I was
reading an essay on the “gravitational forces emanating from the early
Universe” by Lawrence Krause (Scientific American October 2014 pages 59-67). It
talks about “inflation” at the moment of the big bang. Similar ideas were expressed
earlier by Stephen Hawking in his book on “A Brief History of the Time”.
I do not
understand many of the concepts and physical constants. But, I have no problem
understanding the general idea expressed by these authors. If indeed our
current Universe came out of “inflation” after a “big bang”, the implication is
that time in this universe started with the big bang. Was there “time” before
that? Second, scientists say that the universe expanded or inflated like a
balloon. Great! But, into what space did it expand into? The way we use
language makes me ask this question. For the universe to expand, there has to
be some “space” already existent to expand into. Where did that space come
from?
When we use the word “inflate” do
we not imply space outside and inside that which is expanding? Does that not
suggest that our universe has to be part of another universe? Or is this a
mental trap created by language? If so, how can we approach the question
without the use of language and linguistic logic? Indeed, in a more recent
article, I found that the entire concept of “space” is indefinite and relative,
particularly at the quantum level.
At another level, how are we able
to detect signals generated billions of years ago and attribute it to
“inflation”? The generating forces obviously left tell-tale signals. That does
not surprise me. Human brain detected those signals. That surprises me. And, to
perform that task, the human brain invented technology, special mathematics and
so on. But, what force or forces made it possible for this brain, which is
capable of detecting those forces, to come into being?
The
mystery is that everything we see in this universe (including us, human beings)
came out of this “big bang” event – may be. And human, this improbable product
of the universe, is capable of measuring the background radiation from the "big
bang", speculating about events and things he/she had
not seen……… Am dumbstruck at this point!
We have to depend on inference and
speculation to the best possible approximation in reconstructing the “big
bang”. Scientists have to perform that function. Rest of us have to go on
faith.
The more I read and think, it
appears that space and time are inter-connected, relative and always in relation to something. There is no absolute space or time. It is already "tomorrow" "somewhere" else in this planet. What
we see is not really what there is or where it is!
