Ask the Dreadlocked Science Geek

[LeftWriteFemme]

Originally Posted by Linus

Since we've been discussing certain things in the Religion thread and I can't remember it being asked here...

Before the "Big Bang" what was there? Do we know if something else existed or was it truly ... well... nothingness?

Doesn't the law of conservation mean that before the "Big Bang" there was everything we have now simply in a different form?

[dreadgeek]

Originally Posted by LeftWriteFemme

Doesn't the law of conservation mean that before the "Big Bang" there was everything we have now simply in a different form?

Not exactly. There are a number of conservation laws:

Energy is conserved---meaning that in an isolated system the total energy in that system remains steady over time.

Mass is conserved--meaning that in an isolated system, the total mass of the system remains constant.

Both linear and angular momentum are conserved--meaning that provided that an object is not effected by another force, it will remain moving in the direction it is going (linear momentum) or spinning as it does (angular momentum).

Now, it is true that ALL of the mass of the Universe (less the anti-matter which was annihilated) was in the singularity at the moment just prior to the Big Bang. No energy or mass has been created since that time. The reason I say 'not really' is that matter--as we understand it--didn't even begin to exist until quite a bit AFTER the Big Bang. (around 250,000 years give or take) Before that, the Universe was too hot for atoms to form.

After things settled down, sub-atomic particles could live long enough which is why we see, for instance, the CMBR (cosmic microwave background radiation).

Cheers
Aj

[betenoire]

(I couldn't resist)

(Favourite line = they froze their asses off)

[dreadgeek]

Originally Posted by June

For me, the Big Bang theory is the most compelling reason to believe in a creator.

When I was a kid, I would sneak out at night and look up at the stars and think what was there before this? Who made this? How did this happen?

I still don't believe in a creator, but I am always awed by the fact that we're here and the chain of events, whatever they were that caused the imperfect Storm of Humanity (and everything else) to happen.

See, to me, the Big Bang theory--or more accurately, some of the fingerprints left behind by the Big Bang--are pretty serious nails in the coffin of ANY model of origins involving a creator. Why? Because I like economical theories. By economical I mean not requiring any more moving pieces than is necessary. Invoking a deity, in order to get a rapid expansion of the Universe which left a fingerprint in the form of a pervasive microwave radiation at a fairly uniform temperature no matter where one chooses to look*, seems extravagant to me. Because now there are TWO complex things to explain--first one has to explain the Universe expanding and then one has to explain the nature of a deity that could bring such a thing about and do so in a manner that almost *perfectly* disguises its presence.

Like you, I'm in awe of the fact that we're here. I'm even more in awe of the fact that our little species, which has no reason to be able to understand pretty much *anything* that has happened in science since the early 19th century, is able to understand so much.

Cheers
Aj

[mariamma]

Dear Dreadgeek,
Thank you so much for starting this thread. It's so very exciting to read nerdy science answers written by an educated skeptic who doesn't break out in hives to the word deist. I have no questions for you but I hope someone throws a good juicy one out there.
OH! And I love that I'm not the only one who believes in the possibility of creation being the creator. I thought that was just my weird belief. Now I see that I'm not alone
Mariamma

[*Anya*]

I just wanted to say that it is great to see you posting again! Missed your objective, informed and critical-thinking abilities!

Happy holidays to you and yours.

[mariamma]

OK, I lied dreadgeek. I do have a query.
Sound waves travel through matter. Is there a formula for how sound waves penetrate matter? Are there densitiies that they cannot go through? When sound passes through the human body, will certain frequencies pass quicker than others? Is there a scientific reason for why the heart beat will tune to the drum line of music, such as certain molecular structures being more absorbant/or resistant to sound waves? And what is the difference between a wave and a vibration?

[The JD]

Dear Dreaded Science Geek,

Why do bugs die on their backs? Or maybe more accurately, why do I always find dead bugs on their back, legs in the air, and never belly down, like maybe they're just taking a little nap?

Confused in Atlanta

[uniquetobeme]

Dear Dreadgeek,
This is SO cool! I have done a little bit of self study in Astronomy, probably just enough to confuse myself...I've learned that in order for a theory to be viable it has to be able to make a prediction. From the little that I've learned, the estimate of the temperature at the time the universe was created, the idea that the universe will keep expanding, the fact that the universe started out as a place of extreme density...I tend to think we are actually inside a black a hole in a larger universe. The temperature and density inside a black hole seem quite similar to the start of our universe. Mathematically, black holes have the same (I believe) properties to the edge of our universe. What I think really sells me on the idea is the dark matter and dark energy. Inside a black hole, the universe that the black hole resides in would not be able to detect what is going on inside the black hole, but inside the black hole, I would imagine the universe outside of it would be detectable. This dark matter, could it be a universe outside of our universe? I get frustrated because I hear scientist are interested in the topic, but I haven't found much on scientist really exploring the topic. I guess, in my mind, a point of infinite density doesn't seem possible. Mathematically, that is what happens, but it doesn't seem logical...It seems like something would give. Like the matter would convert into energy or it would invert itself and start expanding infinitely apart. Hope this made sense.
Anyway, just curious of your thoughts...