Physics - Astrophysics - Cosmology - Big Bang and expansion of the universe - The Big Bang and Beyond
Timeline of the universe. Step 1 'Big Bang (t=0)': NOT an explosion IN space - it's the rapid expansion OF space itself. All energy in an incredibly hot, dense state. No 'before' or 'outside' (spacetime itself begins). Step 2 'First 3 minutes': t=10⁻⁴³s: Planck epoch (all forces unified?). t=10⁻³⁶s:
