Is the Big Bang Theory Wrong? | Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains...

Summary

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson addresses misconceptions about the Big Bang theory, sparked by misleading headlines. He explains that new scientific ideas do not replace established theories but rather expand upon them, as seen with Einstein's relativity building on Newton's laws. Tyson emphasizes that evidence-backed findings, like those supporting the Big Bang, remain valid despite new discoveries. He humorously describes the scientific process as a 'fight club' where ideas are tested and debated, but ultimately, only evidence prevails in shaping our understanding of the universe.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Scientific ideas are always contested and tested, often resulting in some ideas being proven wrong.
• 🔬 The success of a scientific idea depends on evidence, not how well it is argued.
• 🧪 Experiments are designed to test ideas, and consistent results from different tests lead to new objective truths.
• 🌌 The Big Bang theory is strongly supported by observations, even though certain details like dark matter and expansion are still being studied.
• 🚀 New scientific ideas must enclose and build upon experimentally verified knowledge, rather than replace it entirely.
• 🌍 If a new theory about the universe emerges, it will still include the Big Bang as part of the broader understanding.
• 🔄 The process of scientific discovery involves refining or expanding existing ideas rather than completely overturning them.
• 👨‍🔬 Journalists often misrepresent scientific developments for clickbait, causing misconceptions about established theories like the Big Bang.
• ⚙️ Einstein’s theories of relativity expanded upon Newtonian physics without invalidating it, showing how new theories build on old ones.
• 🧐 Experimental verification is key to scientific progress, and verified knowledge cannot simply be discarded with new theories.

Q & A

What common misconception about the Big Bang is mentioned in the script?

The misconception is that the Big Bang is 'debunked' or 'in trouble,' often fueled by misleading clickbait headlines. In reality, the foundational ideas of the Big Bang are supported by extensive scientific evidence.

What role does the James Webb Space Telescope play in relation to the Big Bang theory?

The James Webb Space Telescope provides new data that refines our understanding of the universe, but it does not debunk the Big Bang theory. Any new discoveries from the telescope will likely expand on current knowledge rather than contradict established findings.

How are scientific ideas tested and verified, according to the script?

Scientists propose hypotheses, and others attempt to disprove them through experiments. If repeated experiments by different groups yield the same results, the hypothesis is strengthened and may be accepted as an objective truth.

What is the significance of experimental verification in science?

Experimental verification ensures that new scientific ideas are not merely opinions or beliefs but are supported by observable and repeatable evidence. Verified ideas remain valid even if future theories encompass them within a broader context.

What is meant by the term 'Science Dome' or 'Fight Club for Scientists' in the script?

This metaphor illustrates the competitive nature of scientific research, where ideas are constantly challenged and tested. Only those supported by evidence survive this intellectual 'battle.'

How does the script describe the relationship between Einstein’s theory of relativity and Newtonian physics?

Einstein’s theory of relativity doesn’t invalidate Newtonian physics. Instead, it expands upon it, showing that Newton’s laws are a special case applicable at low speeds and low gravity. Einstein’s theory encompasses a broader understanding of the universe.

Why is Newtonian physics still useful, despite being 'usurped' by Einstein’s relativity?

Newtonian physics is still effective for many practical applications, such as space travel and everyday physics, where high speeds and intense gravitational fields are not factors.

What example does the script give of Newton’s laws failing?

The orbit of Mercury was one example where Newton's laws did not align with observed reality, leading scientists to initially propose a hidden planet, 'Vulcan,' before Einstein’s theory of relativity provided a more accurate explanation.

How does the script explain the concept of 'new physics' in relation to old theories?

New physics builds upon old theories by encompassing them within a larger, more comprehensive framework. It doesn’t discard experimentally verified truths but rather expands the understanding of them within new contexts.

What is the key message of the explainer about the Big Bang theory?

The key message is that the Big Bang theory remains a well-supported scientific explanation for the origin of the universe, despite clickbait headlines suggesting otherwise. Any new theories must still account for the experimental and observational evidence supporting the Big Bang.

Outlines

00:00

🌌 The Big Bang Theory: Constantly Evolving

The paragraph discusses the ongoing nature of scientific research, particularly in astrophysics, where theories are frequently revised as new evidence emerges. It addresses the sensationalist headlines suggesting that the James Webb Space Telescope has debunked or forced a rethink of the Big Bang theory, clarifying that such headlines are often clickbait. The speaker emphasizes that scientific frontiers are dynamic, where ideas are tested and contested, and only those supported by evidence survive. The paragraph concludes by affirming that the core tenets of the Big Bang theory, such as the universe starting out small, hot, and dense, are well-supported by observations and are not in danger of being debunked by new findings.

