hypothesis of the primeval atom
E99200
The hypothesis of the primeval atom is Georges Lemaître’s early cosmological model proposing that the universe began from a single, extremely dense “primeval atom” that explosively expanded, anticipating the modern Big Bang theory.
Statements (46)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
cosmological model
→
early Big Bang model → scientific hypothesis → |
| addresses |
beginning of cosmic time
→
cosmic expansion → |
| aimedToExplain |
expansion of space
→
observed galactic redshifts → |
| alsoKnownAs |
cosmic egg hypothesis
→
primeval atom hypothesis → |
| anticipates |
Big Bang theory
→
|
| associatedPerson |
Albert Einstein
→
Edwin Hubble → |
| associatedWith |
Lemaître’s expanding universe solution
→
|
| basedOn |
general relativity
→
|
| characterizesInitialStateAs |
extremely dense
→
extremely hot → highly compressed matter-energy → |
| contrastsWith |
eternal static universe
→
steady-state cosmology → |
| coreIdea |
universe began from a single extremely dense state
→
universe expanded from a primeval atom → |
| describes |
origin of the universe
→
|
| field |
astrophysics
→
cosmology → |
| hasConcept |
decay of a primordial super-dense state
→
explosive expansion of the early universe → |
| historicalContext |
developed before observational confirmation of cosmic microwave background
→
|
| historicalPrecursorOf |
standard Big Bang model
→
|
| historicalSignificance |
one of the first scientific models of a universe with a temporal beginning
→
|
| implies |
space and time have a beginning
→
universe has a finite age → |
| influencedBy |
Einstein’s theory of general relativity
→
|
| inspired |
later Big Bang cosmological models
→
|
| involves |
compression of space-time into an initial state
→
subsequent fragmentation of the primeval atom into matter and radiation → |
| languageOfOriginalPublication |
French
→
|
| philosophicalImplication |
universe is not eternal in the past
→
|
| proposedBy |
Georges Lemaître
→
|
| proposes |
all matter of the universe was once concentrated in a single quantum
→
|
| relatedConcept |
Hubble–Lemaître law
→
cosmic singularity → |
| relatedTo |
Big Bang
→
cosmic evolution → expanding universe → |
| status |
historical scientific theory
→
|
| timePeriod |
early 20th century
→
|
Referenced by (1)
| Subject (surface form when different) | Predicate |
|---|---|
|
Georges Lemaître
→
|
notableWork |