Originally posted by 12sec. Civic
The theory of relativity and quantum physics breakdown at the point of a singularity. If the universe did start out as a singularity (which is where all the evidence points) then we have no idea how it would react. There are about 5 or 6 widely acknowledged theories, of what happened in the firts few fractions of a second after the universe started expanding. These theories concern the smoothness and the pressure in the early universe. They believe that right after it started expanding it couldn't have been perfectly smooth, yet when scientists have tested the x rays that come from all around us, they are perfectly equal in ALL directions. THIS IS WHY I THINK THE UNIVERSE IS NOT FLAT, BUT WHAT DO I KNOW.
Would time end after the universe starts to contract and eventually crunchs into what scientists call, the big crunch?
I mean, how could it? Atleast our definition of time doesn't allow for time to really end or begin. Because the definition of a beginning or and end of anything, is the end or the beginning for something else.
The concept of other universes doesn't seem very clear either. I mean, I think of EVERYTHING as being part of the universe. Including these "baby universes". Now Hawkings suggests that these "baby universes" (which are collapsed into singularity's right now) would/could have a completely different set of rules than our own universe. If they did have a completely different set of "laws" and also completely other dimensions (excluding or including space and time) then it would be impossible for both "universes" to exist, because then you'd theoretically be able to go into another universe that had completely different rules, and that just doesnt work. Hawkings, thinks that all of these universes operate according to their own individual set of laws. I am a bit unclear, on how he came to this conclusion.
I realize that steamy debates are for the REAL scientists on the verge of a breakthrough. We are all here to learn as much as possible. However, that might not be enough incentive for some people to join the topic, without anything to debate...oh, well.