Editing 2240: Timeline of the Universe
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone.
Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then save the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
+ | {{incomplete|Created by the BIG BANG. Should include a list of the events, their times, and if they're real, explain what they are, and if they're jokes, explain what they are. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
− | This comic is about the size of the {{w|visible universe}}, presented as a timeline in | + | This comic is about the size of the {{w|visible universe}}, presented as a timeline. Some events it describes, as Big Bang and inflation, are real, but others are jokes, like the Medium Bang and settling. The size history of the visible universe is also embellished for the sake of jokes; the actual size history of the universe has one period of inflation shortly after the Big Bang, followed by comparatively gentle but accelerating expansion. This is artistically depicted in [https://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/media/060915/060915_CMB_Timeline150.jpg this image from NASA]. Part of the humor in this comic comes from the fact that the events leading to the change of the expansion rate not being steady are explained by means that like "dark matter" and "dark energy" which is not yet fully understood. This may also be construed as "dark humour"... At the end of the drawing three possible continuations are suggested. See detailed explanations below in the section [[#Events on the Timeline of the Universe|Events on the Timeline of the Universe]]. |
− | + | The title text is one of [[Randall|Randall's]] standard jokes, that his drawings are ''Not actual size''. However, as he then continues this statement, at the far left there is technically one spot where the drawing has the real size of the universe at the time the drawing represents. When his drawing begins at the time when the universe began, per definition, our visible universe was not existing yet and thus it had no size. Then the universe as we know it, began and soon the inflation period blew it up very very fast and then it continued to expand until present day. So at some "time" after the big bang, our visible universe would have had a size (i.e. diameter) that would be the same as any thickness of Randall's universe "line". And since the universe goes from infinitesimal size at Big Bang on the drawing to the size of the universe today, then at some point near the left there will be a point where Randall's representation would have the same size as the universe at the correct "time period". Of course a problem with this is that his version of the universe has several jokes in it, which may actually not fit with reality and thus his statement could be wrong. There will only be a very very short time period after inflation where the diameter of the observable universe is on the same scale as this comic. According to an answer given [https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/32917/size-of-universe-after-inflation here] regarding the size of the visible universe after inflation, there is reason to believe that the size was still less than 1 mm in diameter right when the inflation ends, which is less than the thickness of the line at big bang. So the point where the line width is the same size as the diameter of the visible universe first happens after the inflation period has ended. Since Randall includes the ''Medium Bang'' before inflation on his drawing he has already made a mistake there, but as the next three epochs after inflation is real epoch, it is likely somewhere in this part of the drawing that the visible universe would have the same diameter as the thickness of the drawing at a relevant time epoch on the drawing. This will thus not be that far to the left but around the Quark epoch. | |
− | |||
− | The title text is | ||
===Events on the Timeline of the Universe=== | ===Events on the Timeline of the Universe=== | ||
The events presented in the timeline are: | The events presented in the timeline are: | ||
