BarkellWH -> RE: Black Hole eats sun (Jan. 13 2013 13:19:58)
|
Timoteo, Ricardo, Richard, et al, Thanks for the tip on the book, Timoteo. I had not heard of it but would like to read it. I have read quite a few books over the years on everything we've been discussing here, and one I find particularly good for the layman is Brian Greene's, entitled, "The Fabric of the Cosmos," published in 2004. He delves into all the issues of space-time, general and special relativity, the Big Bang, etc., at some length, but always keeping it at a layman's level. One of the things I have always found interesting has been the problem of what caused the Big Bang in the first place. What triggered the event (we usually use the term "explosion" don't we?) that began the inflationary framework of space-time? One of the more interesting theories was, again, discovered by Einstein: the theory of "repulsive gravity." The theory suggests that at "time zero," the infinite point experienced an inflation field whose value provided the energy and "negative pressure" that fueled the outward burst of repulsive gravity that resulted in the Big Bang. Repulsive gravity (as opposed to attraction) is another one of those theories that sound counter-intuitive, but working through the explanation, it makes sense. Still, I have a hard time coming to terms with the idea that "nothing" can exist outside space-time, other than that general relativity makes it impossible. I understand it perfectly on an intellectual level, but I guess the amateur philosopher in me wants to theorize that the infinite point at the time of the Big Bang, had to exist in something. I am not a religious person, and the idea of the infinite point beginning the inflationary framework of space-time, with nothing ("nothing") outside the framework, sounds like one of the "proofs" for God that dates back to medieval times: the "Unmoved Mover." The idea that if you traced all activity back far enough, there had to be an event that started the first movement that has led to everything else throughout the Cosmos, up to the present day; and that "Unmoved Mover" that started it all would have been God. I cannot accept that, but for those who would like to, superficially at least, it comes pretty close to how our understanding of the beginning looks today. Cheers, Bill
|
|
|
|