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From: tan@ihlpg.UUCP (Bill Tanenbaum - AT&T Bell Labs - Naperville IL)
Newsgroups: net.origins
Subject: Re: The Scientific Case for Creation: (Part 27)
Message-ID: <730@ihlpg.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 1-Jul-85 16:30:17 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihlpg.730
Posted: Mon Jul  1 16:30:17 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 3-Jul-85 06:42:07 EDT
References: <376@iham1.UUCP> <677@cadovax.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
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> b) Here I must ask a question of the physicists on the net.  I've heard
> of theories that propose that eventually matter may re-compress into 
> a giant black hole after a very long time, and perhaps causing another
> 'big bang', indicating that the universe explodes and collapses over and
> over.  I'd like to hear more about the present state of these and related
> theories if anyone out there knows more.[KEITH DOYLE]

Under the standard accepted theory (General Relativity), the universe
may either expand indefinitely or recompress into a black hole, depending
on the total amount of matter in the universe.  If the total amount is
less than or equal to a critical value, expansion will continue forever.
Above this value, recompression will occur.  Whether or not another big
bang will occur after recompression is anybody's guess.

The recent "Inflationary Universe" theory, which is not in conflict with
General Relativity, predicts that the value is exactly equal to the critical
value, hence, indefinite expansion.  Also, this theory predicts that our
universe is only one of many.  The other universes are outside our event
horizon, and we can neither observe them or vice-versa.
-- 
Bill Tanenbaum - AT&T Bell Labs - Naperville IL  ihnp4!ihlpg!tan