NAME OF STUDENT  
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Homework for Lecture 6 -- Anthony  Aguirre -- What happened before  
the big bang?

Due at class Tuesday Nov 7

1. Name three basic pieces of evidence for the idea that the universe  
is currently expanding from some earlier high-density, hotter state.   
Discuss one piece of evidence that the universe is currently  
undergoing *accelerated* expansion, and one piece of evidence that it  
also did so very early on (in "inflation")?





2. Most people have heard of the ``big bang" theory, but I have  
indicated that while the ``big bang theory" has been very successful,  
the idea of the big bang (as an enormous primordial detonation) that  
many people have in mind is not really consistent with the latest  
theories of the origin of our universe.  Discuss how you conception   
the ``big bang" has changed as a result of the lecture.