(ps. im norwegian so my spelling might be a bit off )
i started the university (computer science) last year. Outside the classes i have to take we have some optional classes we can take and beeing a hobby science nut i took a basic astronomy class.
First i have a problem with how the professor speaks of the big bang theory as undisputed fact. I get how we can speak of certain aspects of astronomy as solved but the origin of the universe ? really ? i havent heard anything about that ( that we solved the mystery ). I mean, i get how we can speak with certainty of how the aurora works, what the athmosphere on the different planets are like, how the sun works etc, becouse these things can be observed closely and even physicaly be interacted with. Obviously i get that we use many different tools to help us but imo we know waaay to little about the universe to speak of big bang as absolute truth. I think a good way to describe astronomy is by the tale about the blind men and the elephant:
The poem begins:
It was six men of Hindustan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind
They conclude that the elephant is like a wall, snake, spear, tree, fan or rope, depending upon where they touch. They have a heated debate that does not come to physical violence. But in this version, the conflict is never resolved.
All in all it just seems like a hard profession to be in, in the way that if you have opposing views on a theory then your "no good" so to speak. When asking my professor about the bing bang not beeing an absolute certainty he dismisses it like mumbo jumbo and that they are "getting there" when it comes to the fact that much of the theory is not yet explained. To me that seems like a horrible way to do science, having the solution before you have the "equation" cant be good.
anyways, my second question is more of a spesific one.
There is alot of talk about there beeing matter in the universe and not just vacuum. That got me thinking of the shape of galaxies. They seem to swirl with all "arms" bent in the same direction as if they are encountering matter much as if you envision spinning a starfish in water. Is the shape of the galaxies due to some physics in the galaxy itself or does indeed matter interact with vacuum in this way ? and if there was indeed matter bending the galaxies wouldnt they halt and eventually stop as their momentum stopped ? Also IF the galaxy is swirling becouse of matter wouldnt that create immense pressure at the core of the galaxy and could that have anything to do with black holes ?
ps. im only taking a basic astronomy class so i obviously have "no idea" what im talking about lol , but if there are answers to this than please tell me about it.
thank you
