Chapter 1: The Enigma of the Big Bang

Have you ever pondered the origins of the Big Bang?

Seriously, where did it occur?

The paradox is that the Big Bang gave rise to our universe, meaning it didn’t occur within it. So, one must wonder: where did it happen? Consider this: if there were no universe, no outer space, then there is simply nothingness. The more you contemplate this, the more perplexing it becomes.

Imagine total and absolute nothingness. For many, this evokes thoughts of outer space, the abyss of deep water, or perhaps the void of sleep. Yet, each of these references has something in common: they all contain elements of existence. Space might seem like an infinite black void, yet it teems with stars. We send astronauts there and launch satellites into it; it’s not nothing—it’s a tangible dimension. Similarly, the depths of the ocean, though dark and foreboding, still comprise physical matter. Lastly, while sleep may not be a physical realm per se, it still occurs in a physical entity—your brain.

The crux of the matter is that we struggle to grasp the concept of nothingness; it doesn’t exist within our universe.

Did it exist prior to our universe? Perhaps. Who really knows? But could our universe have emerged spontaneously from that nothingness?

Reflecting on my previous discussion about outdated scientific theories, one that stands out is spontaneous generation. In earlier centuries, it was believed that leaving meat outdoors would cause flies and maggots to appear from thin air. However, as scientists delved deeper into the microscopic world, they realized that life does not emerge spontaneously; rather, life arises from pre-existing life.

Biogenesis: life arises from life. Life does not materialize from decomposing matter.

But can a universe emerge from nothingness?

Refer to this NASA article detailing the Big Bang and its role in shaping our universe. Pay attention to two aspects of their explanation:

1. They begin their narrative after the Big Bang.
2. They identify various challenges associated with the Big Bang theory and subsequently propose solutions.

While there’s nothing inherently wrong with theorizing solutions, it’s crucial to remember that hypotheses are foundational to the scientific method. The process typically unfolds as follows:

Make an observation → Pose a question → Formulate a hypothesis → Generate a prediction based on the hypothesis → Rigorously test the prediction, modifying the hypothesis as needed → Eventually, if the hypothesis withstands scrutiny, it may be validated, yet it will always remain open to further testing and enhancement.

If NASA is still generating hypotheses to elucidate the Big Bang, then it remains a theory that is far from proven.

And that’s perfectly acceptable—science is an ever-evolving journey of exploration and understanding. Just because we’re still in the hypothesis stage doesn’t diminish the value of the theory.

However, do we perceive the Big Bang as an unfinished, hypothetical theory? Or is it presented as an established fact?

From my experience, many college professors seem to regard it as infallible.

Yet, the Big Bang remains a hypothesis. Is it a sound hypothesis?

Let’s revisit that initial observation I pointed out in NASA’s article—their explanation commences after the Big Bang, offering no insights into what preceded it. Because, logically, there was nothing, right? Just void. So how did something arise from nothing? Surely someone must have an answer?

National Geographic at least acknowledges it as a theory (“the best-supported theory”), but like NASA, their account begins post-Big Bang, after something inexplicably emerged from nothing.

Is there anyone with an explanation of what instigated the Big Bang? Where it originated? Where it transpired when no space or physical dimensions existed?

The answer seems to be no—from Khan Academy to Wikipedia, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Australia Telescope National Facility.

After extensive research, I’ve uncovered a singular explanation for what existed before the Big Bang: Nothing. Not even the concept of time.

Well, that’s obvious.

The essence of the Big Bang theory is that it initiated everything—our entire universe. Claiming that there was “nothing” before the Big Bang fails to provide an explanation. Again, I must ask: how did something arise from nothing? “The theory posits that in the first 10^-43 seconds of its existence, the universe was extremely compact, less than a million billion billionth the size of an atom” (National Geographic). That’s intriguing, but where did that minuscule universe originate? And where was it located if space—if anything—did not yet exist?

While some potential evidence supports the Big Bang—such as the expanding universe (inflation) and the cosmic microwave background (CMB)—where is the evidence or even a coherent hypothesis explaining how it all began?

It’s akin to attempting to construct a house in midair. You might have all the necessary materials and an excellent design, but if you try to build that house on nothing—on empty air without a foundation—it simply won’t hold up.

To be thorough, let’s closely examine this precariously suspended structure, as it stands.

Review the various explanations of the Big Bang I’ve shared. You’ll find phrases like:

“not yet known,” “to astronomer’s surprise,” “it’s thought,” “still trying to figure out,” “to address this issue,” “has been suggested,” “still no consensus,” “we do not yet know.”

Feel free to verify my claims—I’m not using these phrases out of context. There is indeed substantial uncertainty and a noticeable reliance on conjecture within this theory.

What about direct evidence refuting the Big Bang? Am I able to provide that?

Yes and no. I can uncover a wealth of arguments against the theory—for instance, the expectation that the Big Bang should have produced equal quantities of antimatter and matter, yet we observe only matter; or that the types of stars expected to emerge during the universe's early stages are nowhere to be found; or that monopoles, which should have resulted from the Big Bang, are nonexistent.

The dilemma is that it oscillates back and forth. I can find a counterargument to the Big Bang theory, only to discover a rationale that dismisses it. Conversely, I can find a supporting argument for the Big Bang theory, but then encounter a counterpoint that negates it.

In summary: the Big Bang is strictly a theory, despite its widespread acceptance, and it is a theory entirely lacking a solid foundation. (How does a universe emerge from nothingness again?) There is evidence supporting the theory and evidence opposing it; we appear to be at an impasse in that regard.

But allow me to pose this question: Why is the notion that an entire universe emerged from nothing—replete with uncertainties and unknowns—more palatable than the idea that the universe was intentionally created? Observe your surroundings. Everything originates from something. Wooden tables come from trees, flowers emerge from seeds, toys are manufactured, heat is derived from energy, and babies arise from parents. Can you name one item, aside from the universe itself, that comes from nothing?

This isn’t a dichotomy of science versus religion. It requires just as much faith to believe in the Big Bang as it does to accept a created universe.

Personally, until someone elucidates how our magnificent, intricate universe—with its myriad planets, moons, and stars—could have simply exploded from an infinitesimal speck existing in the midst of absolute nothingness, and until the theory is devoid of ambiguous phrases like “not yet known” and “it’s thought,” I remain skeptical of it.

The decision is yours to reach your own conclusion.

Regardless of your stance, there’s still more to explore—the evolution of life. In our next discussion, we will not delve into the universe's origin but rather into the diverse life forms that inhabit it.

Chapter 2: The Origins of Life

The first video, titled "This Video DISMANTLES The Big Bang Theory," provides a critical examination of the Big Bang, questioning its validity and exploring alternative perspectives.

The second video, "The Big Bang Theory and the Evolution of our Universe (Cosmology - Lecture 2)," offers an in-depth lecture on the Big Bang theory and its implications for the evolution of our universe.