Understanding of Cosmology and deep physics

This is in reference to Dr Upul Wijayawardhana’s article on astrology, palmistry and cosmology, etc., which appeared in The Island of October 7th. The anecdotes given are interesting, of course; but is it worth touching at such length on matters which the public are generally aware of anyway? Folk do know the distinction between palmistry and cosmology; they do know, too, and are hugely proud of, a good few Sri Lankans doing excellent research both at home and abroad.

What the author fails to mention is an important caveat concerning cosmological research, upon which the public would greatly benefit by reflecting. True, the concept of the Big Bang and the progression of the universe following that are well founded, but this idea is very much “last year”, so to speak!

The more important and timely question to ask is how the starting material of the Big Bang, the “cosmic egg” if you will, came into being in the first place, coming out of absolutely ‘nothing’. Both cosmology and deep physics are grappling with this question, employing fancy models to understand it; viz Stephen Hawking’s ‘Model-dependent realism’ and so on.

It is the understanding, if ever, of this particular point that would put palmistry and other fantasies in a clearer light; or put them upon the back-burner for good.

IVOR TITTAWELLA