^CategoryCosmology

Scientist studying stars through large telescope, cosmology

^{Type
post

Author
Jean-Pierre Luminet
Date
April 24, 2024

Categorized
Cosmology

Tagged
background radiation, Big Bang, cosmology, Einstein, Evolution News, expansion of the universe, fine tuning, origins, space, theory of relativity, Time, Universe}

The Men Who Actually Discovered the Big Bang

_{New book explores the forgotten figures behind one of the greatest scientific discoveries in history.} _{Jean-Pierre Luminet

April 24, 2024

7

Cosmology}

Editor’s note: Discovery Institute Press is delighted to announce the publication of The Big Bang Revolutionaries: The Untold Story of Three Scientists Who Reenchanted Cosmology, by Jean-Pierre Luminet. The book has received rave reviews including from three Nobel Prize winners. The following is an excerpt from Chapter 1. The purpose of this book is not to exhaustively survey the history of cosmology through the centuries, nor that of the few decades that saw the development of relativistic cosmology. The available studies on the subject are numerous, and some are of high quality. I propose instead to present and analyze the texts that originated the three main ideas of relativistic cosmology: These texts are the work of three pioneers who, armed only with Read More ›

Image of an expanding universe. shot from far away with many colours, beautiful.

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
April 23, 2024

Categorized
Cosmology

Tagged
Astronomy, Big Bang, cosmology, discovery institute press, Einstein, Expanding universe, nobel, Physics, Roger Penrose, space, spacetime, stars, Time}

The New Book on the Big Bang that Roger Penrose is Praising

_{Meet the forgotten men who discovered evidence for an expanding universe.} _{News

April 23, 2024

8

Cosmology}

Many widely read scientific writers of our day mistakenly attribute the concepts of the expanding universe and the Big Bang to Edwin Hubble and Albert Einstein. Hubble did provide evidence of an expanding universe, but he neither discovered such evidence nor accepted the radical idea that space itself was expanding. As for Einstein, he held out against the idea of an expanding universe for more than a decade, and ceased working in the field as soon as he had to amend his view. The real heroes of the Big Bang revolution are the Russian Alexander Friedmann and Belgian priest Georges Lemaître. That they are virtually unknown to the general public is one thing. That their contribution is underestimated by astrophysicists Read More ›

The concept of the infinite universe and its mysteries through abstract forms

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
March 24, 2024

Categorized
Cosmology

Tagged
Closer to Truth (video series), David Hilbert (on infinities), Multiverse theory, Nancey Murphy, Robert J. Marks, Robert Lawrence Kuhn}

Is There Any Evidence That Our Universe Is One of Many?

_{Philosopher Nancey Murphy recently confessed that she had to adjust her thinking based on the idea that multiverse theory “had progressed.” But has it?} _{News

March 24, 2024

5

Cosmology}

There is plenty of evidence for the fine-tuning of the only universe we know. But, physicist Rob Sheldon says, there is still no evidence for a multiverse. Read More ›

Astronomy and science concept. Elements of this image furnished by NASA, Mathematical and physical formulas against the backdrop of a galaxy in the universe, Space background, AI Generated

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
March 2, 2024

Categorized
Cosmology

Tagged
Anthropic Principle and fine tuning, Closer to Truth (video series), Cosmological constant and fine tuning, Fine tuning (Alan Guth), Fine Tuning (Alexander Vilenkin), Robert Lawrence Kuhn, String theory}

Do New Findings Make Fine-Tuning of the Universe Harder to Deny?

_{To judge from this episode of Closer to Truth, cosmologists like Alan Guth are finding it harder than ever to rule out intelligent design of the universe} _{News

March 2, 2024

5

Cosmology}

Guth tries explaining away fine-tuning via inflation and string theory but admits that fine-tuning is a “valid explanation” and “our only sensible explanation.” Read More ›

Physics or mathematical equations on a universe decorative LED background give the impression of interstellar space travel.

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
February 18, 2024

Categorized
Cosmology, Physics, Probability

Tagged
30 constants, Adam Mann, Alexander Vilenkin, Closer to Truth (video series), Cosmological constant and fine tuning, Cosmological constant and zero, Dark energy, Fine tuning (initial conditions of universe), Rob Sheldon, Robert Lawrence Kuhn, Subhir Sarkhar}

A Physicist Tries to Avoid the Fact of Design in Our Universe…

_{Physicist Alexander Vilenkin of Tufts University argues, against apparent fine-tuning, that our universe’s cosmological constant should have a special value like zero, but doesn’t} _{News

