Understanding Cosmology and the Big Bang
Think about the most mind-blowing explosion ever - that's basically what the Big Bang Theory proposes happened to create our universe! This theory explains that everything we know started from an infinitely hot and dense single point called a singularity.
Here's how it all went down in five key stages. First, all of space, time, matter, and energy were packed into that tiny singularity. Then came inflation - a rapid but peaceful expansion process that stretched the universe outward into nothingness.
As the universe expanded, it naturally cooled down (just like how a balloon cools when you let air out). During this cooling period, light atoms formed through nucleosynthesis, where protons and neutrons combined. Finally, electrons joined these nuclei through recombination to create the first actual atoms in the universe.
Quick Tip: Remember the sequence - singularity → inflation → cooling → nucleosynthesis → recombination. This progression shows how the universe went from a single point to having actual atoms!