‘Spectacular’ New Astronomical Discovery Claimed

Scientists think they have found evidence for the inflation theory inherent in the Big Bang. 

An astronomical discovery that is “definitely Nobel-prize-worthy” is being hailed across the scientific community. Researchers at the BICEPs telescope at the south pole say they have found proof that the universe experienced a great and sudden expansion after the initial moment of the Big Bang, an idea known as inflation. The discovery takes these scientists back to an even earlier stage of the birth of the universe, from one second after the Big Bang to less than “10-37 seconds” after that event.

The scientific community has been struggling with some problems with the Big Bang theory. For one, if this “explosion,” described as a “burst of everything” that set the universe in motion, really happened, how did the universe come to be so uniformly spread out? The idea of inflation, proposed in 1980, addressed this problem by suggesting that a few moments after the Big Bang, the universe experienced an enormous inflation at a speed much faster than the speed of light. However, where was the proof for inflation?

For evidence, physicists thought they could find gravitational waves or ripples in the “fabric” of space-time. But because gravity is such a relatively weak force, researchers decided they would be better off looking for the effect of inflation’s gravity waves on light, specifically the cosmic microwave background (CMB), They assumed that the interaction of the gravity waves with the CMB would leave a distinctive pattern called the B mode in the light’s polarization.

Now scientists have announced they have found the B mode and are declaring it a key proof of inflation. Alan Guth, the main scientist behind the inflation theory, was quoted as saying, “This is a totally new, independent piece of cosmological evidence that the inflationary picture fits together.” On the other hand, physicists still are at a loss to explain how gravity fits into the whole picture, and bigger questions about the origin of the universe remain to be answered.

Still, scientists and the science media are treating this news as a major, major event. Jonathan Amos calls it a “spectacular” discovery. Irene Klotz and Sharon Begley call the discovery the “holy grail” of astronomy. But we should step back for a second. The discovery needs to be confirmed, and what does it really tell us? It tells us scientists think they have evidence that would support the theory of inflation. However, this evidence  is just a picture from the present. It is not a historical movie of the Big Bang and inflation actually happening.

Major questions remain about the Big Bang. How can something pop up out of nothing? From where did the laws of physics come that would have made the Big Bang possible in the first place? How could the entire universe have been contained in a single point? There are no sensible scientific answers for these questions. In reality, the origin of the universe calls loudly for a supernatural explanation and not a natural one.

As for the expansion of the universe for which there seems to be real evidence, there could be other explanations besides a big bang or inflation. In fact, the Bible has one. It talks about God “stretching out the heavens” (Isaiah 45:12) (Jeremiah 10:12) (Jeremiah 51:15).

The saddest part about relying entirely on natural explanations for the origin of the universe means that no intelligent Creator is allowed to take part in the process. If He is not allowed to play a part in our past, He is also not allowed to play a part in our future. Therefore, for naturalists there is no hope for the future, no purpose to life, and we are all dependent on random processes and plain old luck. 

Christians are blessed to know there is indeed a purpose for life. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose“ (Romans 8:28). “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:11-12). Although St. Paul was speaking primarily of the early Jewish Christians, we know God has chosen us also for the purpose of following Jesus Christ, our Savior, so that we can proclaim His glory. And in following Jesus Christ as lambs following their Shepherd, we will not stop Him from leading us to the heavenly pastures. 

References: Bill Andrews, “Ripples in Space are Evidence of Universe’s Early Growth Spurt,” discover magazine.

Danny Faulkner, “Has Cosmic Inflation Been Proved?” Answers in Genesis

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QUESTION OF THE DAY

What vitamin may help slow the development of Alzheimer’s?

Mary Sano, PhD, of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, says a daily dose of 2,000 IU of vitamin E can delay the functional decline of patients suffering from mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. Patients in a vitamin E study were better able to handle such daily activities as taking medications, preparing meals, and carrying out financial transactions.

Source: Bottom Line Personal (3/1/14)

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