Expert: Philip Stahl - 6/20/2008

Question
I have a few questions .The super Collier CERN ,are we trying to detect the big bang and if so wouldn't that be like trying to relight an already lit candle . you cant relight a burning candle .
About the universe we know I thought that the Galaxy where expanding to the edge of the universe where they  settle on the edge , the universe like a sphere with a center or core , and that the galaxies are just debree from the big bang. And every so often the universe causes another big bang creating more gallaxcies.That our spheriverse was part of the edge of another spheriverse ect to infinity .
Something like that


Answer
Hello,

First of all, it is quite impossible for CERN or indeed any super-collider to replicate the big bang. There is simply no way to reproduce the same conditions. Second, as for detection, we have already done that indirectly - in terms of the cosmic microwave background radiation (isotropic or the same in all directions) and by the expansion of the universe.

As for expansion itself, the evidence we have now is that the expansion is ongoing and accelerating (as a result of dark energy) and there is no "edge" to which it will expand. All objects, galaxy clusters will simply go on expanding indefinitely until they cross the observable horizon, after which we presume they undergo "heat death".

Finally, since the cosmic density parameter (OMEGA) is found to be less than unity, there is simply not enough matterial or density to cause another big bang.

One requires: OMEGA > 1

and rigorous measurements (e.g. from the "Boomerang" balloon) show

OMEGA < 1

actually

OMEGA ~  0.3

Thus, the cosmos remains open and flat and there is no future time at which all the galaxies will "collapse" into a future big bang.

Bear in mind also, the universe has no "center". All galaxy clusters are epxanding from each other and it is incorrect to presume some kind of geometrical center to the expansion.

Hope this addresses your questions.