Big Bang Theory

 

• The Big Question for Humanity

One of the greatest questions for humankind has always been – “How did the universe come into existence?”
Some religious texts describe it as a creation of God, but modern science presents a very popular scientific explanation for the origin of the universe – known as the Big Bang Theory.

• History of the Theory

·         1927: Belgian scientist Georges Lemaître first proposed the idea that the universe might have originated from a “Primordial Atom” – a single tiny point.

·         1929: American astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered that galaxies are moving away from each other. This meant the universe is constantly expanding.

·         Later, many scientists provided further evidence to strengthen this idea, and today it is the most widely accepted theory in the scientific community.

• What Does the Big Bang Theory Say?

1.      About 13.8 billion years ago, the universe did not exist.

2.      There was only an extremely small, hot, and dense point – called a Singularity.

3.      Suddenly, a massive explosion occurred – which we call the Big Bang.

4.      After the explosion, the universe began expanding rapidly, and slowly gases, stars, planets, and galaxies were formed.

5.      Even today, the universe is still expanding.

 Cosmic calendar

• Understanding through Examples

·         Balloon Example:
When we blow up a balloon, the dots on its surface move farther apart. In the same way, all the stars and galaxies in the universe are moving away from each other.

·         Popcorn Example:
When popcorn is heated, a tiny kernel bursts open and expands into something large. Similarly, from a tiny point, the universe exploded and expanded into something vast.

• Scientific Evidence

1.      Galaxies Moving Away (Hubble’s Law):
Scientists observed that the light from galaxies is shifted toward the red end of the spectrum (Red Shift). This means galaxies are constantly moving away.

2.      Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB):
In 1965, two scientists discovered a special type of microwave radiation. This radiation is the remnant from the time when the universe started cooling after the Big Bang.

3.      Formation of Light Elements:
In the early stages of the universe, light elements like Hydrogen and Helium were formed. Even today, these are the most abundant elements in the universe.

• Evolution of the Universe

·         First Second: Energy and fundamental particles were created.

·         Three Minutes: Light elements like hydrogen and helium were formed.

·         About 380,000 years later: The universe cooled, allowing light to travel freely – which we can still measure today as the CMB.

·         Billions of Years Later: Stars, galaxies, and planets were formed.

·         Today: The universe continues to expand, and new stars are still being born.

• The Unsolved Mysteries

While the Big Bang Theory explains a lot, some questions remain unanswered:

·         Why did the Big Bang happen?

·         How did everything come out of nothing?

·         What existed before the Big Bang?

Science does not yet have definite answers to these questions.

• Conclusion

            The Big Bang Theory shows us that the universe was born from a tiny point and has now grown to contain billions of galaxies. This theory is not only about science but also symbolizes humankind’s curiosity and quest for knowledge. Even today, scientists continue to search for new discoveries to unlock the mysteries of the universe.