Expansion: Big Bang or Big Stretch?

The stretching explanation, proposed here, has similarities and differences with the big bang theory. [See Table 21.] Both the big bang and stretching explanations describe a very rapid expansion of the universe soon after time began, but before the laws of physics were in place. As one big bang authority, Andrei Linde, stated: In its standard form, the big bang theory says that the universe was born about 15-billion years ago from a cosmological singularity—a state in which the temperature and density are infinitely high. Of course, one cannot really speak in physical terms about these quantities as being infinite. One usually assumes that the current laws of physics did not apply [during the big bang’s rapid expansion—called inflation2]. ... One may wonder, What came before? If space-time did not exist then, how could everything appear from nothing? What arose first: the universe or the laws determining its evolution? Explaining this initial singularity—where and when it all began— remains the most intractable problem of modern cosmology.3 [emphasis added]

The stretching proposal, in contrast to the big bang theory, does not begin with a singularity—an infinitesimal point (a mathematical fiction).7 Nor does the energy expended in stretching out the heavens mysteriously come from within the universe or during its first trillionth of a trillionth of a ten-billionth of a second (10-32 second), as with the big bang theory. Energy flowed into the universe as stretching progressed. According to the big bang theory, stars, galaxies, and black holes began forming after 420,000,000 years. According to the stretching explanation, these bodies were present near the beginning of time—early in the creation week. You can decide which explanation the following, surprising evidence supports.