The very first moment of our Universe is known as the Big Bang. This name is quite misleading though as neither was there a Bang, nor was the Universe big at that point. In fact, the Universe at the Big Bang was so small that Scientists tend to call it the Big Bang Singularity: this means that the entire Universe was concentrated onto one dimensionless point – so tiny and so densely packed that all our current laws of physics break down.

 

Did you know?

The name “Big Bang” was actually coined by the astronomer Fred Hoyle in 1949. At that time, the Big Bang model was still an unconfirmed theory, and Fred Hoyle was actually more in favour of an alternative, so called “steady state” theory of the Universe’s formation. He used the term “Big Bang” in order to highlight the difference between the two models – some people think in an attempt to make the theory sound ridiculous – hence why it doesn’t truly reflect the -silent- reality of the event. Funnily enough, a competition was held to try and find a better name for it, in which over 13 000 names (!) were suggested, and yet “Big Bang” still seemed to remain the stickiest name.

 

No, the name wasn’t taken from the TV show!