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Georges Lemaître, the Belgian priest who discovered the universe is expanding

independent.co.uk

21–25 of 25 posts

Re: Georges Lemaître, the Belgian priest who discovered the universe is expanding

#21

At first, I read this title as > Georges Lemaître, the Belgian priest who discovered the universe, is expanding A subtle, but important, distinction.

But given he is part of the Universe, isn't he also expanding?

Re: Georges Lemaître, the Belgian priest who discovered the universe is expanding

#22

At first, I read this title as > Georges Lemaître, the Belgian priest who discovered the universe, is expanding A subtle, but important, distinction.

But given he is part of the Universe, isn't he also expanding?

As I understand it, the galaxies themselves are not really expanding in-and-of themselves, but moving away from each other.

I suppose, though, that we are all releasing heat and carbon dioxide etc. all the time, and the more space there is for waste and heat to radiate into, the more the source could be said to be "expanding".

Of course, whilst you are alive, you are replenishing these particles, but after you die, you cease to replenish them, and so perhaps it then makes sense to talk about your constituent particles as being as much "you" as that which is still part of the main body mass. And so, as your body is eaten away by bacteria and worms, you are steadily carried across to far flung parts of the earth and beyond.

Thus, as the universe heads towards being an entropic soup, the components will be spread ever further and wider.

So, in conclusion, yes, I suppose Lemaître might be said to be expanding.

I still doubt that he should be credited as discoverer of the universe, though.

Re: Georges Lemaître, the Belgian priest who discovered the universe is expanding

#23

At first, I read this title as > Georges Lemaître, the Belgian priest who discovered the universe, is expanding A subtle, but important, distinction.

Some good beer will definitely cause that after a while

Re: Georges Lemaître, the Belgian priest who discovered the universe is expanding

#24

At first, I read this title as > Georges Lemaître, the Belgian priest who discovered the universe, is expanding A subtle, but important, distinction.

Interestingly, I made the same error. I think because that first comma is misplaced (vs, say, a colon), making me expect a second comma later.
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