05:02

🔬 The Frontiers of Science and the Big Bang

This paragraph delves into the process of scientific discovery and the nature of theories. It explains that new ideas in science must encompass all previously verified knowledge; they cannot simply replace old theories. The speaker uses the example of dark matter and the expansion of the universe to illustrate points that are still being explored. The paragraph also discusses how journalists sometimes create misleading headlines suggesting that the Big Bang theory is in trouble due to new findings, when in reality, these findings are part of the ongoing scientific process. The speaker asserts that the Big Bang theory is solidly based on experimental and observational evidence and is not likely to be overturned by new ideas that do not account for this evidence.

10:02

🚀 The Enduring Legacy of Established Physics

The final paragraph contrasts the enduring nature of verified scientific theories with the sensationalism of media headlines. It uses the history of physics, transitioning from Newtonian to Einsteinian theories, to illustrate how new scientific understandings do not negate previous ones but rather expand upon them. The speaker points out that Einstein's theories of relativity, while fundamentally changing our understanding of gravity and motion, still reduce to Newton's laws under conditions of low gravity and speed. The paragraph concludes by reinforcing the idea that the Big Bang theory is not threatened by new scientific discoveries but is instead enriched by them, and that any new theories must be consistent with the experimental evidence that supports the Big Bang.

Keywords

💡Big Bang

The Big Bang is the prevailing cosmological model that explains the origin of the universe as a hot, dense state followed by expansion and cooling. In the video, the concept is discussed as a well-supported theory by evidence from the universe's observations. It is emphasized that despite new findings and hypotheses, the core tenets of the Big Bang theory remain unchallenged, illustrating the robustness of scientific theories that are backed by extensive experimental and observational data.

💡Astrophysicists

Astrophysicists are scientists who study the physics of celestial objects and phenomena, including the Big Bang. The script mentions that headlines often suggest that astrophysicists are 'rethinking' or 'debunking' the Big Bang, which the video clarifies as sensationalized media interpretations rather than actual scientific consensus shifts.

💡James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope is a powerful space observatory that has provided new insights into the universe. The video script addresses headlines suggesting that it has 'debunked' or 'rethought' the Big Bang, clarifying that such claims are clickbait and that the telescope's findings continue to support and expand upon the Big Bang theory.

💡Clickbait

Clickbait refers to sensationalized headlines designed to attract clicks, often by exaggerating or distorting the content of the article or video. The video explains how terms like 'Big Bang debunked' are used as clickbait, misleading the public about the actual scientific consensus and the incremental nature of scientific progress.

💡Scientific Frontier

The scientific frontier represents the cutting-edge of knowledge where new theories and ideas are tested and verified. The video uses the metaphor of a 'fight dome' to describe the competitive and rigorous environment where scientific ideas are contested and either validated or disproven based on evidence, highlighting the dynamic and evolving nature of scientific discovery.

💡Evidence-based

Evidence-based research is a central theme in the video, emphasizing that scientific theories must be supported by empirical evidence to be considered valid. The script explains that successful scientific ideas are not those argued most passionately but those that withstand experimental and observational testing, as is the case with the Big Bang theory.

💡Dark Matter

Dark matter is a hypothetical form of matter that is thought to account for approximately 85% of the matter in the universe. The video mentions dark matter as an area of ongoing research and uncertainty within the broader context of the Big Bang theory, illustrating how some aspects of the universe's composition and behavior remain mysterious despite the overall acceptance of the theory.

💡Expansion of the Universe

The expansion of the universe is a key concept in the Big Bang theory, describing the ongoing increase in the distance between galaxies. The video script discusses how this expansion is observed and measured, supporting the theory, but also notes that the origins of this expansion are still not fully understood, indicating areas where further research is needed.

💡Einsteinian Physics

Einsteinian Physics refers to the theories of relativity developed by Albert Einstein, which revolutionized our understanding of gravity and motion. The video contrasts Einstein's theories with Newtonian physics, explaining how Einstein's work did not invalidate Newton's but rather expanded upon it to account for conditions of high gravity and speed, demonstrating the way new scientific theories often encompass and refine older ones.

💡Scientific Method

The scientific method is the process by which scientific knowledge is acquired, involving observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and theory development. The video emphasizes the importance of the scientific method in testing ideas and the necessity for hypotheses to be testable and verifiable, as exemplified by the ongoing debates and experiments within astrophysics.

