At the point of the Singularity of the Big Bang, space-time, as we know it, began.
At the point of the Singularity, Classical Physics and the Standard Model break down and is no longer applicable.
At the point of the Singularity, Quantum Gravity comes into play, but we do not currently have a viable theory of Quantum Gravity.
Proposition: Notwithstanding the speculation of multiverses/metaverse, the question "what existed before the Big Bang?" is nonsensical. The very word "before" implies a chronology of time, but this would be before time existed. This is tantamount to asking what is north of the North Pole.
Thoughts?
May l suggest a book by Dr. NFJ Matthews. It's not for everyone, you'll need a high level of understanding of physics and the math that goes with it. [amazon.com]
Better yet... [nofreewill.com]
I think all of time is happening at the same time and I think it's possible that events like the big bang are always happening at the same time. I think quantum particles link everything together and that could account for them seeming to appear and disappear. They could be like a needle weaving in and out of realities, tying everything together while conventional physics keeps each reality with respective matter apart. I know one theory uses the analogy of our universe contracting and expanding like a lung. It's possible those actions create friction, helping a big bang happen somewhere else in our reality or maybe in another one. I like thinking about these things. The possibilities are endless.
There is a lot of interest in frequencies right now. Einstein had a lot to say about them. I think there are probably big bangs happening all 5he time, but on different frequencies.
The Big Bang is wrong because the Universe has always been here.
Except that if we run the movie backwards it all was once a single point. While once excepted as likely, the "steady state" universe is very much out of fashion due to empirical observations.
@gater No you misunderstand my point. Take the galaxies as they exist today. Run time backwards based on their current velocities while correctly applying the well understood equations of Einstein's General Relativity. Something you can't explain with your model happens 13.6 billion years ago.
Our universe, and all of it's features, started with the Big Bang. Of course there could be something that came before it. But, I don't think the same laws of physics need to apply. Perhaps we could some day extrapolate what came before, but why bother? It's not a universe we live in, nor could we. I think a universe of some type has always existed, it's just that the universe as we know it, has a beginning.
Obviously space-time hence time started with the Big Bang so your question asks what was before time existed. So yes the question, at face value, is nonsensical but the mind can go beyond the paradox and understand that before is both a physical place and a concept outside of time.
OK, but can you have a physical place or space before space-time?
@Heraclitus no. but the mind can make abstract of that limitation while still formulating a concept however flawed.
@Lukian Yes, it can. But perhaps that says more about the human mind than it does about the Universe.
@Heraclitus The human mind created within, with and by the universe.
Posted by racocn8I saw some articles on meteorite composition and ended up with this picture.
Posted by racocn8Here are some photos of eggs deposited on the underside of leaves.
Posted by racocn8Here are some photos of eggs deposited on the underside of leaves.
Posted by racocn8Here are some photos of eggs deposited on the underside of leaves.
Posted by racocn8Here are some photos of eggs deposited on the underside of leaves.
Posted by racocn8Here are some photos of eggs deposited on the underside of leaves.
Posted by Slava3That makes me nervous
Posted by Slava3So we are part of a Cosmic ecosystem?
Posted by SergeTafCamNot too long ago I had the opportunity to take a couple of pictures of a peacock's feather.
Posted by SergeTafCamNot too long ago I had the opportunity to take a couple of pictures of a peacock's feather.
Posted by SergeTafCamWhat's your favorite color?
Posted by SergeTafCamWhat's your favorite color?
Posted by SergeTafCamWhat's your favorite color?
Posted by SergeTafCamWhat's your favorite color?
Posted by SergeTafCamWhat's your favorite color?
Posted by SergeTafCamExciting times.