What was the universe like before Big Bang?

Question

I mean where all those mass come from?.. and Was the universe started as a point of singularity?

Answer 1

The Big Bang theory is about how a universe, starting off hot and dense, expands.

It does not even try to explain what was before; it simply takes for granted that the universe was in that state (it was originally called the Primordial Atom Hypothesis).

When we use all our knowledge to go "backwards" in time, we can understand most of what went on, until we get all the way back to the Planck Time (very close to time=zero, but NOT exactly zero).

At that time, the temperature (the energy density) was so high that every single point in the universe was (or would have been, according to our understanding) a black hole.  That is the state called "the singularity".

If the universe is infinite in spatial extent now, then it was already infinite at the Planck Time.  The idea that the entire universe started as a point comes from the original hypothesis (and its name).

The "visible universe" (the portion we can see, with its radius of 14 billion light-years in proper distance, or almost 80 in comoving distance) was extremely small at the Planck Time -- much smaller than the size of an atom.

In a different theory, intended to explain gravity, Einstein had equations that show the behavior of the universe (well, mathematical models that could represent how the universe behaves).  In the early solutions to these very elaborate models, mathematicians showed that if there was no mass at all, then there was no time flow.

Before Einstein, there were already hints that perceived time flow was affected by relative speed.  With Relativity, it was shown that gravity itself affect the perceived time flow.  From our frame of reference, for example, the time flow stops at the event horizon.

Combine all of the above:  If, at the Planck Time, every single point is a black hole, then every single point also belongs to the event horizon of its neighbor's black hole (at a distance of zero).  A zero size black hole has a mass of zero.  the entire universe is an event horizon.

1.  Time flow is zero.

2. Impossible for us (for now) to calculate (or observe) what went on during that "missing" fraction of a second.

One way to state this in everyday words:  There is no "before" before the Big Bang.

For those who insist that there must be a cause (and that we must find that cause), there are various ideas, conjectures, hypotheses and even some theories -- although they are difficult to verify for now.

Search on M-theory, String theory, multi-verse, branes.

Answer 2

Cosmologists believe that the universe began as a singularity. It's one of the reasons why people are so fascinated by black holes, as they offer us a glimpse of what the nascent universe was like.

As for where all the mass came from, I wouldn't profess to understand myself but you should bear in mind Einstein's e=mc2 equation. This states that matter and energy are interchangeable. In other words, matter is nothing more than highly concentrated energy. If you have enough energy, you can create matter.

Now that simply leads to the question "Where did the energy come from". I'm not an expert in physics, so I can't really explain it to you. All I can say is that it has lots to do with quantum physics and the energy of the vacuum.

Answer 3

Well, we have a very interesting question----Let me see if I can answer that for you.   The "Big Bang" is a theory, brought about by some very smart scientists.  

However, it is thought to be true and if we accept this theory, we need to presume that there was nothing before it.  However, if we do not accept this theory then there still was nothing---but there is also "nothing" now.

I somehow don't believe that to be true.  I believe that I want the 1st "thing" to have happened.  That there was and is a Universe and that it occurred just like those smart people said it did.  Which is supposedly a point of singularity and that it, the "Big Bang" that produced everything that exists, including matter and mass.

The Random House College Dictionary states that a theory is: "1. a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena & 2. a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact."   So there ya' have it, all the knowledge that I have, however, if ya' need more there are many, many more smarter people, "out there" than me!

Answer 4

The word "before" has no meaning in this context, since time began at the moment of the big bang. It's a bit like asking, "What's north of the north pole?" In addition to there being no time, there was also no space, and no matter/energy. Just nothingness, non-existence. All of the mass condensed out of the enormous energy released at the moment of the big bang, and originally consisted of almost equal parts matter and anti-matter. Something like 99.999% of this mix was subsequently annihilated when particles of matter came into contact with their anti-matter counterparts, and was converted back to energy. The very slight excess of matter particles is all of the mass in the universe we see today. The source of the energy is presently unknown, but string theorists believe that it may have come from the collision of two "branes" outside of our universe. It is to be expected that more will be learned about the very early universe when the Large Hadron Collider comes on line next month.

Answer 5

it all came from william shatner.

Answer 6

This is like asking what is south of the south pole, to quote Stephen Hawking.  It is impossible for human beings to know or understand what the universe was like prior to the big bang.  We can only learn about events, laws, energy and matter that came to be after the big bang.

Answer 7

Read the first line of Genesis, that will tell you what the universe was like.  Seems to me if God Almighty spoke, that would be a Big Bang.

Answer 8

It was much like New Jersey.

Answer 9

You have the begining of an interesting question, followed by

a second question which is way above the comprehension of most people.

To answer this question I would like to suggest to you that only people who read quickly and snatch up concepts fall for the idea that "EVERYTHING" in the Universe was created at the time of the Big Bang. If you read the Big Bang theories very closely you will find that none of them state that everything that is in the Universe came from the Big Bang explosion...What they do say is that most of the things we can see today came from the Big Bang. That means that there were other Suns, other galaxies, and other objects in Space at the time of the Big Bang. Many of those things are huge distances away from the source location of the explosion.

