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Discuss Origin
of Universe
THE WORLD’S top astronomers do
not agree on the origin of the universe.
Of 33 participating in a SCIENCE
SERVICE Grand Jury on this subject, there was a virtually equal division on whether or not the universe
started with a “big bang” several billion years ago. To this question, 11
(33.3%) voted “Yes,” and 12 (36.4%)
voted “No,” while 10 ( 30.3%) were
counted as “Not Voting.” Concerning the more recent theory that
matter is being continually created
and destroyed, opinion was more
sharply divided among the 33. More
than half of those responding, 18,
or 54.5%, said they did not agree.
Eight, or 24.2%, replied they did
believe matter is being continually
created, and seven, or 21.2%, did not
vote. Of the 33 experts, 23, or 69.7%,
showed high hopes that one or the
other of these opposing theories
would be proved right within the
next 41 years, while three, or 9.1%,
thought they would never be solved.
Besides answering questions, the 33
astronomers polled were given an
opportunity to make any comment
they desired, with assurances of
anonymity for their remarks. Not all
astronomers agreed with the idea of
a poll. One said, “I do not believe that
polls such as this one serve any useful
scientific purpose and in fact are apt
to be misleading. I prefer, therefore,
not to participate.” Another astronomer said that much of the “fun of
astronomical research” would be
removed if a sure answer to the question of the origin were ever found.
Arno Penzias (left) and Robert Wilson, in 1993 with the horn antenna they used to discover the cosmic background radiation.
UPDATE
Big Bang wins despite hung jury
To vote for one of these topics to
appear on From the Archive, visit
www.sciencenews.org/vote060411
A. Predictions for a manned trip to Mars
B. Seeing Peking Man’s face
C. The birth of the “googol”
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