S7: The Big Bang Debate: Did Our Universe Arise From Nothing?

My special guest is acclaimed science writer and physicist Dr. Paul Halpern, who is here to discuss his book about how two of the brightest minds in history fiercely debated the beginnings of our universe. Get his book Flashes of Creation: George Gamow, Fred Hoyle, and the Great Big Bang Debate on Amazon.

 The great debate over the Big Bang and the quest to understand the fate of the universe

 Today, the Big Bang is so entrenched in our understanding of the cosmos that to doubt it would seem crazy. But as Paul Halpern shows in Flashes of Creation, just decades ago, its mere mention caused sparks to fly. Russian American physicist George Gamow and British astrophysicist Fred Hoyle were at the center of the debate. Gamow insisted that a fiery explosion explained how the elements of the universe were created. Attacking the idea as half-baked, Hoyle countered that the universe was engaged in a never-ending creation process. The battle was fierce. In the end, Gamow turned out to be right -- mostly -- and Hoyle, along with his many achievements, is remembered for giving the theory the silliest possible name: ''The Big Bang.'' Halpern captures the brilliance of both thinkers and reminds us that even those proved wrong have much to teach us about boldness, imagination, and the universe itself.

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