I’m thrilled.
Just received two courteous personal notes from the world’s leading cosmologist – Professor James Peebles of Princeton, and England’s Astronomer Royal – Martin Rees at Cambridge University (England).
I had written to them asking for help in finding a “definitive definition” of “Big Bang.”
Professor Peebles wrote back —
Professor James Peebles of Princeton
“Hello David
“The name Big Bang is a very poor choice because it suggests a moment of time — a bang — and maybe also a place — where the bang occurred. Neither is part of the reasonably well tested theory of the evolution of the universe from a hot dense state to what we see around us. But the name has stuck, so I have stopped boycotting it.
“As you see the definition is a mess. The connotation to me is the relativistic theory of the expansion of the universe.
“Cheers, Jim
and when I get permission I will add Professor Rees’ note.
To receive either note is an honor – but to get both . . . oh my.