The Two Big Bangs (Synopsis)

“These theories were based on the hypothesis that all the matter in the universe was created in one big bang at a particular time in the remote past.” -Fred Hoyle

It’s making headlines every time someone brings it up: a quantum calculation, a new theory or some mathematical evidence proves it once and for all: there was no Big Bang.

Image credit: NASA / STScI / A. Felid. Image credit: NASA / STScI / A. Felid.

Is that even possible? Honestly, it depends on which definition of the Big Bang you’re using. As it turns out, there are two of them, and there’s a good (historical) reason for that. But in the context of what we know today, one of them isn’t a good definition anymore, and hasn’t been for decades.

Image credit: ESA and the Planck collaboration, modified by E. Siegel. Image credit: ESA and the Planck collaboration, modified by E. Siegel.

Come find out what this all means, and whether it’s possible that the Big Bang never happened. (Hint: it did!)

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