TIME magazine article: How the Stars were Born

[grantwilder]

I just wanted to give a brief review of this article on how scientists are being given a window into the period in which the universe was exploding and rapidly becoming larger after the big bang. There was a period between the explosion and the galaxies starting to form called the dark age. At the beginning of this period, everything cooled down to the temperature on the surface of the sun. Atoms were able to form at this cooler temperature. Dark matter began to form, and it was extremely dense. It collected matter like hydrogen and helium gas, and made it into stars with thermonuclear flames. After these huge stars burned out, the dark ages ended and galaxies began to form.

 

This is a very interesting article about this period between the explosion and what people think about the big bang. The common perception is that the big bang exploded and all the planets came shooting out, but really it was a complex process of chemistry and physics, over billions of years. It is also interesting how the scientists can see into the past by looking at the light that reaches earth right now. The light which they look at starts on its way here billions of years ago, and doesn't get here until now. That is amazing to me.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

-Grant Wilder

[Tormod]

The common perception is that the big bang exploded and all the planets came shooting out

 

Does the article say so? Because that is not the common perception, at least if you talk to people who actually have read anything about the Big Bang.

 

but really it was a complex process of chemistry and physics, over billions of years.

 

It probably took less than one billion years for the first galaxies to form. We may be talking perhaps a few hundred million years.

 

That is amazing to me.

 

Now THAT is good! Cosmology is extremely interesting. You will find many discussions about Big Bang (and alternative theories) here at Hypography. :)

[infamous]

 

Thanks for reading!

 

-Grant Wilder

Thanks for posting grantwilder...........and welcome to Hypography....................enjoy.