💡Observational Verification

Observational verification is the process of confirming scientific theories or hypotheses through the collection of empirical data. The video script highlights how the Big Bang theory is supported by extensive observational evidence from the universe, such as the cosmic microwave background radiation, reinforcing the theory's validity and the importance of observational data in scientific validation.

Highlights

Introduction of clickbait headlines surrounding astrophysics, especially with claims about the Big Bang theory being debunked.

Discussion of how science is contested at the frontier, where ideas are constantly being tested and many end up being wrong.

Explanation that scientific success is determined by evidence, not by how well an idea is argued or how articulate a scientist is.

Emphasis on experimental verification as the key to establishing objective truths in science.

The Big Bang theory is widely supported by observations, including the small, hot, dense state of the early universe.

New ideas in science must build upon and enclose previously verified knowledge; they don’t erase established experimental findings.

Discussion of potential for new theories, like the multiverse, to expand upon the Big Bang, but not replace the evidence supporting it.

Clarification that ongoing debates in astrophysics, like the nature of dark matter and cosmic expansion, do not undermine the Big Bang.

Introduction of humor through pop culture references, including TV shows and K-pop when searching for 'Big Bang' online.

Rejection of the idea that significant scientific facts like the Big Bang being hot, dense, and expanding will be overturned.

Comparison between Einstein’s general relativity and Newton’s laws, explaining how Einstein’s theory encloses Newton's laws in low-gravity and low-speed conditions.

Einstein’s equations revolutionized physics but did not negate Newton’s work, which was still useful for tasks like the Apollo missions.

Statement that future scientific breakthroughs will not undo experimentally verified facts, just expand upon them.

Conclusion that the Big Bang theory is not under threat and will remain a fundamental part of our understanding of the universe.

Humorous conclusion with references to 'science fight club' and an overall playful tone while delivering a serious message about scientific rigor.

Transcripts

[Music]

hi chuck i got another explainer for you

oh well i'm here to get it

yeah yeah there's no end of these i

don't think that's well no

i will run out at one point my brain

will be empty and i'll just be this this

vessel right that i used to have stuff

in it a hollow cell

a hollow shell it's all online at that

point

i'll need to do some one of these one of

these uh consciousness uploads

to get my brain back from everything i

put on online

but i i have to address

something that i think we've seen in the

news

you know every six months goes by and

then you see a headline oh uh

astrophysicists have to rethink the big

bang or big bang

debunked or or did you did you see any

of these at any time oh my god but well

recently the james webb space telescope

supposedly

the headline is

um did the james wells webb's telescope

um make scientists think the rig the big

bang or has the james webb telescope

debunked the big bang yeah it makes

excellent clickbait yeah there it is

it's it's click bait headlines so let me

just explain a few things that's going

on here okay

uh on the frontier of scientific

research

it is a bloody place

all right ideas are slayed two

scientists enter

one scientist leaves

it's the octagon

welcome to science dome

[Laughter]

on the frontier ideas are contested

daily right

and

most ideas turn out to be wrong

all right so

so what you are as a scientist working

on the frontier

you're in this idea factory that's what

you are

and the successful idea is not the one

that's argued most strenuously or argued

by the most articulate that's called

politics it's called politics exactly

exactly

uh it's not it has nothing to do with

either of those it has to do with

evidence

all right which idea is supported by

evidence so typically what happens is

you can test your ideas and here's where

you have to be convincing you have to

say i i think my idea is better than

your idea and here's a way to test it

right

so i have an idea so if you don't like

me

the way you show it is you design an

experiment to show them wrong

okay well that's some cutthroat nasty

stuff that's some cut

this is some nasty all right that's some

real housewives stuff

real housewives

let me tell you something phaedra your

hypothesis

is trash

[Laughter]

so scientists can test their ideas so

you

uh you don't like me and you're gonna

show me that i'm wrong and so you go

home and you invent an experiment

you invent an experiment to test my idea

with the objective of showing that i'm

wrong and it turns out hey wait a minute

i'm getting what the dude says right you

got to publish that and then someone

else performs

performs another kind of experiment

aimed at testing the same hypothesis

and they get kind of the same result and

then someone from a different country

with a different wall current

240 volts maybe and they plug their

stuff in and they're getting the same

result

when you have repeated experiments

verifying an idea

we have a new objective truth

that has emerged in those sciences

and what i'm telling you

is that

the big bang

theory

by the way if you type that into google

you get the tv show just i'm my personal

jury is still out on whether that's a

good or bad thing um you know it doesn't

mean like science is so popular it's a

tv show that's the first thing you hit

because you got to get through that then

there's the big bang is a k-pop group

you got to get through that

then you get to the origin of the

universe okay in the google search just

thought i'd point that out it's good to

know that we google in order of

importance

[Laughter]

