When there was nothing, where did the light come from?

Question

I am trying to get to grips with, from nothing comes something. As light is the begining of all life, what created the spark? This is way before the big bang. No atoms, no electromagnetic pulses, etc. Nothing has only one density, nothing......I am fed up with going round in circles in my head!

Answer 1

When there was nothing there was probably no light. My favourite theory (because I can undestand it) is that "nothing" is actually a "quantum foam" of matter and anti-matter popping in and out of existence continually. So 0=+1-1. There is experimental evidence for the existence of this quantum foam. Before the big bang the universe would have been an infinite "nothing" of quantum foam. However, each of these tiny matter/anti-matter formation/anihilation events would produce a tiny gravitational wave. Over (infinite) time these gravitational waves could grow by constructive interference until a huge gravitational wave (rather like the occasional huge freak waves in our oceans) produced the special conditions required to trigger the big bang and caused a huge separation of matter and anti-matter. So the "spark" was simply a result of random noise eventually building to the point to set things off.

I have a personal theory that the "virtual" gravity caused by the quantum foam might explain the missing dark matter and/or dark energy in our universe.

Answer 2

Firstly, you need to eliminate any answers which use a "god" in the solution. This technique mearly moves the question back to - where did "god" come from?

Since any "god" that could create a universe must be complex, you are left contemplating how such a complex entity could have arisen. This is even more difficult than contemplating the beginning of everything.

So, I think we can easily dispense with "god" answers as being fundamentally unscientific and irrational.

Although we may never know the real answer, some brave attempts have been made at possible solutions.

One I find particularly attractive is the idea that the whole Universe (large U) is made up of many, perhaps an infinite number, of bubble universes (small u). As energetic forces move through the Universe so universes grow and collapse within it. The particular physics of each universe is dictated by the random quantum variations that occur immediately before and immediately after its birth.

Strong anthropic theories hold that the we can ask why the universe is the way it is because we are here to ask the question. Put another way, if the physics of our particular universe was different (eg. water not decreasing in density as it passes below 4 degrees C would result in us not happening in the first place) we wouldn't be here to ask.

This suggests that there are universes where the physics is entirely different and we (as we understand us) would not exist.

Difficult to find an answer, but fun trying - that's what science is all about - posing the difficult questions and finding answers that are reproducible by our peers. It's the only way we make progress - as opposed to "beliefs" which simply keep us stuck where we are by claiming a "god" as the solution.

Answer 3

If you can work this out, let the rest of us know. Light is a byproduct of the energy created by fusion, the joining of atoms. there was no light before the big bang, because matter and energy are essentially the same thing, so light and the formation of matter (energy) happen at the same time, theoreticly, the big bang. that probably doesn't help. good luck. Some might say this is a question for god. who knows? Not me...

Answer 4

Basically there was absolutely nothing, then a catalyst (presumably "god") started the reaction which caused the unstable situation of the creation of matter and anti matter, this released vast amounts of uncontrollable energy (and presumably an equivalent amount of negative energy.)
This process can be likened to an explosion which started at the beginning of time and is still exploding today.
One day, the universe will implode, the negative and positive elements will cancel each other out and once again there will be nothing.
The release of all this energy, created the stars and the burning gases that they are comprised of, then there was light, but it was many millions of years before life forms with light sensitive cells evolved to actually use the light, up until then it was wasted

Answer 5

This question goes around in many peoples heads including mine.
I think no light existed at the big bang the origin of light seems to be associated with matter.
It seems simplistic to think that light waited for fusion reaction to occur.
Before this the quantum effect gave us the precursors to matter.
A photon could [maybe] have existed before matter,but this is pure speculation.
You have started those ruddy circles again!!

Answer 6

You need to get your self a degree in physics, then a PhD, then sit in Newtons chair at cambridge for a few years. Then when you're at the top of your game you might have a clue.

Until then, you'd be better of wondering what to have for dinner like most people.

Its highly unlikely you'll find the answers on Yahoo. If you do, I bet there will be a few pissed of research professors who have dedicated thier lives to trying to figure this one out , when all they had to do was post a question here.

Its beyond our current comprehension, thats all you need to know.

Many people who do not understand this choose to invent something, like a God, this seems to work for them.

Answer 7

I think that science doesn't know!

They have managed to work out what happened a micro-second before the big-bang, but not before then. Everything included light was caused by something called a singularity or in our terms a huge explosion. What caused that we don't know.

Answer 8

You've asked an 'Origin' question that, with respect, wrongly assumes a nothingness and the existence of light.

However, if you prefer to disagree or don't see my point - you'll need to rely on religion and not science to resolve and satisfy your curiosity.

That said, perhaps you would wish to contemplate the Answer as being "God's asshole" prior to being on the Guinness for a month.

Answer 9

Nothing is or is not 100% If you try to quantify something you skew your results. There was and is and always be something even if that something is nothing. Light is just photons, photons are excited electrons, electrons are energy, energy can come from more sources that I can name here. This seems to be more of a philosophical question doesn't it?
THATS IT I'M DONE!

Answer 10

Well, if you accept that mass and energy are interchangeable (E=mc**2), then there could quite easily have been a point were there was no matter, per se, because it was all energy.

Though the short answer is that no-one knows, because no-one saw it. There are a few theories.