Talk:Big Bang

IMPORTANT: This is not the place to discuss how you think the universe began, or to discuss whether or not the Big Bang model is correct. This page is for discussing improvements to the article. The article is about the Big Bang model, with content based on information presented in peer-reviewed scientific literature about it or other appropriate sources. See Wikipedia:No original research and Wikipedia:Talk page guidelines. If you wish to discuss or debate the validity of the Big Bang please do so at BAUT forum or talk.origins.

Simplifying the lede

I think it this point the lede (and in particular the first paragraph) is more complicated than it needs to be. Given the mass appeal of the subject, we should be aiming to make the lede accessible to as large an audience as possible. In the process we should be looking to see if we can make the lede a bit shorter as it is a bit longish. (At a glance there is some detail there that is need absolutely necessary. I have made a start at reducing the huge amount of wikilinks in the lede, which hamper readability (we do not need to link every other word). Similarly, there were way to may references for some single facts which I trimmed.

One suggestion would be to have one or two sentences after the first sentence that summarize the core of the ideas behind the Big Bang theory. For example,

The main idea is that the universe is expanding. Consequently, the universe was denser and hotter in the past. In particular, the Big Bang model suggests that at some moment all matter in the universe was contained in a point. Modern measurements place this moment at approximately 13.82 billion years ago, which is thus considered the age of the universe.

I am not quite happy with this yet, but it does put into focus the main idea behind the BB: the universe is and was expanding. I am not quite sold on inlcuding the singularity bit, partly because the singularity falls outside the Big Bang theory per se. However, some how including the fact that the big bang theory suggests the universe (as we know it) has a beginning seems desirable.TR 14:02, 15 April 2014 (UTC)

That sounds good. Be careful with removing too many links; the lede section admits a higher density of wikilinks, as any jargon term should be either explained or linked to. Diego (talk) 14:59, 15 April 2014 (UTC)

help with sentence

The lede currently contains the following sentence:

The Big Bang theory offers a comprehensive explanation for a broad range of observed phenomena, including the abundance of light elements, the cosmic microwave background, large scale structure, and Hubble's Law.

I feel that this sentence may not be helpful to the general reader who will have no clue what there phenomena are based on the jargon used to refer to them. However, I am stuck on thinking how to improve it. Any ideas?TR 12:09, 2 May 2014 (UTC)

My feeling is that since these topics are all explained in the article and all but one of them are linked in the lede (perhaps linking 'abundance of light elements' somewhere would help, but I'm not quite sure of the best target) it's fine as is. The lede is meant to be a summary of the article, and we can't go into too much detail. The current version tells the reader that the BBT explains lots of observations and lists the main ones, allowing them to follow those up if desired or read on to find out more. That seems OK to me. Olaf Davis (talk) 12:37, 2 May 2014 (UTC)

I mostly agree. It is OK, but it is not very good or excellent (which is what you want from an FA). It is this sort of sentence that makes articles like this one inaccessible for many lay readers. So, if we can find a better alternative that would be a good thing. If we can't it also not too big a deal.TR 13:00, 2 May 2014 (UTC)

FWIW - first sentence of paragraph seems ok to me as well - but then - seems the entire paragraph could be better (esp second "sentence"?) - seems "readability" of the paragraph could be better also - perhaps replace the paragraph with equivalent content from an earlier version? =>

copied from an earlier version:

The Big Bang is a well-tested scientific theory which is widely accepted within the scientific community because it is the most accurate and comprehensive explanation for the full range of phenomena astronomers observe. Since its conception, abundant evidence has arisen to further validate the model.< ref>Feuerbacher, B.; Scranton, R. (25 January 2006). "Evidence for the Big Bang". TalkOrigins. Retrieved 2009-10-16.</ref>< ref>Wright, E.L. (9 May 2009). "What is the evidence for the Big Bang?". Frequently Asked Questions in Cosmology. UCLA, Division of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Retrieved 2009-10-16.</ref>

hope this helps in some way - Enjoy! :) Drbogdan (talk) 13:00, 2 May 2014 (UTC)

TR, go ahead and simplify the lead. GeorgeLouis (talk) 00:18, 24 July 2014 (UTC)

Wikigroaning

The article on the sitcom The Big Bang Theory has 17,299 words on Wikipedia. This article has 11,426 words. So the article on the beginning of our known universe is shorter than the article on a sitcom with a bunch of characters who have traits of aspergers syndrome. Interesting! Boone jenner (talk) 16:30, 7 August 2014 (UTC)

But that's highly misleading, as this article summarises a series of articles, as indicated by the Main article: links atop most sections and as mandated by Wikipedia:Summary style. Adrian J. Hunter^{(talk•contribs)} 05:32, 8 August 2014 (UTC)

New theory

http://arxiv.org/abs/1309.1487

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140807145618.htm

Does this warrant an inclusion in the article? If not, it would be wise to keep an eye on the theory as it develops, in order to include it in case harder evidence comes to light.213.220.203.77 (talk) 21:00, 9 August 2014 (UTC)

Purposed re-direct

Good day to you fine editors of Wikipedia. I went searching for the show big bang but was sent here; some odd theorem of lesser importance. i purpose we re-direct big bang to the tv show as it is clearly they more popular reference for this term (425k to 125k views). I purpose this page be renamed to 'big bang the scientific theory.' and redirect 'big bang' to the tv show. Happy editing, 99.239.214.117 (talk) 01:47, 15 September 2014 (UTC)

Google hits does not trump the fact that the show is named after the theory describing the creation of this universe.--Mr Fink (talk) 02:30, 15 September 2014 (UTC)

I would also point out that the show is called "The Big Bang Theory", not just "Big Bang".Farsight001 (talk) 03:04, 15 September 2014 (UTC)

Considering that the show has a different name there is no reason that Big Bang should redirect to the show's article.--76.65.42.142 (talk) 00:09, 17 September 2014 (UTC)

Misnomer (incorrect name) for Big Bang

Just think we should emphasize that "The Big Bang is not an explosion of matter moving outward to fill an empty universe". This is already in the article, but not clear enough -a lot of people incorrectly think the Big Bang is an explosion 129.180.175.166 (talk) 06:14, 16 September 2014 (UTC)

While, yes, the name "Big Bang" is a misnomer, the problem with this suggestion is that it's still officially called the "Big Bang," and Wikipedia can not rename it without running afoul of Wikipedia's own rules against original research and inappropriate synthesis. Where would you add more emphasis to better explain how it's not actually an explosion?--Mr Fink (talk) 15:46, 16 September 2014 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 19 September 2014

Please fix the tense in the sentence: "The majority of atoms that were produced by the Big Bang are hydrogen," Your tenses are wrong, it should be "The majority of atoms that were produced by the Big Bang were hydrogen," 184.1.125.205 (talk) 15:46, 19 September 2014 (UTC)

visible universe

Since the big bang theory only accounts for 4.9% of the universe (i.e. ordinary matter), shouldn't the statement in Wikipedia :

"The Big Bang theory is the prevailing cosmological model for the early development of the universe."

be modified to end with:

"the development of 4.9 % of the universe (i.e. ordinary matter)"?