there it is

just saying wow all right so

so here's the point

the tenets of the big bang that the

universe started out small

hot

dense

uh where matter and energy were a

primordial soup

where the forces of nature had merged

all of that is thoroughly supported by

observations of this universe

thoroughly supported

okay now there are some things that well

did this really cause that or might it

be something that we don't know about

yet

and who ordered up the dark matter we

don't know where that came from and

where's this expansion

we don't know where that came from but

we can describe it and we can measure it

here's the point

if tomorrow you have a new idea about

how the universe works

it's going to enclose everything we've

been talking about up to that moment

that has been experimentally and

observationally verified

you can close it in something deeper

okay you can say oh and i have an idea

our universe is just one in a multiverse

fine okay but our universe would have

started with a big bang okay

and our universe would have expanded

from a dense hot cool state and it's

been cooling ever since

that's observed and that's real and

that's not going away

that's my point so so what you have are

journalists trying to make click bait

and if there's some little thing in the

early universe that is still on the

frontier still being contested in the

octagon in this in the in the fight dome

and and some new idea is emerging over

another idea

oh big bang is in trouble so i just go

back to the drawing but big man is not

in trouble right

i'm just saying it's not in trouble it

is a whole

thing that could conceivably fit in a

deeper bigger idea

right but it's not going to be swapped

out tomorrow we're not going to find out

tomorrow gee

uh

the early universe was cold instead of

hot that's not going to happen

that's not how science works

so if you're going to come up with

something new

you're not coming up with

something that will change the old

all you have to the all that has been

experimentally verified right if you're

going to come up with something new

about the earth and the sun it's not

going to be well

it's really earth is stationary and the

sun moves around the earth and the sun

is cold and earth is hot and earth is

what's illuminating the moon that is not

going to happen right right okay you

can't just pull an idea out of your

orifice and ignore experimental

verification of what's going on right so

you might you might come up with the big

fang but you're not changing the big

bang

what what's the best c plus on that one

it's what came before the big bang we

call it the big thing the big thing

okay that's a b plus if that's

what's your thing yeah that's before the

big bang

[Laughter]

so

and and by the way the when we think of

einsteinian physics

so it's relativity

which

completely

uh usurped newtonian gravity and

newtonian motion all right what we call

clot the error of classical physics

which led right up to the late 1800s

newton's ideas reigns supreme

all right and

he told you what gravity did what motion

did and acceleration in a pre-existing

space and it was working okay

it was working and then people said well

wait a minute

uh the orbit of mercury is not really

following newton's laws

and we said oh we got this we know we

got this there's a there's another

planet you can't see that's tugging on

it we even had a name for that planet it

was called vulcan okay

we a hypothetical planet tugging on

mercury so that we didn't have to throw

out newton's laws all right so that was

invoked just out of do we just pull that

out of our ass right said there it is

we'll find it one day

einstein comes along with a special

theory of relativity and then his

general theory of relativity and what we

find is that at high gravity like near

the sun

and at high speeds

at high gravity and high speeds

newton's laws completely fail you cannot

use them at all

so do we say did we throw away newton no

we didn't you know why

because if you take einstein's equations

and plug in

low speeds and low gravity

they become newton's equations

yes so einstein basically

enclosed newton's

ideas as a special low-speed low-gravity

case of a much larger deeper

understanding of the universe fantastic

it's it is it is beautiful it is and so

so and by the way newton's uh newton's

uh gravity and newton's motion went just

fine for the apollo project right we got

to the moon and back without any

einstein relativity at all okay so it's

only if you really uh

um up the stakes in

your gravity there's no wonder way to

understand black holes really with or

even the big bang itself with just

newtonian physics point is

new physics

does not undo experimentally verified

physics that's the whole point of

experimental verification that's all

look at that and so the big bang is just

fine you want to do something else with

it take it body and soul and stick it in

some other theory you have but you can't

undo what the experiments and

observations have shown

and that

is an explainer for you there you go wow

that is good take that big

big bang deniers take that

um so that's that's an explainer from

the octagon

[Laughter]

from the scientist fight club there it

is

science fight club i love it all right

so we got to end it there chuck always

good to have you always a pleasure all

right

neil degrasse tyson here for star trek

[Music]

you