Battle of the Big Bang: New Tales of our Cosmic Origins

For more than half a century, the Big Bang has stood as the standard story of cosmic origins: a universe born from an almost unimaginable explosion of space and time. Yet, as our observational reach has expanded and theoretical puzzles have deepened, cracks have begun to appear in this seemingly solid narrative. In Battle of the Big Bang—a new book co-authored with Phil Halper—I explore the competing visions now reshaping our understanding of where the cosmos comes from and where it may be headed. This colloquium will take the audience on a guided tour through the frontier of modern cosmology: from black holes and gravitational waves, to the strange physics of quantum spacetime, to radical proposals that challenge the very idea of a singular beginning. Along the way, I will highlight how scientific debates are not merely technical disputes, but part of a broader human struggle to make sense of existence—one that connects mathematics, philosophy with religion and culture. By weaving together the latest results in astronomy and theoretical physics with the drama of competing ideas and their champions, I hope to share both the excitement and the stakes of this new cosmic conversation and how it will shape the future of our humanity.