HOW DID THE UNIVERSE ORIGINATE

Scientists differ on how the universe had its origin. Some of them believe that matter has always kept being created in a regular way. So, we can say that the universe must have had its origin a long, long time-billions of years ago. This theory does not explain what the source of all the matter of the universe was. As this theory holds that the universe is steady (not moving), it has been given the name Steady State Theory.

But most scientists support the view that the universe had its origin as a result of a gigantic explosion. This view has been given the name Big-Bang Theory.

THE BIG BANG

Out of the two theories regarding the origin of the universe, the Big Bang Theory has been accepted all over. But no one knows why the Big Bang took place. As for the other theory, it has not been accepted because it fails to explain the source of all the matter that is there in the universe.

This Big Bang is believed to have occurred 10 to 20 billion years ago and resulted in the beginning of the universe. The then universe consisted of strong radiation that soon took the shape of a fireball.

The fireball began to expand at a quick rate and within a few hundred years, a major part of the expanding ball took the form of matter. The matter consisted mainly of hydrogen gas with a small amount of helium and some other light elements. As a result, the radiation went on becoming thinner and thinner. And today, only faint radio waves are all that exists out of the original radiation.

In due course, the matter broke apart into big lumps that formed galaxies. In their turn, the galaxies broke apart to form stars.

As for the galaxy that we live in, at least one lump broke apart to form the sun, all the planets, satellites, and asteroids that constitute our solar system.

Evidently, our solar system is a very small part of the universe. As for our earth, it forms a still smaller part of it.