Our Own Special Cosmic Bubble
I have to admit that astrophysics intrigues me. In my last semester of college, I took Astronomy, which turned out to be one of my favorite classes. Later, I read Stephen Hawkins "A Brief History of Time." Perhaps my interest in astrophysics is because so many of the theories seem like the stuff of science fiction (dark matter, string theory, etc.), not the stuff "real" science is based on. Yet, the theories are proved mathematically and updated as the evidence is gathered and theories are disproven.
The below article caught my interest. Scientists suggest that the Copernican assumption that there is nothing special about planet Earth or our solar system may be wrong. Instead, Earth may be in a special "bubble" of space-time that biases our observations of phenomena outside of the bubble.
As a person who believes in creationism (I also believe in evolution), I don’t have a problem with a theory postulating that our solar system is special because it was specially created for us by God.
Scientists: Earth May Exist in Giant Cosmic Bubble
If the notion of dark energy sounds improbable, get ready for an even more outlandish suggestion.
Earth may be trapped in an abnormal bubble of space-time that is particularly devoid of matter.
Scientists say this condition could account for the apparent acceleration of the universe’s expansion, for which dark energy currently is the leading explanation.
Dark energy is the name given to the hypothetical force that could be drawing all the stuff in the universe outward at an ever-increasing rate.
…
One problem with the void idea, though, is that it negates a principle that has reigned in astronomy for more than 450 years: namely, that our place in the universe isn’t special .
When Nicholas Copernicus argued that it made much more sense for the Earth to be revolving around the sun than vice versa, it revolutionized science.
Since then, most theories have to pass the Copernican test. If they require our planet to be unique, or our position to be exalted, the ideas often seem unlikely.
"This idea that we live in a void would really be a statement that we live in a special place," Clifton told SPACE.com. "The regular cosmological model is based on the idea that where we live is a typical place in the universe. This would be a contradiction to the Copernican principle."
…
Full Article (Underlining Added)