Unraveling the Cosmic Mystery – How and When Time and Space Came into Existence

The Birth of Time and Space: When the Universe First Began According to Cosmology, Quantum Physics, And Relativity

Prof. Aécio D’Silva, Ph.D
AquaUniversity

In a recent blog post, we wrote about Exploring the Genesis of Reality: How the Biblical Account of Creation Aligns with an Intelligent Design and the Cosmic Origins of Time and Space. Now we will unveil the perspectives of cosmology, quantum physics, and relativity related to the birth of time and space.

According to current scientific theories, when did time begin? What existed before space itself? These are some of the most profound questions in physics and philosophy. The origins of time and space are deeply tied to the birth of our universe—an event we call the Big Bang.

But was there a “before” the Big Bang? Did time and space suddenly appear out of nothing, or have they always existed in some form? Scientists, philosophers, and cosmologists have spent centuries unraveling this grand cosmic mystery.

In this blog, we’ll explore what modern science theories tell us about the birth of time and space, the latest theories on the early universe, and what might have existed, if anything, before time itself.

Summary:

When and how did time and space begin? This question leads us deep into cosmology, quantum physics, and relativity. According to current scientific theories, time and space began together about 13.8 billion years ago with the Big Bang.

What You’ll Learn in This Blog:

• What the Big Bang theory tells us about the birth of the universe
• Why time and space are connected according to Einstein’s relativity
• What might have existed before the Big Bang, if anything
• Leading scientific theories about the origins of time and space
• How quantum mechanics challenges our understanding of time

Let’s take a journey back to the very beginning—when time and space themselves were born.

Unraveling the Cosmic Mystery – What Does the Big Bang Theory Say About the Beginning of Time and Space?

The Big Bang Theory is our best explanation for how the universe began. According to this model:

• Time and space began together in an event roughly 8 billion years ago.
• The universe started as an infinitely small, hot, and dense singularity.
• This singularity expanded rapidly, creating space and time as we know them.

Why Didn’t Time Exist Before the Big Bang?

Many physicists argue that time itself began with the Big Bang, meaning there was no “before” because time didn’t exist yet. This idea is based on Einstein’s general theory of relativity, which shows that space and time are interwoven, meaning one cannot exist without the other.

Before the Big Bang, there was no “before”—because time, as we understand it, didn’t exist.

But does this mean there was truly nothing before the Big Bang? Or could time exist in a different form?

Unraveling the Cosmic Mystery – How Space and Time Are Connected: Einstein’s Relativity

To understand the beginning of time, we need to explore how time and space are linked.

• Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity (1915) describes time as part of the fabric of the universe, known as spacetime.
• Mass and energy bend spacetime, influencing the flow of time.
• The closer you are to a massive object (like a black hole), the slower time moves.

This means that time isn’t an independent force—it’s shaped by the universe itself. If the universe had a starting point, time must have begun with it.

But what about before that moment? Some theories suggest time might exist in ways we don’t fully understand yet.

What Existed Before Time? Theories About the “Before”

If time began at the Big Bang, what (if anything) came before it? Scientists have proposed several fascinating theories:

1. The No-Boundary Proposal (Stephen Hawking & James Hartle)

• Proposes that time behaves like space in the early universe.
• Just as Earth has no “starting point” (you can’t find the “first” latitude line), the universe has no true beginning. This suggests time emerges gradually, rather than appearing suddenly.

2. The Cyclic Universe Theory

• Suggests the universe expands and contracts in an infinite loop.
• Each Big Bang is followed by a Big Crunch, which then leads to another Big Bang.
• In this view, time has no true beginning—it cycles eternally.

3. The Multiverse Theory

• Suggests our universe is just one of many universes in a vast multiverse.
• Time may exist differently in other universes.
• The Big Bang may not be the true beginning, but just one event among countless others.

4. Quantum Gravity & The Planck Epoch

• In the first 10-⁴³ seconds after the Big Bang (the Planck Epoch), quantum physics dominated.
• Space and time may have been chaotic, fluctuating, or entirely different from how we experience them today.
• Some theories suggest a quantum state “before” the Big Bang that we can’t yet detect.

These ideas challenge our understanding of whether time had a definite beginning, or if it exists beyond what we can observe.

Unraveling the Cosmic Mystery – How Quantum Physics Challenges Our Understanding of Time

Does Time Flow, or Is It an Illusion?

In quantum mechanics, time doesn’t always behave the way we expect.

• Some scientists suggest that time is an emergent property—meaning it only exists because we perceive it.
• Others believe that the past, present, and future all exist simultaneously, but we only experience them sequentially.
• Quantum experiments show that particles can exist in multiple states at once—challenging our traditional view of linear time.

If time behaves differently at the quantum level, could this mean it existed before the Big Bang in ways we don’t yet understand?

Final Thoughts: Did Time and Space Truly Begin?

The origin of time and space remains one of the greatest mysteries of science. Here’s what we know according to the current perspectives of cosmology, quantum physics, and relativity:

• The Big Bang marks the beginning of space and time as we understand them.
• Einstein’s relativity shows that space and time are linked and had a common starting point.
• Alternative theories suggest time might not have a clear beginning—or may behave differently in other universes.
• Quantum mechanics challenges our assumptions about whether time truly “flows.”

The Bible says that before time, before space, before anything that we can comprehend—there was nothing but divine intention. Then, with a single act of unimaginable power, the cosmos was born. From the depths of the formless void and darkness, God spoke, and reality began. In science, truth is, We don’t have the answers yet. But as science advances, we may one day understand how time had a beginning—or if it has always existed in by God’s Power.

What do you think? Compare with Genesis 1:1-3. Could time exist beyond what we perceive? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Stay tuned for more cosmic explorations and deep science insights!

References & Further Reading

1. The Bible (Genesis 1:1-3, John 8:12) – The biblical foundation of creation.
2.  Marcos Eberlin (2019) – How the Chemistry of Life Reveals Planning and Purpose. Discovery Institute Press. 
3.  Meyer, Stephen C. (2009). Signature in the Cell: DNA and the Evidence for Intelligent Design. New York: HarperCollins. 
4. Stephen Hawking & James Hartle’s No-Boundary Proposal –
   ? https://www.nature.com/articles/315073a0
5. NASA – Big Bang and the Evolution of the Universe
   ? https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/what-powered-the-big-bang
6. Carlo Rovelli – The Order of Time (2018) – A deep dive into the nature of time in physics.
7. MIT Technology Review – Theories on Pre-Big Bang Cosmology
   ? https://www.technologyreview.com/