The Collaborative International Dictionary
big bang theory \big bang theory\ n. (Astronomy, Cosmology) The theory that the known universe originated in an explosive event (the big bang) in which all of the matter and energy of the universe was contained in a single point and began to rapidly expand and evolve, starting as high-energy particles and radiation, and, as it cooled over time, evolving into ordinary subatomic particles, atoms, and then stars and galaxies. According to this theory, the four-dimensional space-time continuum which we perceive as our universe continues to expand to the present time, but it is unknown whether the expansion will continue indefinitely or eventually stop or even reverse, possibly leading to a contraction to a single point sometimes referred to as the ``big crunch''. The competing ``Steady-state Theory'' gradually lost favor in the 1980's and 1990's. See also big bang.
WordNet
n. (cosmology) the theory that the universe originated 20 billion years ago from the cataclysmic explosion of a small mass of matter at extremely high density and temperature [syn: big-bang theory]
Wikipedia
Big Bang Theory is the fifteenth studio album by the band Styx, released in 2005. It consists of cover versions of classic rock songs.
Big Bang Theory is a 1998 album by the Canadian hard rock band Harem Scarem.
Big Bang Theory commonly refers to:
- The Big Bang, a cosmological model of the universe
- The Big Bang Theory, an American TV sitcom
It may also refer to:
- Big Bang Theory (Styx album) (2005)
- Big Bang Theory (Harem Scarem album) (1998)
- "The Big Bang Theory" (Family Guy), a 2011 episode of the TV series
Usage examples of "big bang theory".
It is one of the most remarkable, certainly the most successful, books ever to come out of the great publishing corporations of Ursa Minor-more popular than Life Begins at Five Hundred and Fifty, better selling than The Big Bang Theory-A Personal View by Eccentrica Gallumbits (the triple breasted whore of Eroticon Six) and more controversial than Oolon Colluphid's latest blockbusting title Everything You Never Wanted To Know About Sex But Have Been Forced To Find Out.
The Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe required the early stages of the Bang to be characterized by a totally radiation-dominated situation.
According to the Big Bang theory, the early history of the universe involves a number of 'phase transitions', dramatic changes of state which result in big qualitative changes in how the universe works.
Either the big bang theory can be proved by the red shift, in which case all matter was originally compressed into one lump, or there was no big bang and then nothing can be deduced from the red shift or the Doppler effect.
Not in the sense of the early Cambridge model, of course, but in some way that was not incompatible with a modified Big Bang theory.
My understanding is that by and large Western cosmologists still adhere to some form of the Big Bang theory.