Quran and a Universe from Smoke: Difference between revisions

Before evaluating the claim of a miracle, it is important to have an accurate understanding of modern cosmology. In the 20^th and 21^st century, theoretical physicists and cosmologists have given detailed models for the formation of the early universe, stars, galaxies, and planets. These models, often referred to as the [[Qur'an and the Big Bang|Big Bang theory]] and the Nebular hypothesis, are widely supported by the scientific community.<ref>

{{Cite web|url=http://www.universetoday.com/38118/how-was-the-solar-system-formed/ |title=How Was the Solar System Formed |publisher=universetoday.com |author=Cessna, Abby |date= |archiveurl= |deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~yukimoon/BigBang/BigBang.htm |title=Big Bang: How Did the Universe Begin? |publisher=caltech.edu |author=Takahashi, Yuki D. |date= |archiveurl= |deadurl=no}}</ref>

In the initial expansion of the early Universe, all that existed was a dense, hot, mass of energy. As the Universe rapidly increased in size, light chemicals like hydrogen and helium began to form. For the first 380,000 years, the intense heat made it too hot for light to shine. Atoms would bump into each with enough force to break up into a dense, opaque plasma of protons, neutrons and electrons; this dense mass prevented any photons from escaping. After this phase, the universe expanded and cooled enough for electrons to combine with protons to form the first real elements. At this point, photons could move freely, and the first light could be seen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.space.com/13320-big-bang-universe-10-steps-explainer.html |title=The Universe: Big Bang to Now in 10 Easy Steps |publisher=space.com |author=Chow, Denise |date= |archiveurl= |deadurl=no}}</ref>

This smooth, nearly featureless plasma of hydrogen and helium continued to cool and expand until small imperfections formed. Then gravity drew the particles together to form the earliest stars. This evolution of the universe continued to increase the contrast of the matter distribution to create the intricate collection of galaxies, stars, and nebulae observed in the night sky today.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://preposterousuniverse.com/writings/cosmologyprimer/early.html |title=Cosmology Primer |publisher=preposterousuniverse.com |author=Carroll, Sean |date= |archiveurl= |deadurl=no}}</ref>

{{Cite web|url=http://hubblesite.org/hubble_discoveries/discovering_planets_beyond/how-do-planets-form |title=How do Planets Form |publisher=hubblesite.org |author=Space Telescope Science Institute |date= |archiveurl= |deadurl=no}}</ref>