February 18, 2024

5

Cosmology, Physics, Probability}

In his discussion with Robert Lawrence Kuhn at Closer to Truth, Tufts physicist and cosmologist Alexander Vilenkin addresses the question, “Is the Universe Fine-Tuned for Life and Mind?”: If the deep laws of the universe had been ever so slightly different human beings wouldn’t, and couldn’t, exist. All explanations of this exquisite fine-tuning, obvious and not-so-obvious, have problems or complexities. Natural or supernatural, that is the question. Vilenkin — who is also a professor of evolutionary science — concedes the main point: Alexander Vilenkin: [0:40] Well yeah that’s right. It appears that the Universe is fine-tuned in the sense that there are about 30 constants of nature which take some specific value: if you look at these numbers, they look Read More ›

Stars nebula in space. Elements of this image furnished by NASA

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
January 27, 2024

Categorized
Astrobiology, Cosmology

Tagged
Dirk Schulze-Makuch (wager), Extraterrestrials (as easier to spot now), Fermi Paradox, Great SIlence, Ian Crawford (wager), John Ball, Zoo Hypothesis (Dirk Schulze-Makuch)}

Science Wager: Extraterrestrials Will Be Spotted Within 15 Years

_{An astrobiologist had made the bet with a planetary scientist, after they whittled down ET theories to two possibilities: They’re hiding or they’re not out there} _{News

January 27, 2024

4

Astrobiology, Cosmology}

Dirk Schulze-Makuch thinks ET is hiding (the Zoo Hypothesis) but planetary scientist Ian Crawford takes the position that they are just not out there. Read More ›

abstract illustration of the cosmos on the theme of the origin of life in the universe with stars, comets and nebulae

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
January 27, 2024

Categorized
Cosmology, Philosophy, Science

Tagged
Alan Boyle, Avi Loeb, Brian Koberlein on ET life, Cosmology (current problems), Fine tuning of Earth as coincidence, Fine tuning of universe (as illusion), Foundational Questions Institute (FQI), Jason Steffen, Liz Kruesi, Multiverse concept and evidence, Paul Halpern}

Five Trends That Help Us Make Sense of Space Science Today

_{News

January 27, 2024

5

Cosmology, Philosophy, Science}

It’s worth keeping all the biases, hopes, uncertainties, and value judgments in mind when we are told that we should “trust the science.” Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
December 2, 2023

Categorized
Cosmology, Probability

Tagged
Autocatalytic reactions, Big Numbers and ET, Charles Q. Choi, Copernican Principle, Extraterrestrial life, Fine-tuning of universe for life, Goldilocks Principle, Intentionality and life, Joel Achenbach, Marcelo Gleiser on definition of life, Matt Williams, Origin of life on other planets, Piero Madau, Rare Earth Principle, Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), Temperate terrestrial planets}

The Search for ET Should Quit Claiming Earth Is Not Special

_{How will we assess the raw probability of being alone in this universe when we have no other universe to compare with ours?} _{News

December 2, 2023

5

Cosmology, Probability}

Earth IS special. The Copernican Principle is false, due to massive evidence of fine-tuning. Of course, that does not show that Earth is unique. Read More ›

^{Type
post

Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
September 16, 2023

Categorized
Cosmology, Environment, Human exceptionalism

Tagged
Biocentrism, Dawn of a Mindful Universe (HarperOne 2023), Ecology, Marcelo Gleiser, Marcelo Gleiser (on human exceptionality), Philip Goff}

Theoretical Physicist Admits That Humans Are Unique

_{In his forthcoming book, Marcelo Gleiser challenges us to acknowledge our responsibility to save the planet} _{Denyse O'Leary

September 16, 2023

6

Cosmology, Environment, Human exceptionalism}

Gleiser is safer than some near the Third Rail in science —admitting an immaterial reality— because he approaches it under cover of saving the planet. Read More ›

Starry night sky over sea and beach with man silhouette. man standing on sea beach under starry sky.

^{Type
post

Author
News
Date
September 12, 2023

Categorized
Cosmology

Tagged
aliens, Brian Keating, cosmology, cosmos, ET, Extraterrestrial civilizations (search), Joe Rogan, SETI, space}

Rogan and Astrophysicist Talk Aliens and UFOs

_{Are we really the only (intelligent) beings out here?} _{News

September 12, 2023

5

Cosmology}

By David Klinghoffer Our astrophysicist friend Brian Keating from UC San Diego was on the Joe Rogan Experience — for three and a half hours, much as philosopher of science Stephen Meyer was recently. I’ve listened to the whole thing. Very interesting! And with shout-outs to Dr. Meyer on a couple of points that Dr. Keating offers for consideration: that religious faith prepared the way for modern science by teaching the intelligibility and order of nature, and that what really got Galileo in trouble was challenging not the Bible but Aristotle, who had in effect (but not literally) been embraced as a saint by the Catholic Church. Watch and listen here on Spotify. From Another World, or Our Own? The conversation is very wide-ranging, as Read More ›