Where Did The Particles That Started The Big Bang Come From?

[Reality Check]

BTW (To anybody) regarding the Hartle-Hawking ... how plausible is this theory? (The theory did specify that the whole physical laws of the universe could be reduced to a single mathematical formula... Has anybody found that formula yet, or gotten close?)

The theory does not specify it. You may be talking about BEFORE THE BIG BANG — part 2 By Tom Yulsman:

This has a profound implication: If we probe close enough to the origin of space and time, the equations that physicists use to describe the laws of nature may become so simple that it may become possible to write them on far less than one long line. They might even fit on a T-shirt. In fact, Turok claims that one extremely simple equation might do the trick: “We may be able to devise a single symbol that contains all the laws of nature.” This would be, in fact, the holy grail of physics: a theory of everything from which all the laws of nature can be derived.

This is a claim by one mathematician not a result of the theory.

 

[INRM]

This is a claim by one mathematician not a result of the theory.

Is this mathematician well known, or at least known to be reliable

 

[Reality Check]

Is this mathematician well known, or at least known to be reliable

Neil Turok

 

[INRM]

Highly respected scientist, eh?

 

[INRM]

I just re-read his theory. He said the universe doesn't start at a point, but at the bottom of the cone with the point on top. Doesn't that mean that the universe has no beginning but anend at the point?

INRM

 

[Reality Check]

I just re-read his theory. He said the universe doesn't start at a point, but at the bottom of the cone with the point on top. Doesn't that mean that the universe has no beginning but anend at the point?

INRM

It means that there is no singulatity (a cone with a point) at the beginning.

 

[rsaavedra]

Quantum gravity is probably the biggest problem facing theoretical physics and cosmology at the moment. I'm afraid you're not going to find anyone here, or anywhere else, who can explain it, because no such explanation currently exists.

When everything else fails, ask Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_gravity

 

[INRM]

Reality Check,

Is there a singularity at the end?

 

[INRM]

When everything else fails, ask Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_gravity

This is from the Wikipedia article "Quantum field theory depends on particle fields embedded in the flat space-time of special relativity."

Why embedded in flat space-time? I thought space-time was 3D or more?

 

[Reality Check]

Reality Check,

Is there a singularity at the end?

It depends on whether the universe is open, flat or closed. If closed then there will be a big crunch which may include a singularity.

 

[Reality Check]

This is from the Wikipedia article "Quantum field theory depends on particle fields embedded in the flat space-time of special relativity."

Why embedded in flat space-time? I thought space-time was 3D or more?

"flat space-time" = a 4D space-time that is not curved, i.e. the particle fields are not in a curved space-time.

 

[INRM]

Not to sound stupid but what does open or flat mean in regards to universal matters?

 

[Reality Check]

Not to sound stupid but what does open or flat mean in regards to universal matters?

A flat universe never contracts and tends to a constant expansion.
An open universe always expands at an expanding rate.

 

[Michelle Lyon]

Could someone define "universe"? Do you mean *our* universe the Milky Way, and all objects within it (synonymous with our "galaxy"), or do you mean our universe plus all of space outside that universe and all objects within it as we know it thanks to modern technology, and also all object we don't know about but can probably agree exist due to space being infinite?

Mind you I'm no physics expert, but if by "Universe" we mean "Milky Way" then yes, there may have been a Bang that began this particular galaxy and the time within it, and maybe also a smaller Bang that created the solar system we now live in, just the same way we can now observe this happening in other galaxies. But for one Bang to have created all of space and time? Is that even possible?

Also, are other objects really expanding away from us, or are we pulling away from them?

 

[Reality Check]

Could someone define "universe"? Do you mean *our* universe the Milky Way, and all objects within it (synonymous with our "galaxy"), or do you mean our universe plus all of space outside that universe and all objects within it as we know it thanks to modern technology, and also all object we don't know about but can probably agree exist due to space being infinite?

Mind you I'm no physics expert, but if by "Universe" we mean "Milky Way" then yes, there may have been a Bang that began this particular galaxy and the time within it, and maybe also a smaller Bang that created the solar system we now live in, just the same way we can now observe this happening in other galaxies. But for one Bang to have created all of space and time? Is that even possible?

Also, are other objects really expanding away from us, or are we pulling away from them?

Universe is defined as everything there is.
"Milky Way" is the galaxy that the Sun is in (about 100,000 light years across and containing 200 to 400 billion stars).
There was just 1 Big Bang that created the universe (not just our galaxy or solar system). It was an explosion of space and time. It is possible and there is plenty of evidence for it.

Other objects are really expanding away from us. They are also expanding away from each other. This is due to the expansion of space. The classic analogy is that of dots on a balloon. As the balloon expands the space between each dot gets bigger. All of the dots expand away from each other. There is no central dot from which the others expand.

 

[Beerina]

This is in no way a scientific answer, but, whenever someone asks what caused the Universe to exist, in the back of my head I always think: "What was there to stop it?"

That does sort of offer a philosophical way out of it. In "true nothingness", whatever that is, there aren't even any rules that prevent things from popping into existence, uncaused.

Of course, whether that can translate into some kind of true physics remains to be seen.