The Non-Complacent Universe

So, about 20 billion years ago there was this Big Bang. The universe went into motion expanding outward. Scientists believed that the universe was expanding, yet decelerating in this expansion. Eventually, they thought, the universe would stop expanding, begin contracting, and the universe would end in a Big Crunch. It was a neat little package. All of that might have happened if it were not for an unexplained change.

6 billion years ago, there was a switch. The universe was putting on the brakes in expansion, but then it decided to hit the gas. The universe began to accelerate in its expansion. The cause? We have no clue. Scientists attribute this change to “Dark Matter,” which is basically an all-encompassing theoretical force in the universe used to balance out equations that do not add up. It is the cosmic equivalence of getting really drunk, blacking out and then trying to piece together one's evening. “Well, I was Millie and Al’s, but I remember puking outside at some point. I’m missing $40 so I must have kept drinking, I think. Phil was buying me shots and we followed these girls to the Reef. Somehow, we ended up at Ben’s Chili Bowl.” Matter is doing things we cannot explain so scientists conclude it is being moved by an unseen and undetected gravitational force.

Human lives often get into ruts. People get into jobs, relationships and routines and stay in them until death. They become complacent. With a complacent person, one can project their life out until death and know what will become of them (with a certain degree of error). They have this ability as well and must either be content with what they see or unable to change their projected course. It is also a neat little package. They know exactly what their lives will be like when the Big Crunch comes. I suppose it is like watching a movie you have already seen.

Others, though, see where they are headed and change course. Is the new course better? Maybe and maybe not. For instance, now rather than the universe ending in a Big Crunch, on its present course, it will end in a Big Whimper where all matter is separated from itself. Then, again, maybe the universe will change course again. We probably cannot project it. It makes the future a mystery. I suppose it is like watching a movie you have never seen.

It is all quite refreshing, really. The universe was in a 14 billion year rut and then shifted an infinite amount of matter into a new speed. However long one’s rut is or how insurmountable the task, it cannot beat the universe’s feat. Anything is possible.