I recommend that you visit this site to get a better understanding of the Universe as a whole. Take the time to open each slide and study it.

http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com

Now, having done that let us move on to the idea of a singularity...When a star runs out of fuel and collapses onto itself, an extremely dense radioactive object is formed. This object is called a Pulsar "if" it radiates X Rays, Gamma Rays and huge amounts of energy across the radio spectrum. An excellent article concerning the proof of one of Einstein's Theories by use of a Double Pulsar may be found at this site:

http://www.astromart.com

Read up on that article and possibly return to the site from time to time to check up on other interesting stories. Please note that our Sun has a diameter of roughly 865,000 Miles

(compared to the diameter of the Earth which is roughly 7,900 Miles). Our Sun is similar to other stars. Some are bigger, and some are smaller. Anyhow, when a pulsar is formed it is "very small" in comparison to its original size. This article suggests that pulsars might be the size of a small city here on Earth. Small cities in America run from 10 to 20 miles in diameter...to give you some idea of the compactness of a Pulsar. Now to compress that down into a single point as in the Singularity theory...Hmm-m. Never seen one. One has never been mapped or photographed.

In the discussions of Black Holes, one often sees mention of the center of a black hole being a very small point of singularity. However, no one attempts to attach any size notes onto the statement. Small is a relative adjective...Small in comparison to what? Our Solar System, which is immense, is small in comparison to the Universe. See...

Lastly, black holes do not emit light. For that reason they are invisable to us and only detectable by possibly the use of Radio Telescopes which might pick up some radio type radiation from them at ultra high frequencies. So, being invisable, how can one get a photo of a singularity within the center of a black hole...You CAN'T. Therefore all discussions of this concept are only theories. Looking around the Universe, however, it is possible to suggest that the center of this Galaxy (theorized location of a black hole) is highly radioactive because of the density of the stars making up the exact center - so dense you cannot even tell how many there are within the center...

In closing, you will note that some people who answer this question will reply that there was nothing before the Big Bang. That is totally impossible, and they have not studied the issue long or hard enough to make such an all encompassing statement. Ian Ridpath, author of ASTRONOMY, DK Publishing, presents a very extensive

discussion of the Big Bang concept if you care to read it.

He is extremely careful to suggest that the event was the

begining of time as we understand it, but studiously avoids all discussion of what came before the Big Bang which is what you are asking. Simply put, no one knows. I think it is logical to state that there were many objets in Space at the time, and one really big one blew up in the Big Bang event. There will be no proof of this idea, however. All possible objects which we might use to somehow deduce various dates of birth, etc., are zillions of light years away from The Sun and The Earth.  

Regards,

Zah

Answer 10

I think the universe was just as big and collapsed on it's self causing the singularity and reexploding to make a new universe all over again.  Cause and effect-you can't make mass from something that doesn't exist, so the universe existed before, collapsed and exploded again.

Answer 11

Before the big bang there was nothing,only the presence of a potential that was capable of producing the universe.

Answer 12

it was god

Answer 13

universe is empty...

it came from a huge, old star and it exploded

Answer 14

There was nothing before the BigBang.

Answer 15

"Mongo don't know, Mongo only pawn in game of life" (Mongo from Blazing Saddles)

Truth is know one knows. The Big Bang THEORY is that at one point the universe was nearly infinitely dense. We only know this because the universe is expanding. So, because it is expanding we can assume that the farther in the past you get the shorter the distance is between galaxies. Sooner or later while going back in time all the galaxy will be in relatively the same spot. Thats a lot of matter in a small place... thats how we know it was really really dense. Beyond that is only guess work... then again, science is kinda all guesswork.

The Brane Theory is an interesting idea. It states that before the Big Bang there were two dimensional membranes. They collided and the universe was formed. The existence of the universe keeps these branes from colliding again, but once the all the remaining black holes decay and the univeres is left with a bunch of tiny particles in a super undense universe the branes will collide again. This starts the whole thing over again. I'm not to sure about the details to this theory, but it is was proposed because Lambda (the rate matter and antimatter flashes into existence and the reason there is no such thing as a pure vacuum) is much lower than expected. Even though Lambda is thought to decrease with time the univeres isn't old enough for it to reach such low levels so someone thought up the brane theory so over the time of the other brane collision Lambda has decreased to its present levels.

But like I said, I'm no expert on the subject. If you find it interesting try looking it up yourself... if not please ignore =)

Oops! I forgot about your second question. The universe did start as a singularity (or close to it... we can only predict what happened a fraction of a second after it was a singularity). However, some mistake a singularity for a single point... which the universe never was. If the universe is infinite (which it very well might be) than imagine the early universe as a nearly infinitely dense and infinitely big space... weird I know, but who said the universe had to be easy =)

Answer 16

It may be like we see today, and then it might have contracted into a single point to produce big bang.

Answer 17

the  big bang is actually a wrong name. it wasnt a bang more like  a really really realllyyy fast expansion. according to theories,  before the "bang" all matters and space were compressed into a singularity and it had density of inifity. but thats just the most accepted theory....no one knows for sure.