Scientifically, we can only trace the history of the universe back to the big bang?

Question

We can only trace the history of the universe back to the big bang, prior to that there was no time, space or matter. What started it, where did it come from? Who made God? Most importantly, how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll tootsie pop? And does knowing or not knowing benefit mankind more?

Answer 1

It is true as you humorously point out that scientists do not have these answers and possibly never will.

But look at how many scientists would be out of a job if these questions didn't exist.

Personally, I would rather know the answers. I believe that knowing would benefit mankind. It's not fun going through life believing in something that has no proof. Knowing the answers would probably prevent further bloodshed in wars between religious factions. Humanity wants to know how the Universe started and what it's made of in the same way that it wants to know what it looks like in the next neighborhood or the next town. It gives us a better understanding of who we are and where we are and maybe even why we are.

Answer 2

Actually, we can speculate, based on the current positions and motion of the universe "stuff" (stars, galaxies, etc.) that the big bang probably occurred.

Prior to the big bang, there most certainly was time and space, there just wasn't any microscopic organism on the third planet from some obscure Sun, towards the edge of some unimpressive spiral galaxy to obsess about measuring it.

About God... Depends upon whom you ask... and when. The same people who look at the universe and see it's beauty and grandeur say that it can't have existed forever, say that a deity they cannot see, and of which they cannot prove the existence, has existed forever. And they are also convinced that spiritual being of infinite wisdom and love, for some reason is egocentric or insecure enough to require veneration by some some inferior life form. But that's a matter for Religion, and not Science.

Whether or not a deity exists, man has blamed a host of deities... for things he can't understand. Man abuses deity by saying on one hand that it is loving, and on the other hand punishes his creation for doing what he created them capable of doing, and because of his infinite knowledge, must have known from the outset that they would do. So, man, because of his stupidity, uses a host of deities as little more than overseers, not to prevent him from doing bad stuff, but to punish him for doing it. If man were half as intelligent as he thinks himself to be, he would know the difference between good and bad if only by the logic of precedent.

Don't know personally... don't eat the things.

I believe not knowing is of more benefit. It keeps us looking, striving, growing. Knowing, is ok too, because it gives us a basis upon which to build. The problem is being absolutely certain that one has all the answers First it is erroneous. Second, it arrests development and the search for more knowledge. It prevents self examination. It is death to humanity.

Answer 3

We can only trace the universe back to just before the first stars lit up.
First there were low frequency radio waves,then infra-red then visible light as the first fusion furnaces began.
The primary stars lit up about 100 million years after the big bang.

Answer 4

All scientific research is worthwhile.
While you are using your computer and listening to your iPod and your Mom is cooking in her non-stick saucepan, You are using spin-offs from the space program.
Same with the elastic in you shorts
Cell phones
Satellite TV
Internet
yada Yada

Answer 5

Well, knowledge is power... Depends on whether the information can be beneficial or not. Some information is just nice to know, but other types can produce true benefits.

Who knows where it will lead, assuming we figure it out?

Answer 6

Instability Caused the BOOOM
Man
3 The commercial said so
Like the other guy said Knowledge is power. knowing as much as you can about anything is always beneficial.

Answer 7

Don't know,don't know,don't know,369(I tried it when I was a kid,)I think NOT knowing benefits more,who knows what discoveries we will accidentally make in our search for the answers.See,after I found out 369,I quit experimenting

Answer 8

My friend, it's turtles all the way down!

Answer 9

It's infinite and has always been. It's one big loop - everything is a loop.

Answer 10

sea turtles, mate. sea turtles. no, you don't want to know. you just want to ask.