Physics: A Window into Understanding
the Universe and Its Mysteries
Muscat, 6 Oct (ONA) — The question
of the universe’s origin stands as one of humanity’s oldest and most compelling
inquiries, intersecting philosophy, religion, and science. In this context, Dr.
Yousef Al Banai, a researcher in theoretical physics, opened a wide window into
the world of cosmic physics during his discussion with Oman News Agency (ONA),
highlighting modern theories and the role of scientific discoveries in
understanding the beginning of the universe.
Dr. Al Banai affirms that the
prevailing scientific theory regarding the universe’s origin is the Big Bang
theory, which occurred approximately 14 billion years ago, giving rise to
space, time, energy, and matter. However, he clarifies that the theory does not
explain the very “moment of beginning” itself, but rather what
happened after a millionth of a second following that moment. He notes that
confusion between the “origin of the universe” as a scientific term
and the “creation of the universe” as a philosophical and religious
matter is common among the general public.
He adds that modern physics,
particularly quantum mechanics and general relativity, has played a significant
role in attempting to explain the universe’s origin. However, merging the two
theories has not yet produced a unified model explaining the earliest
beginnings. He describes the situation by stating, “There is still no
convincing theory explaining what existed before the Big Bang—all we have are
models and hypotheses under discussion.”
Regarding time, Al Banai indicates
that it began with the universe’s emergence, confirming that the scientific
direction attributes its progression to the principle of “entropy” or
increasing disorder, which gives time its physical meaning. Concerning the
universe’s expansion, he explained that astronomical observations have proven the
universe is in a state of accelerated expansion, driven by a mysterious
phenomenon known as “dark energy.”
Addressing the evidence supporting
the Big Bang theory, he notes that the most prominent includes cosmic
background radiation and the redshift in galaxy spectra—observational evidence
that has confirmed the theory’s validity beyond doubt.
Dr. Al Banai emphasized the
importance of modern telescopes like the James Webb Telescope, considering it a
“window into the past” that enables scientists to see the earliest
galaxies during their formation stages, much like how medical sonar detects
fetal features.
As for questions that remain
unanswered, he lists them as: the moment of beginning, dark matter, and dark
energy, explaining that these issues require new scientific revolutions.
Nevertheless, he anticipates a qualitative development by the mid-century with
the potential detection of primordial gravitational waves, which would open new
horizons for understanding the universe’s origin.
Reflecting on the human and epistemological
dimension, Al Banai believes that “understanding the universe’s origin is
not purely a scientific matter, but a comprehensive human endeavour,”
clarifying that astronomy unites humanity more than any other science. He noted
that Omani youth demonstrate a remarkable intellectual passion for theoretical
sciences and philosophy, promising a bright future in this field.
— Ends/Khalid
