In their view, it supports the entire discipline of cosmology in the sense that cosmologists are reputationally dependent on it:
Because cosmology as a professional discipline really only came about with the invention of the Big Bang Theory in the mid-20th century it has effectively been the only major operative hypothesis for astronomical research. Therefore it has become the only model that cosmologists can get funded to research. The observational evidence it produces and accumulates is usually interpreted in its favour. This gives it the appearance of solidity while giving cosmologists a false sense of security.
Note: Ekeberg is the author of Metaphysical Experiments: Physics and the Invention of the Universe (2019)
However, it would take a lot of scientists, funding and time to be able to produce a reasonable alternative theory that could account for almost nine decades of observations using the Big Bang framework. As a result, cosmology seems locked into a ‘zombie state’ – path dependent and stuck – and too big to fail.
As astrophysicist Stacy McGaugh says in the context of dark matter theory, “like a fifty year mortgage, we are still basically stuck with this decision we made in the 1980s… we’re stuck still pounding these ideas into the heads of innocent students, creating a closed ecosystem of stagnant ideas self-perpetuated by the echo chamber effect.”
McGaugh and Hossenfelder are among a growing group of scientists concerned about the ‘dark stuff’ who are making progress in questioning some of the most critical theories in cosmology.
Their effort may help the new generation of cosmologists realize that if these decade-old theories can be overturned, there is hope in solving cosmology’s deeper problems by re-examining the core principles of cosmology.
– Bjørn Ekeberg and Louis Marmet, “Escaping cosmology’s failing paradigm” at iai news (November 4, 2021)
Recent months have seen a number of opinion pieces against the Big Bang. Some think that’s related to Steve Meyer’s The Return of the God Hypothesis. Nah. Can’t be.
At any rate, you may also wish to read: Experimental physicist Rob Sheldon on CNN’s “problem” with the Big Bang Theory. The story is really about the fact that inflation theory — way Cooler than the Big Bang — was not especially confirmed.
One thing focusing attacks on the Big Bang theory does is, it takes the attention off theories with far less support from the evidence. Some may yet sneak through to acceptance because no one is putting them down…