− | * '''??''' (more than 13.8 billion years ago ({{w|Billion years|Gya}})): the unknown state of the universe prior to the Big Bang, if such a statement is even sensible. There are theories that our Universe is a bubble where inflation stopped (13 | + | * '''??''' (more than 13.8 billion years ago ({{w|Billion years|Gya}})): the unknown state of the universe prior to the Big Bang, if such a statement is even sensible. There are theories that our Universe is a bubble where inflation stopped (13,8 billion years ago in this universe) in an infinite and {{w|Eternal inflation|eternally inflating}} larger universe, which would give rise to the possibility of a {{w|multiverse}} with many bubble universes like ours where inflation has stopped. See for instance this recent video on the subject: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XglOw2_lozc How Many Universes Are There?] from PBS Space Time. If this is true, the universe did not start at the big bang, but our part of the infinite universe actually began when the inflation period stopped, and not at the Big Bang. |
* '''{{w|Big Bang}}''' (13.8 Gya): The model of the origin of the universe which has achieved consensus among astronomers. We have observed that all galaxies are receding away from Earth at rates that are roughly proportional to their distance, and the simplest explanation for this is that the universe is expanding. If the universe is expanding, then (unless new physics are discovered) it must have at one time been very, very small and dense; that moment in time is called the Big Bang. | * '''{{w|Big Bang}}''' (13.8 Gya): The model of the origin of the universe which has achieved consensus among astronomers. We have observed that all galaxies are receding away from Earth at rates that are roughly proportional to their distance, and the simplest explanation for this is that the universe is expanding. If the universe is expanding, then (unless new physics are discovered) it must have at one time been very, very small and dense; that moment in time is called the Big Bang. | ||
− | * '''{{w|Timeline_of_epochs_in_cosmology#Planck_epoch|Planck Epoch}}''': The time period starting | + | * '''{{w|Timeline_of_epochs_in_cosmology#Planck_epoch|Planck Epoch}}''': The time period starting with the Big Bang. |
− | * '''Medium Bang''' (a joke): If there's a Big Bang, why not have | + | * '''Medium Bang''' (a joke): If there's a Big Bang, why not have medium one? There should probably also be a Little Bang, but maybe it's just too little to be featured on this chart. |
− | * '''{{w|Inflation (cosmology)|Inflation}}''' (10^-36 to 10^-32 seconds after the Big Bang): A theory developed to explain the large-scale structure of the universe that postulates a period when the universe expanded | + | * '''{{w|Inflation (cosmology)|Inflation}}''' (10^-36 to 10^-32 seconds after the Big Bang): A theory developed to explain the large-scale structure of the universe that postulates a period when the universe expanded faster than the speed of light |
* '''{{w|Timeline_of_epochs_in_cosmology#Quarks_epoch|Quark Epoch}}''' (10^-12 seconds after the Big Bang): The universe is a quark-gluon plasma, up until 10^-6 seconds when it cools enough to coalesce into hadrons, including protons and neutrons. | * '''{{w|Timeline_of_epochs_in_cosmology#Quarks_epoch|Quark Epoch}}''' (10^-12 seconds after the Big Bang): The universe is a quark-gluon plasma, up until 10^-6 seconds when it cools enough to coalesce into hadrons, including protons and neutrons. | ||
* '''{{w|Timeline_of_epochs_in_cosmology#Lepton_epoch|Lepton Epoch}}''' (1 second after the Big Bang): Leptons, including electrons, and their associated neutrinos dominate. | * '''{{w|Timeline_of_epochs_in_cosmology#Lepton_epoch|Lepton Epoch}}''' (1 second after the Big Bang): Leptons, including electrons, and their associated neutrinos dominate. | ||
* '''{{w|Timeline_of_epochs_in_cosmology#Photon_epoch|Photon Epoch}}''' (10 seconds after the Big Bang): The universe is dominated by photons. | * '''{{w|Timeline_of_epochs_in_cosmology#Photon_epoch|Photon Epoch}}''' (10 seconds after the Big Bang): The universe is dominated by photons. | ||
− | * '''Cool Bug Epoch''' (a joke): There was a period around 10-17 million years after the Big Bang in which the cosmic background radiation was between 273 and 373 K, the temperature range for liquid | + | * '''Cool Bug Epoch''' (possibly a joke): There was a period around 10-17 million years after the Big Bang in which the cosmic background radiation was between 273 and 373 K, the temperature range for liquid water. Cosmologists {{w|Avi_Loeb#Early_Universe|have speculated}} that primitive life could have arisen during this period and dubbed it the 'Habitable Epoch of the Early Universe'. |
