Big Bang bashing.The recent discovery of "mature" galaxies at distances corresponding to the remote cosmic past ("Crisis in the Cosmos? Galaxy formation theory is in peril," SN: 10/8/05, p. 235) threatens more than galaxy-formation theory. It threatens to shatter the increasingly fragile Big Bang big bang Model of the origin of the universe, which holds that it emerged from a state of extremely high temperature and density in an explosive expansion 10 billion–15 billion years ago. paradigm by showing that the composition of the cosmos is uniform in time and space. MICHAEL J. DUNN, AUBURN, WASH. If a Big Bang didn't occur half-a-billion years before this galaxy reached its observed state, there would be no "cosmic conundrum" requiring explanation. Unfortunately, every time new observations conflict with Big Bang theory big bang theory n. A cosmological theory holding that the universe originated approximately 20 billion years ago from the violent explosion of a very small agglomeration of matter of extremely high density and temperature. Noun 1. , the theory adds on one more tortured, ad hoc For this purpose. Meaning "to this" in Latin, it refers to dealing with special situations as they occur rather than functions that are repeated on a regular basis. See ad hoc query and ad hoc mode. conjecture to save itself. STEVE NEWMAN, SANTA CRUZ, CALIF. The anomaly of old galaxies in the first 800 million years of the universe is easily resolved once you remove the assumption that red shift always measures recessional velocity. L. E. JOINER, FRAMINGHAM, MASS. The observations cited in the article don't contradict the basic Big Bang model. Almost all astronomers agree that redshift redshift Displacement of the spectrum of an astronomical object toward longer wavelengths (visible light shifts toward the red end of the spectrum). In 1929 Edwin Hubble reported that distant galaxies had redshifts proportionate to their distances (see does connote con·note tr.v. con·not·ed, con·not·ing, con·notes 1. To suggest or imply in addition to literal meaning: "The term 'liberal arts' connotes a certain elevation above utilitarian concerns" distance.--R. COWEN |
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