evidence Against
Age
Proponents of the Big Bang measure an age of 13.7 Gyrs by tracing back the expansion of the universe to an initial point. However, unless the universe has gravitational attraction exactly balanced against this expansion it will either collapse in a Big Crunch or expand too quickly for us to survive in it. The evidence shows that only with a young universe can this problem be resolved which flatly contradicts the Big Bang.
Not enough antimatter
According to the Big Bang cosmology most evolutionists assume, there should be an exact counterpart to matter known as antimatter right down to the same mass. It is the exact copy of of its identical matter particle except each antimatter particle has a negative charge. [2]
These assumed predictions of the Big Bang have lost a lot of credibility because we have not found nearly the amount of antimatter in the universe that could be accepted under such a model.[3]
Electromagnetic forces unaccounted for
Naturalist astronomers assume that gravity is the dominant force in the universe driving the dynamics of the cosmos. However, the universe is mostly plasma which reacts strongly with electromagnetism. The Big Bang does not take this additional force into consideration.
Too complex, too early
The universe has too many large structures such as interspersed walls and voids, to be created in 10-20 billion years. We know the rate of expansion, thus we can get a rough estimate on how long it would take for them to form. Some have proposed that the speeds of galaxies was much faster in the past by the mean of some sort of viscosity of space, but this is nothing more then wishful thinking. Also, in order for these to form, it would take about 100 billion years.
Not enough helium or lithium
Newer observations have found that there is only 10 per cent of the deuterium present than was previously believed. This would mean that there should be much more helium and lithium around than we actually see. The contradiction lays in the fact that many Big Bang enthusiasts claim that the amount of helium is a proof.
Too many heavy elements
The Big bang only allows for the production of the lightest elements on the periodic table. However, our very existence is predicated on a concentration of heavier elements such as carbon and oxygen. The oldest stars observed in the cosmos contain these heavier elements as well meaning that they had to be around since the very beginning of our universe. The Big Bang provides no explanation for where these elements originate.
The universe isn’t homogeneous enough
In the year 2000, a survey of the red-shift found that it has an inhomogeneous distribution to a scale of at least 200 Mpc. This shows that there are no trends toward homogeneity even on scales up to 1000 Mpc. The Big Bang requires large-scale homogeneity.
Too much energy
The conservation of energy demands that energy cannot be created nor destroyed. In a naturalistic universe there would therefore be no source for the energy seen in our universe. The Big Bang is just a placeholder for an extreme violation of this fundamental physical principle.
Too much angular momentum
Everything in the universe is spinning with angular momentum. However, the conservation of angular momentum demands that angular momentum cannot be created nor destroyed. Therefore, similar to the energy problem above there must be a source for the angular momentum in our universe that cannot be accounted for by naturalistic theories.
Quotes
Paul Davies wrote in, The Edge of Infinity (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1981), p161.
...represents the instantaneous suspension of physical laws, the sudden, abrupt flash of lawlessness that allowed something to come out of nothing. It represents a true miracle---transcending physical principles.
Conclusion
The big bang is based on two purely philosophical assumptions, the Copernican Principle and an unbounded universe. If these assumptions are wrong as the evidence indicates, so is every conclusion about the universe based on the big bang.
News
- Earth, Mars, Moon Have Different Origin, Study Says. In a direct challenge to the nebula hypothesis, French geologist Guillaume Caro says that the chemistries of these three bodies are inconsistent with, and unexplainable by, that model. National Geographic. March 19, 2008.
- Hubble Detects Organic Molecule on an Extrasolar Planet. The molecule involved is methane (CH4), and the planet involved is too close to its primary to be hospitable for life. NASA press release. March 14, 2008.
- Creation Cosmologies Solve Spacecraft Mystery. D. Russell Humphreys, PhD, shows that the apparent "slowdown" of the spacecraft Pioneer 10 and 11 is actually evidence of an acceleration of the speed of light in extrasolar space. This in turn is evidence in favor of a straightforward Biblical interpretation of the description of the "firmament of heaven" on Creation Days 2 and 3. Impact articles, Institute for Creation Research, October 1, 2007.
- The Big Bang and the Bucks Set to Collide in Inner Space Scientists in Beijing unveiled a design for a machine 20 miles long that will slam together electrons and positrons, "to produce fireballs of energy recreating conditions when the universe was only a trillionth of a second old." Reportedly, the project will cost $6.7 billion and 13,000 "person-years" of labor to construct. NY Times. February 9, 2007.
- Big Bang Afterglow Fails An Intergalactic Shadow Test The apparent absence of shadows where shadows were expected to be is raising new questions about the faint glow of microwave radiation once hailed as proof that the universe was created by a "Big Bang." Moondaily. September 3, 2006.
- On July 23, 2005 the Crisis in Cosmology conference was held in Portugal by the Alternative Cosmology Group to consider the present state of understanding of the universe in the light of the increasing number of observations that challenge the conventional cosmological model.
- Mystery of extrasolar planets' eccentric orbits - evidence suggests that, as far as planetary systems go, our solar system might be special indeed. April 19, 2005
- Discovery By UCSD Astronomers Poses A Cosmic Puzzle: Can A 'Distant' Quasar Lie Within A Nearby Galaxy? An international team of astronomers has discovered within the heart of a nearby spiral galaxy a quasar whose light spectrum indicates that it is billions of light years away. By Kim McDonald. UDSD News January 10, 2005
- On May 22, 2004 An Open Letter to the Scientific Community was published in New Scientist, challenging the hypotheticals that bridge the gap between this theory and observations.
- Mysterious cosmos Why is our Universe so exquisitely tuned to host life? We are lucky to be alive. Extraordinarily lucky. Nature August 6th 2004.
- Glimpse At Early Universe Reveals Surprisingly Mature Galaxies A rare glimpse back in time into the universe's early evolution has revealed something startling: mature, fully formed galaxies where scientists expected to discover little more than infants. Space Daily July 8th 2004
- Speed of Light May Have Changed Recently not in some far corner of the universe, but right here on Earth. New Scientist June 30th 2004
- Massive Black Hole Stumps Researchers - astronomers have found a colossal black hole so ancient, they're not sure how it had enough time to grow to its current size June 28th 2004
- Newly Discovered Baby Planet Confounds Expectations Raw Materials For Habitable Planets Around Surprisingly Young Stars. Science Daily June 11th 2004
Related References
Creationist References
- The Big Bang Theory by Astronomy & Origins
- The Big Bang Theory—A Scientific Critique, part I
- The Big Bang Theory - A Scientific Critique, part II
- BUMPS IN THE BIG BANG by Russell Humphreys, Ph.D.
- Hubble, hubble, 'big bang' in trouble?
- More on the ‘Rotating Cosmos’!
- New evidence for a rotating cosmos
- Our galaxy is the centre of the universe, ‘quantized’ red shifts show.
- So Long, Eternal Universe; Hello Beginning, Hello End!”
- Was there a Big Bang?
- What about the 'big bang'?
- The Top 30 Problems with the Big Bang
- High-redshift quasars produce more big bang surprises by Bill Worraker
Secular References
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