Image credit: @shainblumphotography The big bang theory has been remarkably good at describing the early history and evolution of the universe. However, the big bang has fallen short in some areas. This doesn't mean the theory is wrong, it simply needed to be extended. Other models have been used to extend the big bang model and to better describe the origin and early history of the universe. One such model is the inflationary model. Although models similar to inflation were proposed earlier, the idea didn't become popular until 1981 when American physicist Alan Guth proposed the inflationary model. The theory states that almost immediately after the universe came into existence, it went through a phase of rapid expansion, in which space itself expanded much faster than the speed of light. But wait. Nothing can go faster than light, right? The cosmic speed limit actually only applies to objects within space, not space itself. So space can expand as fast as it wants to. What could possibly cause space to expand like this? The explanation is that just before inflation, all of natures fundamental forces (gravity, electromagnetism, weak nuclear force and the strong nuclear force) were all once combined into a single super force. Electromagnetism and the weak force can actually be described as one in the same, the electroweak force. Current models state that inflation occurred due to the splitting of the strong force from the electroweak force, generating a huge burst of energy, causing space to expand at unbelievable speeds. (Second comment below 👇👇👇) - December 24, 2015 at 06:13AM Source: https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xft1/t51.2885-15/e35/10666194_1710410142504697_122753223_n.jpg

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