Home Science What Was The Universe Like Before The Big Bang

What Was The Universe Like Before The Big Bang

When you purchase through our sponsored links, we may earn a commission. By using this website you agree to our T&Cs.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Doug Wheller / Flickr

Scientists still can’t for sure determine what triggered The Big Bang and the beginning of the universe. It’s one of the most musing questions that has ever been asked: how did the universe come together with the galaxies, stars, and planets and when did they start to exist? Famous physicist Stephen Hawking says that he has the answer on what was out there before The Big Bang. He revealed his answer to another physicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, on the Star Talk show.

“The boundary condition of the universe is that it has no boundary. In order terms, the Euclidian space-time is a closed surface without end, like the surface of the Earth,” Hawking stated on the show. “One can regard imaginary and real time beginning at the South Pole, which is a smooth point of space-time where the normal laws of physics hold. There is nothing south of the South Pole, so there was nothing around before the big bang.”

Neil deGrasse Tyson, another famous physicist, asked Hawking to express his opinion about what the universe looked like before the Big Bang, during the show on National Geographic called Star Talk. The show featured host Tyson, who interviews and spends time with famous scientists and other celebrated people from the popular culture.

Hawking stated that time was likely in a bent state, located in the almost infinitely small quantum foam of the singularity before the big event occurred, noting that time was distorted, approaching closer to nothingness, but never becoming nothing.

He said that it wasn’t the Big Bang that caused something to be created out of nothing. He believes that there has “always been something” but that from the point of view of humanity, it just seemed like the Big Bang produced the universe from nothing.

During one of his lectures, Hawking had stated that there are no observable consequences from what occurred before the Big Bang. Those events are not defined, as they couldn’t be measured and there’s no way for them to be measured.

“The universe will evolve from the Big Bang, completely independently of what it was like before,” Hawking had stated. “Even the amount of matter in the universe can be different to what it was before the Big Bang, as the Law of Conservation of Matter, will break down at the Big Bang.”

The Big Bang Theory is one of the most popular and most logical explanations of how the universe started to exist. According to the theory, the universe began with a small singularity which occurred over 13.8 billion years ago into the universe that is known at present.

In order to comprehend the Big Bang, scientists created various mathematical models and formulas as the instruments scientists use today are incapable of looking back to the origin of the universe.

Those who want to watch the show, it is going to air on the National Geographic channel on Sunday, March 4. The show is filmed at New York City’s American Museum of Natural History.

Our Editorial Standards

At ValueWalk, we’re committed to providing accurate, research-backed information. Our editors go above and beyond to ensure our content is trustworthy and transparent.

Danica Simic
Editor

Want Financial Guidance Sent Straight to You?

  • Pop your email in the box, and you'll receive bi-weekly emails from ValueWalk.
  • We never send spam — only the latest financial news and guides to help you take charge of your financial future.