− | * '''Molded grip''' (a joke): Some tools (e.g. knives) have molded finger-wells so that the user's hand settles easily and securely into a comfortable position. This epoch of the universe features repeated expansions and contractions so that this part of the timeline resembles a molded grip, at least in profile (it would be much too large to be held by any known animal's hands{{Citation needed}} | + | * '''Molded grip''' (a joke): Some tools (e.g. knives) have molded finger-wells so that the user's hand settles easily and securely into a comfortable position. This epoch of the universe features repeated expansions and contractions so that this part of the timeline resembles a molded grip, at least in profile (it would be much too large to be held by any known animal's hands){{Citation needed}}. |
* '''{{w|Timeline_of_epochs_in_cosmology#Cosmic_Dark_Age|Stars form}}''' (100 million years after the Big Bang): The universe cools enough to allow ordinary matter particles to group into stars. | * '''{{w|Timeline_of_epochs_in_cosmology#Cosmic_Dark_Age|Stars form}}''' (100 million years after the Big Bang): The universe cools enough to allow ordinary matter particles to group into stars. | ||
− | * '''{{w|Stagflation}}''' (a joke): In addition to ''cosmic'' inflation, inflation can also refer to the economic phenomenon in which prices increase over time. Stagflation is | + | * '''{{w|Stagflation}}''' (a joke): In addition to ''cosmic'' inflation, inflation can also refer to the economic phenomenon in which prices increase over time. Stagflation is combination of the terms "stagnation" and "inflation", and refers to a situation in which monetary inflation is high, economic growth is slow, and job creation is low. This epoch of the universe shows the universe beginning to contract in size, much as economists would talk about an economy contracting. |
− | * '''Settling''' (a joke): | + | * '''Settling''' (a joke): Perhaps the universe has been very busy, and needs a rest. |
− | * '''Rebound''' (a joke): | + | * '''Rebound''' (a joke): Rest time is finished. |
− | * '''Someone tripped and accidentally hit the "Inflation" switch again''' (a joke) | + | * '''Someone tripped and accidentally hit the "Inflation" switch again''' (a joke) |
− | * '''Emergency Stop triggered''' (a joke) | + | * '''Emergency Stop triggered''' (a joke) |
* '''{{w|Timeline_of_epochs_in_cosmology#Galaxy_epoch|Galaxies form}}''' (12.8 Gya) | * '''{{w|Timeline_of_epochs_in_cosmology#Galaxy_epoch|Galaxies form}}''' (12.8 Gya) | ||
* '''{{w|Formation_and_evolution_of_the_Solar_System#Formation_of_the_planets|Earth forms}}''' (4.5 Gya) | * '''{{w|Formation_and_evolution_of_the_Solar_System#Formation_of_the_planets|Earth forms}}''' (4.5 Gya) | ||
* '''Present day''' | * '''Present day''' | ||
− | * '''Future cosmological development handed over to {{w|J.J. Abrams}}, outcome unknown''' (a joke): J.J. Abrams is a science-fiction writer and filmmaker. If he were in charge of the future development of the cosmos, he might decide to subject all of us to some strange plot twist. Among many other movies, he has directed the 2009 reboot of ''{{w|Star Trek (film)|Star Trek}}'', in which the "future history" of ''Star Trek'' is altered from the timeline of the original series by Nero and Spock traveling backwards in time. He also has directed other "Star" films, including ''{{w|Star Wars: The Force Awakens}}'' and ''{{w|Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker}}'' (released a few weeks after the | + | * '''Future cosmological development handed over to {{w|J.J. Abrams}}, outcome unknown''' (a joke): J.J. Abrams is a science-fiction writer and filmmaker. If he were in charge of the future development of the cosmos, he might decide to subject all of us to some strange plot twist. Among many other movies, he has directed the 2009 reboot of ''{{w|Star Trek (film)|Star Trek}}'', in which the "future history" of ''Star Trek'' is altered from the timeline of the original series by Nero and Spock traveling backwards in time. He also has directed other "Star" films, including ''{{w|Star Wars: The Force Awakens}}'', and ''{{w|Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker}}'' (to be released a few weeks after the publish of this comic). |
