The Big Bang
Since its conception, the theory of the Big Bang has been constantly challenged. The challenges have led tho who believe in the theory to arch for more concrete evidence which would prove them correct. From the point at which this book leaves off, many have tried to go further and veral discoveries have been made that paint a more complete picture of the creation of the univer.
Recently, NASA has made some astounding discoveries which lend themlves to the proof of the Big Bang theory. Most importantly, astronomers using the Astro-2 obrvatory were able to confirm one of the requirements for the foundation of the univer through the Big Bang. In June, 1995, scientists were able to detect primordial helium, such as deuterium, in the far reaches of the univer. The findings are consistent with an important aspect of the Big Bang theory that a mixture of hydrogen and helium was created at the beginning of the univer.
In addition, the Hubble telescope, named after the father of Big Bang theory, has provided c
ertain clues as to what elements were prent following creation. Astronomers using Hubble have found the element boron in extremely ancient stars. They postulate that its prence could be either a remnant of energetic events at the birth of galaxies or it could indicate that boron is even older, dating back to the Big Bang itlf. If the latter is true, scientists will be forced once again to modify their theory for the birth of the univer and events immediately afterward becau, according to the prent theory, such a heavy and complex atom could not have existed.
宇宙大爆炸
大爆炸理论从诞生以来就不断受到人们的置疑,从而促使那些相信该理论的人去寻找更多 的证据,来证明他们是对的。在本书完成时,许多人又做了更进一步的研究,而且的确有了多 项发现,使人们更加全面地了解宇宙的起源。
最近美国国家航空航天局就做出了令人惊讶的发现,为证明大爆炸理论提供了证据。其中最重要的发现是,天文学家利用Astro-2天文台证实了宇宙通过大爆炸诞生的必要条件之一。 1995年6月,科学家在宇宙深处探测到原生氦(如重氢)的存在。这一发现与大爆炸
理论的一个重要方面相符,即在宇宙诞生之初就产生了氢与氦的混合物。
此外,哈勃望远镜(该望远镜以大爆炸理论之父的名字命名)也对解答宇宙形成后出现了哪些元素这一问题提供了某些线索,天文学家通过哈勃望远镜在极为古老的恒星内发现了硼元素。他们推测硼有可能是星系形成时能量爆发的残留物,也可能表明硼比宇宙更古老,可以追 溯到大爆炸发生的时候。如果后一种推测成立的话,科学家不得不再次修改有关宇宙形成以及 随后发生了什么的理论,因为根据目前的理论,重量如此之大、结构如此复杂的原子当时是不可能存在的。