Big Bang Theory: Proposed by Belgian priest Georges Lemaître in the 1920s, the big bang theory suggests that the universe began from a single primordial atom. Edwin Hubble’s observations of galaxies moving away from us and the discovery of cosmic microwave radiation further supported this idea.
Inflation: Within the first 10^-43 seconds of existence, the universe was incredibly compact—smaller than a million billion billionth the size of a single atom. At this dense state, the four fundamental forces (gravity, electromagnetism, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force) likely merged into a single force. The exact mechanism remains unknown.
Expansion: Suddenly, all matter and energy expanded outward, with tiny quantum-scale fluctuations creating variations. This rapid expansion, called inflation, explains the universe’s even temperature and matter distribution.
Aftermath: As the universe cooled, diverse particles formed, eventually condensing into stars and galaxies. By the time it was a billionth of a second old, the fundamental forces had separated. The universe’s building blocks—though not yet fully assembled—began to take shape.
Quark-Gluon Plasma: The early universe was a piping-hot “quark-gluon plasma.” Over time, it cooled, allowing particles to form and evolve into the complex structures we see today.
In summary, the universe’s story involves cosmic cataclysms, rapid expansion, and the gradual emergence of galaxies, stars, and particles. While much remains unknown, our quest to understand the universe continues!
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