− | + | *The dashed lines coming off the end of the timeline represent the possible fates of the universe: | |
− | + | ** The universe could stop expanding and begin contracting, resulting in the {{w|Big Crunch}}. In our universe, cosmological measurements have shown that the expansion of the universe is accelerating, so the Big Crunch is considered to be the least likely fate. | |
− | + | ** The universe could eventually settle into thermal equilibrium, which would leave no energy available for any interesting phenomena to occur. This is called the {{w|heat death of the universe}} or "Big Freeze". | |
− | + | ** The universe's expansion could continue accelerating to the point that the accelerating expansion overcomes all forces between particles, turning the universe into a collection of particles isolated from each other by rapidly-expanding space. This is called the {{w|Big Rip}}. | |
− | |||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | |
− | : | + | :'''Timeline of the Universe''' |
− | |||
:?? | :?? | ||
+ | |||
:Big Bang | :Big Bang | ||
:[The Universe comes in as a circle with action lines around it. It stays the same size for a while.] | :[The Universe comes in as a circle with action lines around it. It stays the same size for a while.] | ||
+ | |||
:Planck Epoch | :Planck Epoch | ||
+ | |||
:Medium Bang | :Medium Bang | ||
:[The Universe starts inflating very slowly] | :[The Universe starts inflating very slowly] | ||
+ | |||
:Inflation | :Inflation | ||
:[The Universe briefly inflates very rapidly, and returns to its normal rate of expansion.] | :[The Universe briefly inflates very rapidly, and returns to its normal rate of expansion.] | ||
+ | |||
:Quark Epoch | :Quark Epoch | ||
+ | |||
:Lepton Epoch | :Lepton Epoch | ||
+ | |||
:Photon Epoch | :Photon Epoch | ||
+ | |||
:Cool Bug Epoch | :Cool Bug Epoch | ||
− | :[The Universe starts inflating and deflating rapidly, | + | |
+ | :[The Universe starts inflating and deflating rapidly, as if to form a grip.] | ||
:Molded grip | :Molded grip | ||
+ | |||
:[Stars appear in the timeline. The Universe starts inflating slightly faster than before.] | :[Stars appear in the timeline. The Universe starts inflating slightly faster than before.] | ||
:Stars form | :Stars form | ||
+ | |||
:Stagflation | :Stagflation | ||
:[The Universe starts deflating slowly.] | :[The Universe starts deflating slowly.] | ||
+ | |||
:Settling | :Settling | ||
+ | |||
:Rebound | :Rebound | ||
:[The Universe starts inflating slowly again.] | :[The Universe starts inflating slowly again.] | ||
+ | |||
:Someone tripped and accidentally hit the "Inflation" switch again | :Someone tripped and accidentally hit the "Inflation" switch again | ||
:[The Universe starts inflating at the same rate as the Inflation section.] | :[The Universe starts inflating at the same rate as the Inflation section.] | ||
+ | |||
:Emergency Stop triggered | :Emergency Stop triggered | ||
:[The Universe abruptly stops inflating, and stays level.] | :[The Universe abruptly stops inflating, and stays level.] | ||
+ | |||
:[Galaxies appear in the timeline. The Universe starts inflating at a medium pace.] | :[Galaxies appear in the timeline. The Universe starts inflating at a medium pace.] | ||
:Galaxies form | :Galaxies form | ||
+ | |||
:Earth forms | :Earth forms | ||
+ | |||
:Present day | :Present day | ||
:[We see the edge of the Universe, with a rounded shape. Various dotted line predictions are on the edges.] | :[We see the edge of the Universe, with a rounded shape. Various dotted line predictions are on the edges.] | ||
:Future Cosmological development handed over to J.J. Abrams, outcome unknown | :Future Cosmological development handed over to J.J. Abrams, outcome unknown | ||
− | |||
{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
+ | [[Category:Space]] | ||
+ | [[Category:Timelines]] | ||
[[Category:Charts]] | [[Category:Charts]] | ||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
− | |||
[[Category:Comics featuring real people]] | [[Category:Comics featuring real people]] |