Evidence for God from Cosmology Richard DeemEvidence for God

The Greatest Discovery (COBE, 1992) l“unbelievably important... They have found the Holy Grail of cosmology” Michael Turner (University of Chicago) l“It is the discovery of the century, if not all time” Stephen Hawking (Cambridge University, UK) l“What we have found is evidence for the birth of the universe. It’s like looking at God.” George Smoot (UC Berkeley - COBE project leader)

Relativity vs. The Newtonian Universe Michelson and Morely (1887) Michelson and Morely (1887) Velocity of light Einstein (1905) Einstein (1905) Special Relativity ( E = mc 2 ) Einstein (1915) Einstein (1915) General Relativity

General Relativity - Einstein Discovers God where:  =densityp=pressure G=constant of gravityc=speed of light

Origins of the Big Bang Theory Vesto Slipher (1914) Vesto Slipher (1914) “Nebulae” receding from the earth Alexander Friedman (1922) Alexander Friedman (1922) Expansion of the universe Hubble (1929) Hubble (1929) Law of Red-Shifts

Hot Big Bang Model George Gamow (1946) George Gamow (1946) First hot big bang model Bell Labs (1965) Bell Labs (1965) First background radiation measurement Cosmic Background Explorer (1992) Cosmic Background Explorer (1992) Ripples in background radiation

Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) Universe is a perfect radiator (to 1 part in 10,000)- background temperature of 2.726°K (1990) Universe is a perfect radiator (to 1 part in 10,000)- background temperature of 2.726°K (1990) Refined COBE measurements showed irregularities of 1 part in 100,000 (1992) Refined COBE measurements showed irregularities of 1 part in 100,000 (1992)

COBE DMR

Alternate Models Infinite/eternal Universe Infinite/eternal Universe Steady State Universe Steady State Universe Oscillating Universe Oscillating Universe The Hartle-Hawking Model The Hartle-Hawking Model Quantum Cosmology Quantum Cosmology

Infinite/Eternal Universe Problems Paradox of the Dark Night Sky Paradox of the Dark Night Sky Light decreases 4-fold with doubling of distance Light decreases 4-fold with doubling of distance Volume (or number of stars) increases 8-fold with doubling of distance Volume (or number of stars) increases 8-fold with doubling of distance

Steady State Universe No stars greater than 16 billion years old No stars greater than 16 billion years old No newly formed galaxies (all formed at same time) No newly formed galaxies (all formed at same time)

Oscillating universe Only 10-50% of matter needed for collapse (open universe) Only 10-50% of matter needed for collapse (open universe) A collapse would lead to “Big Crunch” instead of bounce A collapse would lead to “Big Crunch” instead of bounce

The Universe as an Engine System or Engine Mechanical Efficiency Diesel Engine 40% Gasoline Engine 25 Steam Engine 12 Human Body 1% Universe %

The Hartle-Hawking Model Quantum physics invoked prior to second, to eliminate the singularity Quantum physics invoked prior to second, to eliminate the singularity Requires use of imaginary time Requires use of imaginary time

Problems in Quantum Cosmology Observer based - who is the observer? Observer based - who is the observer? The universe represents a very long quantum "moment" The universe represents a very long quantum "moment"

Implications of Big Bang Time, space, matter and energy all came into existence at once Time, space, matter and energy all came into existence at once Time is a created dimension Time is a created dimension

Objections to the Big Bang “philosophically unacceptable” (atheist John Maddox, “Down with the Big Bang”in Nature) “philosophically unacceptable” (atheist John Maddox, “Down with the Big Bang”in Nature) “smacks of divine intervention” (Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time ). “smacks of divine intervention” (Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time ).

Evidence for God’s Existence from Design Divine Watchmaker (William Paley) Divine Watchmaker (William Paley) Refuted by: Refuted by: David Hume David Hume Charles Darwin Charles Darwin Recently by: Recently by: Stephen Jay Gould Stephen Jay Gould Richard Dawkins Richard Dawkins

New Watchmaker Argument Based upon measurable parameters Based upon measurable parameters Probabilities calculable from the observable universe Probabilities calculable from the observable universe Tolerance for change (fine tuning) calculable from physical laws Tolerance for change (fine tuning) calculable from physical laws

A “Just Right” Universe Parameter Maximum Deviation Ground state of He, Be, C, O ± 4% Mass of neutron ± 0.1% Electron:Proton Ratio ± 1:10 37 Electromagnetic force:gravity ± 1:10 40 Expansion rate of universe ± 1:10 55 Cosmological Constant ± 1:10 120

A “Just Right” Galaxy ParameterProbability Galaxy size 0.1 Galaxy type 0.1 Galaxy location 0.1 Supernovae eruptions 0.01 White dwarf binaries 0.01