The Big Bang Theory S08e04 Dimension

Directed by Mark Cendrowski. With Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg. A VHS tape from Sheldon's past inspires him and Amy not to give up when they're still feeling down about their theory being disproven. The Big Bang Theory is a sitcom about four nerdy thirtysomething scientists who work at CalTech. It stars Johnny Galecki, Darlene’s boyfriend from Roseanne. This was how the sitcom was originally described to me. So unappealing was the description that I didn’t watch it for a year.

The Big Bang Theory Science
The Big Bang Theory S08e04 Dimension Episodes
Melissa Rauch
The Big Bang Theory S08e04 Dimensions

Since scientists first proposed the big bang theory, many people have questioned and criticized the model. Here's a rundown on some of the most common criticisms of the big bang theory:

It violates the first law of thermodynamics, which says you can't create or destroy matter or energy. Critics claim that the big bang theory suggests the universe began out of nothing. Proponents of the big bang theory say that such criticism is unwarranted for two reasons. The first is that the big bang doesn't address the creation of the universe, but rather the evolution of it. The other reason is that since the laws of science break down as you approach the creation of the universe, there's no reason to believe the first law of thermodynamics would apply.

Some critics say that the formation of stars and galaxies violates the law of entropy, which suggests systems of change become less organized over time. But if you view the early universe as completely homogeneous and isotropic, then the current universe shows signs of obeying the law of entropy.

Some astrophysicists and cosmologists argue that scientists have misinterpreted evidence like the redshift of celestial bodies and the cosmic microwave background radiation. Some cite the absence of exotic cosmic bodies that should have been the product of the big bang according to the theory.

The Big Bang Theory Science

The early inflationary period of the big bang appears to violate the rule that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. Proponents have a few different responses to this criticism. One is that at the start of the big bang, the theory of relativity didn't apply. As a result, there was no issue with traveling faster than the speed of light. Another related response is that space itself can expand faster than the speed of light, as space falls outside the domain of the theory of gravity.

There are several alternative models that attempt to explain the development of the universe, though none of them have as wide an acceptance as the big bang theory:

The steady-state model of the universe suggests the universe always had and will always have the same density. The theory reconciles the apparent evidence that the universe is expanding by suggesting that the universe generates matter at a rate proportionate to the universe's rate of expansion.

The Ekpyrotic model suggests our universe is the result of a collision of two three-dimensional worlds on a hidden fourth dimension. It doesn't conflict with the big bang theory completely, as after a certain amount of time it aligns with the events described in the big bang theory.

The big bounce theory suggests our universe is one of a series of universes that first expand, then contract again. The cycle repeats after several billion years.

The Big Bang Theory S08e04 Dimension Episodes

Plasma cosmology attempts to describe the universe in terms of the electrodynamic properties of the universe. Plasma is an ionized gas, which means it's a gas with free roaming electrons that can conduct electricity.

There are several other models as well. Could one of these theories (or other ones we haven't even thought of) one day replace the big bang theory as the accepted model of the universe? It's quite possible. As time passes and our capability to study the universe increases, we'll be able to make more accurate models of how the universe developed.

To learn more about the big bang and related topics, take a look at the links below.

Melissa Rauch

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Sources

The Big Bang Theory S08e04 Dimensions

'Big Bang Theory -- An Overview.' All About Science. http://www.big-bang-theory.com/
'Cambridge Cosmology: Hot Big Bang Model.' Cambridge University. http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/user/gr/public/bb_home.html
Castellanos, Joel. 'The Shape of Space.' NonEuclid. http://www.cs.unm.edu/~joel/NonEuclid/space.html
Felder, Gary. 'Beyond the Big Bang: Inflation and the Very Early Universe.' North Carolina State University. 2002. http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/kenny/papers/inflation.html
Feuerbacher, Bjorn and Scranton, Ryan. 'Evidence for the Big Bang.' TalkOrigins Archive. Jan. 25, 2006. http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/astronomy/bigbang.html
'The Geometry of the Universe.' Astronomy 162. University of Tennessee. http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr162/lect/cosmology/geometry.html
Hawking, Stephen. 'A Brief History of Time.' Bantam Books. New York. 1998.
LaRocco, Chris and Rothstein, Blair. 'The Big Bang: It sure was Big!' University of Michigan. http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/bigbang.htm
Marmet, Paul. 'Big Bang Cosmology Meets an Astronomical Death.' 21st Century, Science and Technology. Vol. 3, No. 3. 1990. http://www.newtonphysics.on.ca/BIGBANG/Bigbang.html
'Mysteries of Deep Space.' Engle Brothers Media, Inc. PBS. http://www.pbs.org/deepspace/
Plait, Phil. 'What happened before the Big Bang?' Bad Astronomy. July 2007. http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2007/07/01/what-happened-before-the-big-bang/
Plasma Cosmology. http://www.plasmacosmology.net/
Shestople, Paul. 'Big Bang Cosmology Primer.' University of California, Berkeley. December 24, 1997. http://cosmology.berkeley.edu/Education/IUP/Big_Bang_Primer.html
Steinhardt, Paul J. 'A Brief Introduction to the Ekpryotic Universe.' Princeton University. http://www.physics.princeton.edu/~steinh/npr/
'Universe 101: Big Bang Theory.' NASA. http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/bb_theory.html
Voisey, Jon. 'The Big Bang - Common Misconceptions.' The Angry Astronomer. July 29, 2006. http://angryastronomer.blogspot.com/2006/07/big-bang-common-misconceptions.html
'What is the structure of the universe?' The Official String Theory Web Site. http://www.superstringtheory.com/cosmo/cosmo2.html
Wright, Edward L. 'Cosmology Tutorial.' Retrieved June 2, 2008. Last modified May 27, 2008. http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~wright/cosmolog.htm

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