EPISODE · May 31, 2026 · 1H 10M
The Big Bang Didn't Start The Universe (Everything We Were Taught is Wrong) | Niayesh Afshordi | AFP 53
from Apple Finch Pudding · host Apple Finch Pudding
What if the version of the Big Bang we were taught in school isn't what physicists actually believe? We’ve all heard the story: the universe exploded into existence out of absolutely nothing. But according to a massive survey of top physicists, 68% agree that the Big Bang wasn't necessarily the definitive beginning of time, but simply a phase when our universe was incredibly hot and dense. So, what actually happened before our cosmic clock started ticking?Join Jeroen Schreel and Niayesh Afshordi, a Professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Waterloo, and research associate faculty at Perimeter Institute as they deconstruct the modern definition of the Big Bang, shifting away from the idea of a mathematical "singularity" where time stops, and looking at it like waking up from a cosmic dream. From cosmic inflation and primordial sound waves to mind-bending alternative models, like a cyclical "Big Bounce" or the hypothesis that our 3D reality emerged from a collapsing 5D star, this episode bridges the gap between popular myth and cutting-edge physics. (00:00) Intro(00:39) Ad(02:44) Re-defining the Big Bang(06:09) The Hawking & Penrose Singularity: Where the math of standard physics hits a limit(07:54) Waking up from a cosmic dream: The modern scientific definition of our origins(14:10) Archeology of the sky: Reading cosmic microwave background radiation and sound waves(22:50) What is Cosmic Inflation? Solving the horizon problem(35:33) The Varying Speed of Light theory vs. Inflation models(36:30) Bouncing Narratives: Are we living in a cyclical universe?(37:45) The 5D Star Hypothesis: Did our universe emerge from a higher-dimensional black hole?(46:50) The Eternal Inflation Multiverse & String Theory: Elegance vs. testability(57:50) The Copenhagen Survey: Testing what world-class physicists actually believe(01:03:15) Changing your mind in physics: Why science makes progress "one funeral at a time" This episode is sponsored by ResearchRabbithttps://www.researchrabbit.ai Don't forget to join our monthly AFP newsletter: https://applefinchpudding.ck.page #BigBang #Astrophysics #Cosmology #Physics #SciencePodcast
What this episode covers
What if the version of the Big Bang we were taught in school isn't what physicists actually believe? We’ve all heard the story: the universe exploded into existence out of absolutely nothing. But according to a massive survey of top physicists, 68% agree that the Big Bang wasn't necessarily the definitive beginning of time, but simply a phase when our universe was incredibly hot and dense. So, what actually happened before our cosmic clock started ticking?Join Jeroen Schreel and Niayesh Afshordi, a Professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Waterloo, and research associate faculty at Perimeter Institute as they deconstruct the modern definition of the Big Bang, shifting away from the idea of a mathematical "singularity" where time stops, and looking at it like waking up from a cosmic dream. From cosmic inflation and primordial sound waves to mind-bending alternative models, like a cyclical "Big Bounce" or the hypothesis that our 3D reality emerged from a collapsing 5D star, this episode bridges the gap between popular myth and cutting-edge physics. (00:00) Intro(00:39) Ad(02:44) Re-defining the Big Bang(06:09) The Hawking & Penrose Singularity: Where the math of standard physics hits a limit(07:54) Waking up from a cosmic dream: The modern scientific definition of our origins(14:10) Archeology of the sky: Reading cosmic microwave background radiation and sound waves(22:50) What is Cosmic Inflation? Solving the horizon problem(35:33) The Varying Speed of Light theory vs. Inflation models(36:30) Bouncing Narratives: Are we living in a cyclical universe?(37:45) The 5D Star Hypothesis: Did our universe emerge from a higher-dimensional black hole?(46:50) The Eternal Inflation Multiverse & String Theory: Elegance vs. testability(57:50) The Copenhagen Survey: Testing what world-class physicists actually believe(01:03:15) Changing your mind in physics: Why science makes progress "one funeral at a time" This episode is sponsored by ResearchRabbithttps://www.researchrabbit.ai Don't forget to join our monthly AFP newsletter: https://applefinchpudding.ck.page #BigBang #Astrophysics #Cosmology #Physics #SciencePodcast
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The Big Bang Didn't Start The Universe (Everything We Were Taught is Wrong) | Niayesh Afshordi | AFP 53
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