Lol, I know. That one could be a whole different thread. In short, Daddy went to home depot and picked out the most beautiful seed he could find. Mommy had to "open wide" for him to plant it. My mouth that is.

I don't have a thank you button, but thanks everyone.

I think it is absolutely wonderful that your son is asking these questions! I'm currently pregnant with my first child (just found out that it's a boy), and I can only hope that our son will also ask questions like these... particularly because both my husband and I take a lot of interest in Astrophysics and Cosmology (though we're certainly no experts!).

It's adorable that your son is already so intelligent and curious to ask a question that Astrophysicists themselves are trying to answer, when he asked: "Where did the "stuff" that did the "big bang" come from?"

There are quite a few theories about this (what preceded the Big Bang, if anything), and even Aristotle himself wrestled with this conundrum so long ago, with his "Unmoved Mover" theory, in which he basically states that "God" must exist because there MUST be something to have first set it all into motion.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unmoved_mover).

My problem with his argument, however, is that it is based upon his disbelief in the possible existence of infinity. And while some physicists may argue that infinity cannot exist, my mind simply cannot discount that possibility, particularly when I consider cosmological constants such as Light, which is coincidentally also the most common symbol for "god" in all major religions. In fact, I recently asked an atheist friend of mine who is an Astrophysicist at Zurich Univ: "If there was one thing in the Universe that really is both omniscient and omnipotent, what would it be?" His answer was "a photon" (particle of light).

Anyways... I do think there is a lot of evidence in support of there existing a multi-verse, and so I suspect that our Universe was created out of another expanding Universe, to which ours is (or at least once was) attached. And I also think that these Universes may extend infinitely. I know it is incredibly difficult (perhaps impossible for some) to grasp the concept of infinity, but this certainly doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. I even tend to think of my own existence as being an echo in space-time, as set into motion by the Big Bang and whatever (most likely) preceded that. Perhaps it is all just an endless, swirling sea of photons...

So I personally think that what's most important for your son is not that he has someone to answer these questions for him, but rather that he is ASKING these questions. And again, I hope that my son asks them, too. I think one of the best things you can do for a child is to raise them to be free-thinkers.

P.S. Sorry to ramble...

Be sure to buy Carl Sagan's Cosmos and leave it luying around. It's still remarkably accurate and very elegant.

This reminds me of one of my very favorite short stories, Isaac Asimov's "The Last Question."

why don't you ask him where children come from?

I don't like anything when smirky, chirpy Prof. Brian Cox explains it. Now, Jim Al-Khalili - he's the thinking man's crumpet.

Many of the atoms in our bodies were made in the Big Bang. The rest were made in stars. That gold ring you wear? Made in a supernova.

That californium in your smoke detector... ah - that's man made.

Yes, it's true... "We are star stuff."

There is a quote by Sagan that I absolutely love: "The Cosmos is all that ever was, all that is, and all that ever will be..."

I agree that Brian Cox can be obnoxious (he is damn sexy, though). I loved Al-Khalili's BBC "Atom" documentary -- one of the best I've ever seen.

I like to think that we are in someone's little sphere.




References: Men In Black.

Last year I read a very interesting book by Edgard Gunzig (cosmology prof. in Belgium). He managed to bring a theory of cyclic universes therefore needing no begin and no end but still eludes big-bang singularity. I must say that I find it very convincing.
He is the father of the "bootstrap" and cosmological inflation theories.

- His book is in french but maybe translated in English: Edgard Gunzig "Que faisiez vous avant le Big Bang?".

- An interview in english.

There is only a Big Bang singularity in the mathematics. Such things are usually an indication that the current theory has reached its limit.

The cyclical theory I recently read about (John Barrow), isn't the Big Bang -> Big Crunch -> Big Bang ->... cycle. The idea is (barely at the state of theory yet!), ever increasing cycles until we end up with an expanding forever universe. This expands for billions and billions of years , getting colder and colder. Then, the vacuum "decays", and a new universe springs into being.

Alternatively, there's "continual inflation". Universes sprouting off of each other.

What I want to know is - from the outside, what colour is the universe?

__________________
Down with racism. Long live miscegenation!

Yes but does it have an outside?

Turquoise.

I can see the rehearsals are going to fly by.

there is no outside. and all this cyclic universes may contain different instances of EF discussions for example......or is it already the case?

(1) Tell him the truth.

I am assuming that you have not formed an opinion yourself about the topic. The best lesson here for your son is for him to clearly understand that "dad" does not know everything. However, if you have a belief and you want to pass it on always back it up with some facts that a child can relate to.

Whatever you do do not swing away from this topic and try to do away with it. Talk about it when it interests him and over the years you will see the maturity in your discussions evolve. No doubt as a parent you could "introduce" him to theories by stating that some people believe in a guy named Darwin who concluded that humans "evolved" from apes etc...but it is always a stronger point to introduce your child to "other" beliefs and conclusions that scientists have drawn up once you finally state where you stand.

At such a young age it is great that he is trying to size up everthing with an inquiring mind!Do not stunt this.

(2) Thoroughly explore the argument for yourself. Prepare for these questions from your son later on- Oh!they get better at it by the time they are 10! I have learnt from experience once they start learning chemistry and that every empirical formulae has a constant i.e. scientific evidence regarding creation is based on relativity LOL!!! It will be interesting and still is a perpetual discussion that he will then be ready and well seasoned for when his 6 year old asks him the same!

Theories about creation will always be theories, if he will be an Aethist who does not want to bet on scientific "constants"; then he'll have to learn not to question where did the atom/ or its made up chemical components came from! But he will develop and know that the patience and love his father showed him yet cannot be scientically proven but is an "absolute" factor that he has experienced from his"dad"!!!!!!

explains it all very well I think.