Inflation theory relies on somethin

Inflation theory relies on something called vacuum energy. See, even when no matter or even radiation exist, as the inflation theory predicts was the case before the Big Bang, the vacuum of space is still full of energy thanks to pairs of quantum particles that constantly blink in and out of existence. That energy made the empty universe expand at an exponential rate, enlarging it by a factor of something like 1026 in a fraction of a second. As it expanded, fluctuations in vacuum energy left the fabric of space uneven, with random spots where the energy density was slightly higher or slightly lower than average. Eventually, all that energy decayed into matter and radiation that existed in the super-hot, still-expanding state predicted by the Big Bang.This fixes a lot of the problems with the Big Bang theory in its original form. Inflation predicts a flat universe, and the speed at which it happened allows for everything to end up at the same temperature since it was possible for every point in the universe to have once been in contact. Inflation also says that magnetic monopoles may have existed prior to expansion, but their density would have dropped to undetectable levels afterward. Plus, those fluctuations in the vacuum energy density nicely explains how stars, galaxies, and galaxy clusters formed. If it weren't for those random clumps of extra energy, humanity would never have existed.If your knowledge of the Big Bang starts with a singularity, it may be time to revise that old fable. Here, we'll start: A long, long time ago, before matter or radiation existed, energy bound in the fabric of space made everything expand by a trillion trillion times in less than the blink of an eye. Soon, that energy turned into matter and radiation, which eventually coalesced into stars and galaxies — and the rest is history.Get stories like this one in your inbox or your headphones: Sign up for our daily email and subscribe to the Curiosity Daily podcast.Hear the whole story of our universe's origin in the New York Times bestseller, "Big Bang: The Origin of the Universe" by Simon Singh. We handpick reading recommendations we think you may like. If you choose to make a purchase, Curiosity will get a share of the sale.