• Question: if (as to current theories as far as i know) there was no time before the big bang, how did the big bang happen because it would always be some time before it happened, because time couldnt get there because theres no time?? (i dont know quite how to phrase the question)

    Asked by Robin M to Alex, Anaïs, Peter, Sarwat, Shreesha on 12 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Anaïs Pujol

      Anaïs Pujol answered on 12 Mar 2015:

      Good question, as before the big bang the universe was not created, the time was not created either, so there is no before …So as the time was not there, asking yourself what there was before makes no sense…

    • Photo: Shreesha Bhat

      Shreesha Bhat answered on 13 Mar 2015:

      Hi Robin,

      An excellent question! Your question reminded me of a research done by Stephen Hawking and his colleagues, who extended Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity to include measurements of time and space. According to their calculations, ‘time and space had a finite beginning that corresponded to the origin of matter and energy.’

      That would mean that the singularity (the point from which the universe expanded) didn’t appear in space or at a particular time; rather, space began inside of the singularity, and time started then. Prior to the singularity, nothing existed, not space, time, matter, or energy – nothing!

      If you want to have a look at their calculations, its here: http://rspa.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/royprsa/314/1519/529.full.pdf

      By the way, you should be proud of yourself! Keep thinking…and finding answers!

    • Photo: Peter Maskell

      Peter Maskell answered on 13 Mar 2015:

      no one really knows how the big bang happened just that it did!

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