Once Upon a Time.......

[Sharnbrook]

Can anyone suggest a suitable link (or links) for an "easily" understood account of the current theories on the origin of the Universe?

I don't need some humourist to suggest Genesis Chapter 1, I've been there, done that, and it doesn't satisfy my enquiring mind, even if it was an accepted explanation for over 2500 years !:rolleyes:

Regards,

Mike

[G.J.Shepherd]

I have a link that might be of great interest to you. It is part of a larger study done by Chuck Missler, this guy has more degree's and PHD's than you can find walls to hang them on. This study is from a creation point of view, however, there is allot of scientific fact in it and also parts where scientist's have back the creation point of view. Its a short read but very sciencey with words that make my head spin, but it may help you in what your wanting to find out. I think for anyone interested in space should read this, whether you believe in creation or not, it's amazing to see what science is now discovering and believing. eg: our universe seems to be more like a hologram than a vast space as previously thought. Hope it helps.

http://www.khouse.org/articles/2003/492/

also this

http://www.khouse.org/articles/1999/245/

[Sharnbrook]

Thanks GJ for your post, but it really isn't what I'm after. From the lack of any other response, maybe my original post was misconstrued, or possibly it should have been in the Astronomy Science section, but without any reference to Genesis. The Genesis bit was purely "tongue-in-cheek" on my part, as I had expected someone with a sense of humour to point me in that direction, and I wanted to get in first, as it were.

Mine is not a frivolous question, I seriously want to try to understand, comprehend, get-my-head-around, a purely scientific explanation of how our universe came into being. So far, all the explanations I have looked at have been too complex for my 65 year old brain, and I suspect that I'm not alone, even in this excellent forum.

Over the years I have noticed that some people are able to give clear and concise answers to the most difficult questions, whereas others can rabbit on for ever, and leave me more confused at the end of the explanation than I was before I asked the question. I'm looking for a (relatively) simple explanation to this most complex of problems, set out in an elegant manner, so that even a red wine drinking retired builder can have a better understanding of our universe. I'm sure that there are such explanations, but I just need some help in finding them.

I recently read an article in the New Scientist that concluded with the words
"Indeed, the quest to understand the origin of the universe seems destined to continue until we can answer a deeper question: why is there anything at all instead of nothing?"
I must say that those words satisfied something within my mind, but I need a bit more.
:help:
Regards,

Mike

[RB]

I'd say your original post was taken as a serious question about Genesis Chapter 1, Mike.
That's the way I took it too.
I'll move this thread into the Astronomy Science section.

:)

[asterisk]

Hi

I cannot offer a link as such, but you may like to read (and this is not a joke): "The Complete Idiot's Guide to The Theories of the Universe", Gary F. Moring ISBN 0-02-864242-2. I think it is about $25.

[erick]

Mike, Have you tried Wikipedia's article and references? Eric :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_cosmology

ps. and when you work it out, please explain it to me :whistle:

[G.J.Shepherd]

Fair enough indeed, still it's worth a read though minus the biblical side of it due to the info that scientists are working on at the moment to answer how it happened, I guess in finding out the "how" we need to look at the "why."
Best of luck in your search.

[cahullian]

Have you read Stephen Hawking a brief history of time? or his A briefer history of time? They are written in plain english for everyone to understand. It might not be exactly what you are after but I'm sure you will enjoy reading them.

Gazz

[Sharnbrook]

Asterisk, thanks, I haven't heard of that one, but I shall have a look for it, and no Cahullian, I haven't, because a friend who has read it, said that it was way over his head, but I really ought to make the effort.
Eric, there are what would seem to be some good links from the Wikipedia link, thanks for that.

Mike

[Sharnbrook]

Asterisk, Thanks for the suggestion, I have ordered a copy, and look forward to reading it.

Regards,

Mike

[Sharnbrook]

The library at Mt Coot-Tha, next to the Sir Thomas Brisbane Observatory has a copy of Hawking's book "A Briefer History of Time" which I have reserved, and will pick up tomorrow.

There is another publication with the same title, written by an Astro-Physicist, which is a bit of a giggle, and can be found here
http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3fs8i/bhtes
I haven't read it all, but have had a laugh or two.

Regards,

Mike

[Solanum]

Sharnbrook,
'A Brief History of Time' is pretty readable (I haven't read 'Briefer'), don't be afraid to try it. It may well be a bit out of date now though. He does cover the Genesis bit, and concludes that so much of the universe/physics is fixed in order for it to exist as it is that there was basically nothing for a god to do except possibly start it all off.

In the eighties there was a book called, 'The First Three Minutes' which would definitely be out of date now, but there may be a newer edition. More recently, there's also a cosmologist called Martin Rees, who's written some relatively accessible stuff.

[Sharnbrook]

Thanks Solanum for your suggestions. I am reading a "Briefer History" at the moment, and finding it very readable. I shall progress to the "Brief" version when I have finished it. I also found a copy of Weinberg's book "The First 3 Minutes" in a second-hand shop in Sydney, and I have ordered that as well, on your recommendation. Even if it is out of date, it will help me to understand the basic concept, which is what I want. The Nuts and Bolts of it, not the minutiae.

I shall know it all at this rate!! hehehe ;)

Regards,

Mike