The Hubble's discovery of the expansion of the universe led astronomers to conclude that our universe must have started with an extreme conditions event called the Big Bang. The Big Bang theory rests on the general relativity theory and cosmological principle. Currently, with the advances in our understanding of states of matter under extreme conditions such as the Big Bang, astronomers developed detailed theoretical predictions of its effects on the observable universe. The Big Bang theory offers comprehensive explanations for a broad range of observational facts including Hubble's Law, the abundance of light chemical elements, properties of the cosmic microwave background radiation, and the evolution of structures of the large-scale universe. As a model of the origin of the universe, the Big Bang has significant impact on religion and philosophy. Currently, the theory has become one of the areas in the discourse between science and religion. Some believe the Big Bang implies a creator, while others argue that Big Bang cosmology makes the notion of a creator unnecessary. For this discussion, respond to the following topics:
- Explain how convincing you find scientific evidence for the Big Bang model of the origin of the universe.
- Describe the strengths of the theory.
- Describe what it fails to explain.
- Explain if you would vote for a candidate who wants to spend tax dollars on the next space probe or space telescope to determine the fate of the universe. Defend your opinion.