SciAm Lineweaver cosmology article, March issue

In summary, the article discusses the 6 main points of the current consensus model of the big bang. Each of the points has a qualitative answer, with the fifth point being qualitative and not really relevant to the model as a whole. I consider these 6 qualitative propositions to be reasonable and not especially model-specific. I suspect that any new model which could succeed in replacing the current consensus model is likely to have at least these six qualitative features.
  • #1
marcus
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http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&colID=1&articleID=0009F0CA-C523-1213-852383414B7F0147

we've referenced the clear and useful journal articles of Charles Lineweaver and Tamara Davis a lot at PF over the past couple of years

Glad to see that they now have a feature article in SciAm, and that it is available free online!
 
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  • #2
that's where I got the information for the test I wrote in here a couple of days ago.
 
  • #3
Good going tribdog!

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa006&colID=1&articleID=0009F0CA-C523-1213-852383414B7F0147

we've referenced the clear and useful journal articles of Charles Lineweaver and Tamara Davis a lot at PF over the past couple of years

Glad to see that they now have a feature article in SciAm, and that it is available free online!

The gist of the article is contained in a few visual "sidebars" which ask a question, give a "popular misconception" wrong answer, and then give the right answer:

http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/0009F0CA-C523-1213-852383414B7F0147_p39.gif
What kind of explosion was the big bang?

http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/0009F0CA-C523-1213-852383414B7F0147_p40.gif
Can galaxies recede faster than light?

http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/0009F0CA-C523-1213-852383414B7F0147_p42.gif
Can we see galaxies receding faster than light?

http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/0009F0CA-C523-1213-852383414B7F0147_p43.gif
Why is there a cosmic redshift?

http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/0009F0CA-C523-1213-852383414B7F0147_p44.gif
How large is the observable universe?

http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/0009F0CA-C523-1213-852383414B7F0147_p45.gif
Do objects inside the universe expand, too?
 
  • #4
Surely you don't expect all those 'mainstream' answers to be correct.
 
  • #5
there are 6 mainstream answers here. Only #5 is quantitative: "how large".
Even #5 is essentially qualitative, saying that the radius of the observable is substantially larger than the estimated age expressed in lightyears (14 billion LY)

I consider these 6 qualitative propositions to be reasonable and not especially model-specific. I suspect that any new model which could succeed in replacing the current consensus model is likely to have at least these six qualitative features..

And so I hope anyone here who disagrees will say explicitly which of these features he expects not to hold in whatever replacement consensus model when such a model has been tested and has prevailed

http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/0009F0CA-C523-1213-852383414B7F0147_p39.gif
What kind of explosion was the big bang? (an expansion of space, not an explosion localized in space)

http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/0009F0CA-C523-1213-852383414B7F0147_p40.gif
Can galaxies recede faster than light? (yes)

http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/0009F0CA-C523-1213-852383414B7F0147_p42.gif
Can we see galaxies receding faster than light? (yes)

http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/0009F0CA-C523-1213-852383414B7F0147_p43.gif
Why is there a cosmic redshift? (stretching of light in transit)

http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/0009F0CA-C523-1213-852383414B7F0147_p44.gif
How large is the observable universe? (substantially larger than 14 billion LY, i.e. than the estimated age expressed in lightyears)

http://www.sciam.com/media/inline/0009F0CA-C523-1213-852383414B7F0147_p45.gif
Do objects inside the universe expand, too? (in a qualitative sense, coherent objects like galaxies or the things in them are not at present expanding)
 
  • #6
One of my usual wisecrack answers. I would argue Q5 is not really relevant. I'm thoroughly comfortable with the BB model, as you probably suspect.
 

1. What is the main concept of the Lineweaver cosmology article in the March issue of Scientific American?

The main concept of the Lineweaver cosmology article is to explore the idea that the universe may not be expanding at a constant rate, as currently believed, but instead may be accelerating due to the presence of dark energy.

2. How does this article challenge current theories about the expansion of the universe?

This article challenges the current theories by proposing that the universe's expansion may not be linear, but may instead be accelerating due to the effects of dark energy. This challenges the widely accepted idea that the universe's expansion is slowing down over time.

3. What evidence supports the theory proposed in the Lineweaver cosmology article?

The theory proposed in the Lineweaver cosmology article is supported by observational data from supernovae, cosmic microwave background radiation, and galaxy clustering. These sources all suggest that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate.

4. What implications does this article have for our understanding of the universe?

This article raises the possibility that our current understanding of the universe may be incomplete. If the universe is indeed accelerating, it could have major implications for our understanding of fundamental physics and the ultimate fate of the universe.

5. What further research needs to be done to test this theory?

Further research will need to be done to gather more data and refine our understanding of dark energy. This could involve more precise measurements of supernovae, mapping of large-scale structures in the universe, and experiments to study the nature of dark energy itself.

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