Exploring the Universe: Charis's Journey in Astrophysics and the Big Bang Theory's Mysteries
- Charis Wong
- Oct 26, 2023
- 6 min read
Charis, a high school student hailing from Hong Kong, possesses an intense passion for astrophysics. Her profound fascination with the cosmos was ignited during a stargazing expedition to Taiwan, which kindled a lifelong curiosity for the enigmas of space and astrophysics journey. Charis has actively sought out opportunities for learning and growth, participating in programs such as the Houston Space School, a comprehensive three-phase astronomy course, and the Greater Bay Area Astronomer Challenge. She has also embarked on independent research, culminating in the authorship of a 3,500-word paper on the measurement of lunar mountain heights. Her aspiration is to pursue astrophysics at a leading university in either the US or the UK. To achieve this goal, she remains dedicated to her studies, having chosen astronomy as an elective within her physics curriculum while excelling in the SAT and A-level Maths. Charis's journey is not only about fulfilling her own potential but also about inspiring others to embrace their passions and actively pursue knowledge. Charis's narrative indirectly aligns with the broader theme of education and personal development, nurturing curiosity, and contributing to a more enlightened and innovative society.
SDG 4 - Quality Education: This discussion delves into intricate scientific concepts concerning the origin of the universe, the Big Bang theory, and the fundamental laws of nature. These concepts are integral to quality education and knowledge dissemination. Comprehending these topics necessitates top-tier education and research, in harmony with SDG 4.
SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The quest to answer cosmological questions and unravel scientific mysteries relies heavily on technological innovation, scientific infrastructure, and collaborative research. Progress in cosmology and astrophysics often paves the way for technological breakthroughs, aligning with the objectives of SDG 9.
SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals: Tackling complex inquiries about the universe and advancing human knowledge in fields like cosmology frequently requires collaboration among scientists, researchers, and institutions from around the world. This underscores the significance of partnerships and international cooperation, a pivotal aspect of SDG 17. The question of the origin of the universe has troubled many, and with as many theories proposed, the Standard Hot Big Bang Theory seems to be the most widely accepted model at this current age (Standard Hot Big Bang Theory will be shortened to the Big Bang theory below). However, this popular theory comes with many implications that cause inexplicable issues, either with the existence of some unknown substances or mechanisms, or the violation of well-established laws. The following explores these issues and discusses where scientists are at now. One matter that cannot yet be proved by experiment is the antimatter-matter annihilation. The Big Bang should have created an equal number of antimatter and matter, which then should have caused the two to annihilate each other and leave behind nothing but energy. Of course, in truth, some matter managed to survive and created celestial bodies and us today. To get mathematical, the mutual annulation of particle-antiparticle pairs would reduce the surviving matter density to around 10-17 protons/cm3, but the matter density in the universe is observed to be at least 10-7 ions /cm3 — more than 10 billion times higher than the Big Bang prediction[1]. Scientists have then proposed the matter-antimatter asymmetry, which suggests that some mechanism could have interfered with the oscillating particles to cause a slight majority of them to decay as matter, leading to the imbalance we see today[2]. How the mechanism works and what causes it still remains inexplicable in both experiments and the Big Bang theory.
The limitations of experiments also fail to explain the existence of a possible dark matter that is necessary for the Big Bang to be consistent with measurements. Dark matter does not interact with the electromagnetic 1eld and thus does not absorb, reflect, or emit electromagnetic radiation[3]. The properties allow the formation and evolution of galaxies and clusters to be explained. Moreover, it predicts whether the universe is open, closed, or Rat due to gravitational attraction caused by dark matter. If we add up the masses of all the stars that we can see in galaxies, the total is less than one-hundredth of the amount required to halt the expansion of the universe, even for the lowest estimate of the rate of expansion. The leftover masses must therefore be 1lled up with the hypothetical dark matter that influences gravitational attraction. Even with that, however, results still show that there is only one-tenth of the amount of mass required to halt the expansion[4]. Additionally, despite numerous and rigorous attempts, dark matter, or any hint of their existence, is still to be detected. An obvious unsolved problem of the Big Bang is the singularity as scientists call it, a point where the distance between neighbouring galaxies is zero. This means that at the singularity, the density of the universe and the curvature of space-time are in1nite. Therefore, at this point, the general theory of relativity breaks down, and using the knowledge we have now we cannot understand how this singularity exists and what is before it. Similarly, the first law of thermodynamics breaks down at the singularity as matter and energy cannot begin out of anything, while the law states they cannot be created or destroyed[5]. One counter-argument is that the Big Bang does not explain the start of the universe, but only the evolution of it. But then, that admits to the perpetuation of the question of how our universe began.
Yet another law the Big Bang seems to violate is the second law of thermodynamics, which suggests systems of change become less organised over time. The universe as we can observe now is quite uniform and organised, so it is hard to imagine the early universe after the Big Bang, with a ‘soup’ of photons, quarks and electrons, in a very hot and dense state, will have a lower entropy than the present universe. This, however, can be explained by the presence of black holes in our universe. As the number of states is directly proportional to the masses of the particles in the black hole, the more black holes formed, the higher the entropy of the Universe. There were no black holes in the early universe, so the entropy was relatively lower [6]. There are also other explanations that explain this by assuming that the early universe was completely homogeneous and isotropic. These two properties also gave rise to the homogeneous and isotropic cosmological models that are constructed based on that assumption. Yet, stars are formed in denser regions of gas and dust that collapse under their own gravity. If the universe is completely uniform, there are no denser regions and stars cannot be formed. Perhaps it might be that the early universe was not completely homogeneous and isotropic, just relatively more so than the present universe so as not to violate the law of entropy. But does that not imply the models based on this assumption can no longer stand?
Concerning singularities and black holes, there is one interesting question that I felt has a simple answer but that I cannot find — why do the singularities in the middle of a black hole not undergo the Big Bang to create yet another universe? Or vice versa — why did the singularity that caused the Big Bang to undergo the Big Bang instead of forming or just existing gas a black hole?
In the end, even if the Big Bang (or, in fact, any other theories for the beginning of the universe) turns out to be consistently and undeniably true, another question will arise — what is before the Big Bang? Big Bang suggests that time might be 1nite as there is a beginning in time as we know it. Is there the concept of time before the Big Bang, or did time start before the Big Bang, but break down at the singularity as the laws of general relativity and thermodynamics broke down? It seems that with every question the Big Bang theory answers, it produces more questions. In conclusion, Charis's passionate pursuit of astrophysics and her relentless commitment to knowledge exemplify the profound impact of education and personal development. Her journey resonates with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4, which underscores the importance of quality education, SDG 9, which highlights the role of innovation and infrastructure, and SDG 17, which emphasises partnerships for global goals.
The exploration of the Big Bang theory's mysteries highlights the boundless nature of human curiosity and the relentless pursuit of understanding the universe. The questions raised by the theory's implications remind us that scientific progress is a dynamic journey, continually challenging our understanding of the cosmos. The enigmatic nature of the universe invites us to explore, collaborate, and push the boundaries of knowledge, fostering innovation and promoting a more informed and interconnected global society. As we seek answers to the mysteries of the cosmos, we must remain inspired by the curiosity and dedication of individuals like Charis and continue our collective quest for knowledge.
References:
[1]https://www.lppfusion.com/science/cosmic-connection/plasma-cosmology/the-growing-case-against-the
[2] https://home.cern/science/physics/matter-antimatter-asymmetry-problem [3]https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_matter
[4] Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time.
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